Is it legal to own a tank in Michigan?

Tanks were created to cause destruction during war and gain the upper hand in trench warfare.

They were first invented in Great Britain during World War I and have improved drastically over the past century. Sometimes tanks are sold on secondhand markets after they are decommissioned.

The United States has a lot of weird laws that the average American may not understand. Some basic things we do often may be illegal, while some things you may think are forbidden are actually legal.

With that being said, is it legal to own a tank?

Can I own a tank? 

If you are in the market for a tank for whatever reason or are just curious about if it’s legal to own one, the answer is a bit complicated. But the short answer is yes.

Tracy Morris, a spokesperson for the Detroit Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, tells the Detroit Free Press that it’s legal to own a tank in Michigan, but there are a few things to be aware of before purchasing one. And it’s always advised to check local rules and regulations in whatever state you‘re in.

“Yes, civilians can legally own demilitarizedtanks in Michigan, but ownership hinges on the status of the main gun, cannon, and any functional secondary weapons on the tank, such as a machine gun,” Morris said. “If the main gun or any cannon remains functional, it is classified as a federally regulated ‘destructive device’ and requires ATF registration, including a tax stamp and background checks.”

Morris also mentioned how tanks with weapons that are permanently disabled are treated as hardware instead of a firearm. While they are more of a collector’s item than a vehicle, the owner still needs proper documentation and to comply with the applicable local, state and local laws. Owners would also have to make sure it is properly stored and follows environmental compliance for the fuel it uses.

Where can you buy a tank? 

Tanks can be found for sale online from military surplus shops. Some of the most reputable sites are Drive Tanks and GovPlanet, who sell tanks, Humvees, APCs and other military wares. It’s even possible to find a tank for sale on an auction site like Bring-a-Trailer on their military vehicle page.

Can you drive a tank on the road? 

Tanks are not road-legal vehicles and are classified as off-road vehicles so they should not be driven on regular roads. They don’t meet road safety regulations as they were built to meet the standards of combat.

Tanks on the lower end can weigh up to 11 tons while the biggest and most powerful tanks can weigh nearly 60 tons. Since most tanks owned by civilians are decommissioned and have had the weapons removed, they will usually weigh much less than a fully loaded one. Weighing more than a lot of 18-wheel semi trucks while being built with armor can make them extremely dangerous in the instance of a collision. They also have much slower speeds than road cars and many of them are too wide to fit in a lane.

Why would a person want to buy a tank?

While most retired tanks can end up in museums to showcase military history, there are normal people who may have a tank in their car collection. Reasons they own them can vary, but it’s safe to assume they just wanted a vehicle that stood out.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Is it legal to own a tank in Michigan?

Reporting by Keenan Thompson, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press

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