Warming Your Car in Your Driveway: Do You Know Michigan’s New Law?

Sliding into an ice-cold car after it's been sitting out all night has all the charm of watching an out-of-state driver navigate a Michigan Left. So start your car ahead and let it warm up, right?

Before you put the keys in the ignition, make sure you're up to speed on Michigan law, as it has changed in recent years.

Michigan Man Rails Against 'Ridiculous' Ticket

You may remember Taylor Trupiano, the Michigan man who brought the topic of warming up your car front and center when he got a ticket from Roseville police for pre-heating his car outside his home in 2017.

Trupiano railed against the ticket, posting it on social media where many showed support by calling the citation ridiculous.

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Turns out the cops were well within their rights. Michigan law (at that time) prohibited leaving a running vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition - even if that car was parked on private property.

New Michigan Law Permits Running Your Car in Your Driveway

There has since been a change to Michigan law allowing motorists a little more flexibility. In 2017, House Bill 4215 amended the law, rescinding the wording that made the practice illegal "in any place." This allows vehicle owners to warm up their vehicles in their private driveways without risk of penalty.

However, the legislation states that it is still illegal to leave an unattended running vehicle on a public or private roadway or parking lot.

Remote Starters Make Warming Up Your Vehicle Legal

Although leaving an unattended, running vehicle in a parking lot or on a road is illegal, the use of a remote starter does allow some flexibility.

Vehicles that are started via a remote starter can remain locked, and as long as the keys are not accessible, unattended vehicles present no danger and the owner cannot be ticketed.

Use Caution When Running a Vehicle in Your Driveway

Although Michigan law now allows for vehicles to run unattended in private driveways, police warn against the practice because it's an invitation to theft.

Leaving a vehicle unattended with the keys inside the vehicle also poses a safety risk. The danger can occur if an unsupervised child gains access to a running vehicle and is able to put the vehicle in gear.

Remote vehicle starters make it easy and legal to warm up a vehicle in a parking lot or driveway without increasing the odds of theft or child endangerment.