Form BDVR-97 at a glance
What it is: Form BDVR-97 is the Application for Municipal, Tribal Municipal, & Sheriff Plates and the Application for 5-Year Nonprofit Organization "Y" Plates.
Who signs: Sign on the Signature line.
What to bring and attach to Form BDVR-97
For 5-Year Nonprofit Organization "Y" Plates: Mail completed application with a check payable to State of Michigan, proof of Michigan no-fault insurance, and a list of vehicles which plates are being purchased for to: Michigan Department of State Internal Services Section Lansing, MI 48980-0001.
A filled-in Form BDVR-97 example: a township orders municipal plates
How to fill out Form BDVR-97, box by box
Agency name and address
Enter the Agency name and the FEIN Federal Employer Identification Number.
Enter the Street address and the Daytime phone number.
Enter the City, the ZIP Code and the County.
Municipal plates: number of plates
Municipal Plates may be applied for at any Secretary of State office, by mail, or by fax, and are mailed from Lansing within 10 days.
Indicate the number of plates: Regular Municipal, Municipal Motorcycle and Tribal Municipal.
Sheriff plate numbers
Sheriff Plates cannot be applied for at a Secretary of State office; they must be applied for by mail or by fax, and are mailed from Lansing within 10 days.
Indicate the plate numbers you wish to order: the first 2 digits are your county code followed by a 3-digit number for a vehicle plate or a 2-digit number for a motorcycle plate.
Signature, date, printed name and title for municipal plates
By signing you certify that the municipality or agency is eligible for Municipal, Tribal Municipal, or Sheriff plates.
Enter the Date, the Printed name and the Title.
Organization name and address
Enter the Organization name (as shown on vehicle title) and the FEIN Federal Employer Identification Number.
Enter the organization Street address and Daytime phone number.
Enter the organization City, ZIP Code and County.
Signature, date, printed name and title for nonprofit organization plates
By signing you certify that this nonprofit organization meets the criteria and is eligible for the nonprofit organization “Y” plate.
On the nonprofit organization page, sign on the Signature line, then enter the Date, the Printed name and the Title.
More rules for Form BDVR-97
Expiration for Municipal, Tribal Municipal and Sheriff plates: Non-expiring, but all plates that are lost or destroyed must be reported to the Michigan Department of State, Internal Services Section.
Expiration for 5-Year Nonprofit Organization "Y" Plates: Plates expire on December 31 in the fifth year following date of issuance.
If your situation is different
Your vehicles are titled in the name of an eligible nonprofit organization
ELIGIBLE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: Check one. All vehicles must be titled in the name of the organization.
Civil Air Patrol - Any of its vehicles.
A nonprofit recycling center - Any of its vehicles.
Nonprofit Veterans Center - Any of its vehicles.
A nonprofit food pantry or nonprofit food bank - Any of its vehicles.
A nonprofit organization for its vehicles used to transport equipment providing dialysis treatment to children at camp.
A federally-recognized nonprofit conservation organization - Any of its vehicles.
A federally-recognized nonprofit charitable organization for emergency support vehicles used exclusively for emergencies.
Nonprofit Senior Citizens Center - Any of its vehicles except trailers.
A nonprofit veteran's organization for its motor vehicles having a truck chassis and a locomotive or ship's body used exclusively for parades and civic events.
You apply for a bus, station wagon, or window van of a non-public school or non-profit organization
Non-public schools and non-profit organizations (check one) for use only on a bus, station wagon, or window van (no trucks, no trailers) if the vehicle is designated by proper signs showing the organization operating the vehicle.
Nonprofit Parents' Transportation (used only for school purposes).
Parochial School.
Parochial Society.
Church Sunday School.
Grammar School.
Nonprofit Youth Organization.
Nonprofit Rehabilitation Facility.
Public schools, public school academies, and charter schools use the Municipal “X” plate.
Common questions about Form BDVR-97
Where do I file it?
Mail completed application with a check payable to State of Michigan to: Michigan Department of State Internal Services Section Lansing, MI 48980-0001.
Are there fees?
Municipal plate fees: $13 for each vehicle or motorcycle plate, and $5 for plate replacements (checked October 31, 2026). Sheriff plate fees: $13 for each pair of vehicle plates or a single motorcycle plate, and $5 for plate replacements (checked October 31, 2026). Fee for 5-Year Nonprofit Organization "Y" Plates: $10 for each plate (checked October 31, 2026). Plates may be transferred to another vehicle in the organization's name for $10 (checked October 31, 2026). An additional fee is charged for electric and hybrid vehicles.
Sources
[1] Form BDVR-97 (07/23), Application for Municipal, Tribal Municipal, & Sheriff Plates, Michigan Department of State (the Official source link on this page).