May 29, 2020 — The Michigan Secretary of State’s office announced today that its offices statewide will reopen June 1 (Monday) for essential services, by appointment only. Appointments can be scheduled by visiting www.michigan.gov/SOS. The department says in the below news release that in addition to future date appointments, “same day” appointments will become available 24 hours prior to the appointment time. SOS staff have indicated the resumption of the online scheduling system now replaces the emergency transaction system MABA has had in place for the past few weeks. Since the beginning of the emergency, staff members of the Secretary of State’s office have successfully processed nearly 150 emergency transaction requests for MABA members at one of the most critical times of the year for our industry. We appreciate their assistance. Requests that would normally have been routed through the MABA emergency transaction spreadsheet should now be scheduled at the above link going forward. If you have questions, contact the MABA office. Secretary of State branch offices to reopen June 1 by appointment only MAY 28, 2020 Updated renewal mailers will provide additional information on easiest means of conducting transactions Secretary of State branch offices will reopen June 1 by appointment only for essential transactions not available online in order to continue to balance the need to provide critical services and protect public health. “While the offices were closed to the public, we conducted more than 3,000 emergency appointments for essential workers and planned and implemented protocols so that we could reopen in a way that ensures the safety of employees and all Michiganders,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “Customers can be confident they’ll be able to conduct their business with us safely and efficiently.” Beginning the week of June 1, all 131 branch offices in Michigan will be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for appointment-only services for transactions including: Driver licenses and state ID transactions that must be done in person Title transfers Operator, CDL, chauffeur, mechanic and motorcycle testing Seasonal commercial vehicle renewal Branch staff will follow strict health and safety protocols, including wearing masks, standing six feet apart, using desk shields, and continuously disinfecting shared or common surfaces. Branch doors will be locked, and each branch will have a greeter to let customers with appointments in at scheduled appointment times. A copy of the department’s reopening preparedness plan can be found here. Anyone scheduling an appointment or receiving an appointment reminder will also be instructed on how to safely attend their appointment by: Arriving at the appointment alone Wearing a mask or homemade face covering over their mouth and nose Waiting in their vehicle or outside prior to the appointment time and maintaining six feet of distance when announcing themselves and their appointment to staff at the doors Following directions on where to stand during the transaction — only stepping forward toward the clerk when providing or retrieving documents Cancelling their appointment if they develop symptoms of COVID-19 or come into contact with someone who has COVID-19 within 14 days of the appointment Adhering to CDC guidelines when in public In addition to preparing to reopen branches, the Michigan Department of State began sending updated renewal forms this week, color-coded based on the type of transaction needed and with streamlined information to explain how best to conduct the transaction. Renewal forms, which will be mailed in redesigned envelopes measuring 9.5 inches by 6 inches, come in six colors: Red: Vehicle registration Blue: Driver’s license Green: State identification card Teal: Watercraft Gray: Snowmobile Purple: Special plate Instructions are provided at the bottom of each form to direct customers on options for renewing their credential, providing information on whether they can complete their transaction online, at a self-service station or by mail, or if they will need to schedule an appointment at a branch office. A sample of the updated renewal forms can be found here. To schedule an appointment visit Michigan.gov/SOS or call 888-SOS-MICH. Advance appointments can be made up to 180 days ahead of time. Same-day appointments become available 24 hours prior to the appointment time.
