Michigan Branches to Open Later on Thursdays
Businesses that handle in-person Secretary of State filings should plan around 10 a.m. Thursday openings starting November 5, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Openings & Closings
Michigan Secretary of State branch offices will open at 10 a.m. Eastern on Thursdays beginning November 5, 2026, with closing at 5 p.m. Offices in less populated areas will not offer Thursday hours.
Why it matters
The schedule change lets staff attend weekly training and professional development. For businesses that rely on in-person title, registration, or driver-record transactions, Thursday mornings will be unavailable at branches while other weekday hours stay unchanged.
The announced Thursday hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern differ from the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule on Monday, Tuesday and Friday and the 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. schedule on Wednesday. Four county branches in less populated areas do not offer Thursday hours at all.
The players
Michigan Secretary of State
The state agency that issues driver's licenses, vehicle titles and registrations, and business filings, and operates the branch office network.
The details
Branch offices will open at 10 a.m. Eastern on Thursdays, a later start than on other weekdays, to give staff time for weekly training. Thursday hours still close at 5 p.m. Offices in less populated areas, including the Alger County office in Munising and the Osceola County office in Reed City, will not offer Thursday hours, so customers there will need to use other days. Most transactions can be completed online at mi.gov/sos.
Timeline
November 5, 2026: Thursday late-opening hours begin at branch offices.
Market Landscape
The change keeps the existing branch network intact and modifies only when offices are staffed for public service. Businesses that depend on in-person Michigan Secretary of State transactions will see the adjustment mainly in Thursday availability, while online services remain the main alternative.
Operators who schedule in-person Secretary of State visits should move Thursday appointments or errands to another weekday starting November 5, 2026. Businesses in the Upper Peninsula counties without Thursday hours should plan for longer lead times on in-person filings.
The takeaway
Calendar November 5, 2026 as the start of the Thursday schedule and move any in-person branch visits that fall on Thursday, especially if your location is in a county without Thursday hours. Shift routine transactions online where possible to avoid the change.
Further reading
For other changes to public-facing storefronts and service locations, see Openings & Closings coverage.
More information
Most transactions can be completed through the Michigan Secretary of State online transactions portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Press.
