Vehicle Titling
Most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A1:

A2:

Contact the closest Highway Patrol Inspection station and ask to come in and have a trooper do a vehicle verification check on the car. Mail a copy of the HP106 form, a copy of the front and back of the title, and a brief notarized statement (include your phone number) as to the issue, to the Ohio BMV, Deputy Registrar And Title Support Services (D.R.A.T.S.S.), Title Administration and Customer Service Unit (TACS), P.O. Box 16520, Columbus, Ohio, 43216-6520. We will research the issue and provide you with a correction letter so that you can proceed to your county clerk's title office for a replacement title.

A3:

Contact the Title Administration and Customer Service Unit (TACS) at 614-752-7671 and ask for a VIN Replacement packet to be sent to your address.  The enclosed letter will explain how to submit the proper documents to our office for a VIN replacement, which can result in either the Patrol making a Department of Public Safety VIN replacement plate or applying directly through the manufacturer. The time frame is 6-8 weeks for a manufacturer's plate.  After completion, you may have the title replaced at any county title office.

A4:

First apply for a salvage title in your name changing the status of your title from regular to salvage. (NOTE: The vehicle cannot be operated on the any road while evidenced on a salvage title.) Upon completion of the repairs contact the closest Highway Patrol Inspection Station and make an appointment to have a salvage inspection done. (There is a $50 fee) Take any receipts for repairs and new parts with you to the inspection. After the vehicle has successfully completed the inspection, take Form HP106, your salvage title and proceed to any title office and apply for a "rebuilt salvage" title.  After all of these steps have been completed, the vehicle is now operable for use on any road.

A5:

On the back of your current title, at the top, complete the new buyers name and address, plus the purchase price. Complete the odometer certification area stating the mileage as it appears on the odometer.  Under the mileage area is the seller’s notary section, which must be completed and notarized. Next, the buyer must acknowledge the mileage as stated by the seller by filling in his signature and printing his name.  Please note that you are attesting to the actual mileage of the vehicle.  The seller should make a copy of the front and back of the assigned title and remove the plates from the vehicle.

A6:

After receiving an assigned title, the new buyer can proceed to any Deputy Registrars office with the assigned title and purchase a 30 day tag.  Within 30 days, proceed to the nearest Clerk of Courts title office (in order to avoid a $5.00 late charge) and apply for a title in your name. You will also have to pay sales & use tax on the purchase price of the vehicle. The rate varies from county to county so phone ahead for your rate.  If you have a lien holder, it must be noted on the assignment portion of the title.  

A7:

The Clerk of Courts title office in any county will require an application for title to record a lien.  Once the application is filled out, with the lien information added, and surrender of the owner's title, a new title will be issued to the lienholder.  The fee is currently $15.00.  The title owner will receive a memorandum title for registration and plating purposes.  The BMV 3774 application for title is available online in the forms download area.

A8:

Visit your nearest county title office, or download the BMV 1173 Title Request form from our website bmv.ohio.gov under download forms.  You may also call in your request for a form at 614-752-7671. or write in to the Ohio BMV, Deputy Registrar And Title Support Services (D.R.A.T.S.S.), Title Administration and Customer Service Unit (TACS), P.O. Box 16520, Columbus, Ohio, 43216-6520 and request the form.  You will need to supply the vehicle identification number, the year and make of the vehicle.  There is a $2.00 charge for each individual listed in the title history. This history will reveal all previous owner information if you meet the requirements according to the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).  Otherwise, you will only receive vehicle information.

A9:

First contact your local law enforcement office as each area has different rules.  Some law enforcement agencies will come to your property and remove the vehicle, others will say it’s on your property and you will have to find out who the owner is and contact them. If local law enforcement will not remove the vehicle, you will need to contact our office for avenues open to you to possibly obtain a court ordered title to be put in your name.

A10:

Contact local law enforcement and they will remove the vehicle.

A11:

Contact the Title Administration and Customer Service Unit (TACS) at 614-752-7671

A12:

Proceed to any county title office and apply for title. You will be charged a $5 late fee, in addition to other applicable fees.

A13:

No, at the time the title was issued your maiden name was correct and the title office will not change your title. Upon the sale of the vehicle that is in your maiden name, assign the title with your married name and also your maiden name.

A14:

Proceed to the title office in any county and apply for surviving spouse certificate of title. Some counties require a certified copy of the death certificate, so phone ahead for requirements. You may apply for up to 2 vehicles on a surviving spouse benefit. However, the estimated value of both vehicles cannot exceed $40,000. Surviving spouse can only transfer passenger vehicles, a 3/4 ton truck or smaller, or a motorcycle into their name. Commercial vehicles, motor homes, recreational vehicles are not covered under the surviving spouse law.

A15:

Per House Bill 68 a dealer or a clerk of court can witness a minor consent form. The forms are available at the County Title office.

A16:

Contact the Ohio BMV Title Administration and Customer Service Unit (TACS) at 614-752-7671 and ask to speak to the import-export assistant and they will advise you of the steps necessary to remove your vehicle from Ohio. 

A17:

You will need to contact your lienholder for a lien release statement and take this to your county title office for a title.  If you do not receive a lien release statement, you will need to contact the Ohio BMV, Deputy Registrar And Title Support Services (D.R.A.T.S.S.), Title Administration and Customer Service Unit (TACS) at 614-752-7671 for further direction.

A18:

Banks are instructed to send returned checks through a second time.  If the check clears on the second attempt, the BMV does not receive any notice of a returned check.

However, if the returned check does not go through on the second attempt, and/or for another reason is sent to the BMV to process, you will be sent a letter requesting payment, including a $15.00 service charge, with a return envelope provided.  The letter will reference a claim number, which needs to be included with your payment in order for you to receive proper credit for the transaction.

We understand that mistakes happen and afford you the opportunity to correct the situation.

If you have further questions about a returned check, you may contact the BMV Tax Distribution section at (614) 752-2084.

A19:

First, you will need to obtain an Out of State Inspection on the vehicle.  This inspection is a VIN verification and may be obtained from any Deputy Registrar's Office.  If you have physical possession of your title, take the title and the Out of State Inspection to your local county title office and they will issue a Certificate of Title in your name.

If your title is being held by a lien holder, your local county title office will provide you with instructions requesting the lien holder to surrender the title to their office. An Out of State Inspection is required. If the vehicle is leased, the same procedures apply.

If your title is currently in two names then both signatures will be required unless otherwise stated by the jurisdiction in which the title was last issued. In either case, an Out of State Inspection is required.

A20:

Never leave the title in the motor vehicle.  Choose a safe place where you store other important documents or you have the option of telling the Clerk of Court Title office that you would like a non-printed title.  It will still cost $15.00, but your title record will be retained on the database.

A21:

You should go to the county title office, state that the original title was lost or stolen, and apply for a duplicate title.  Do the assignment and notarization over and deliver to purchaser.  Always keep a copy of the assigned title for your records.

A22:

Assign and notarize the title, into the names of the individuals who purchased the vehicle, on top back of the title.  The new owners will need to sign and apply for the new title at the County Title office and new plates and registration will be required.  If one cannot be present, a power of attorney form can be given.

A23:

Both owners will need to assign the title over to one owner and have their signatures notarized on the top back of the title (if one of the two previous owners cannot be present, a power of attorney form can be given).  The new owner will need to sign and apply for a title at the County Title office. The new (single) owner will be required to purchase a new registration and plates. 

A24:

Ohio Revised Code 4505.  For ATV’s and off road motorcycles, see Ohio Revised Code 4519.

A25:

The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) has a Web site.  Under the Membership & Leadership topic, select the AAMVA Regions and Jurisdictions link. The Regions and Jurisdictions are divided into four (4) regions.

I made a mistake on the mileage.  What can I do?

A26.

Please see Directive "Mileage Corrections" dated March 9, 2007.  If you have further questions, please contact the Title Administration and Customer Service Unit (TACS) at 614-752-7671.

How is a With Rights of Survivorship title transferred?

A27.

To transfer or encumber a vehicle that has With Rights of Survivorship (WROS) on the title, both signatures are required if both are living.  If one of the parties is deceased, the survivor applies for a certificate of title with only a copy of the death certificate.  Only the application portion of the title needs to be completed, signed, and notarized.

I just purchased an ATV from Missouri and the manufacturer gave me an MCO.   Will I need to get my ATV inspection since it is from out of state?

A28.

Please see form BMV 3709 - Titling, Registering & Operating Snowmobiles, Off-Highway Motorcycles & All Purpose Vehicles In Ohio.

I purchased my vehicle from an in-state or out-of-state resident and do not have a title.  I submitted my evidence to the BMV and still could not get a title.  What else can I do?

A29.

I purchased a truck that weighs over 16,000 pounds.  The seller did not acknowledge the mileage and I cannot locate him.  What can I do?

A30.

HB230 exempts the mileage statement from the seller and the acknowledgement of the buyer on all vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 16,000 pounds or more.  You will need to write exempt in the mileage area.

A31.

When applying for a title, Out-of-state leasing dealers are required to be registered with the Ohio Department of Taxation, but they are not required to have a leasing dealer’s permit “LD#) from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.  In order to title vehicles in the leasing dealer’s name, Ohio requires a valid Ohio use tax account number (99-XXXXXX) before it will proceed with issuing a title without collecting use tax.  Please contact the Ohio Department of Taxation at 1-800-405-4089 to apply for the Ohio Use Tax account number.

When the leasing dealer sells a vehicle, they are required to:

1) process the paperwork;

2) collect sales tax up front;

3) remit net tax to the Clerks office and;

4) provide the customer with a title. 

When the paperwork is complete, the lessee will receive a memorandum title via mail.  They need to take this memorandum title, and a dealer signed power of attorney form to their local Deputy Registrars office to register the vehicle.  When the paperwork is complete, the lessee should get a memorandum title from the lesser.

A32.

All Travel Trailers are titled in Ohio at any county title office with proof of ownership, application, fees and taxes.  If the Travel Trailer is on a non-Ohio title, you must first obtain an Ohio out of state VIN verification at any Deputy Registrar's office.  If the trailer is not a travel trailer and weighs 4,000 pounds or less, you must obtain a weight slip on the trailer and then take that and proof of ownership to your Deputy Registrar's office and apply for plates and registration.  If the trailer weighs 4,001 pounds or more, you would take proof of ownership and apply for Ohio title at any county title office.  

A34.

Only a sole owner of a vehicle can apply for a transfer on death beneficiary title under current Ohio law. No companies or 2 owner titles qualify for this type of title.

To apply, you would take your Ohio title to your county title office and apply for a Transfer On Death “TOD" title.  You will be asked to complete an affidavit naming the beneficiary or beneficiaries with their full legal name, address and social security number. That affidavit will require your notarized signature, and there is a fee of $1.00.  A new title will be issued with the "TOD" designation and that fee will be $16.00.  Upon your death, the beneficiary will present a certified Death Certificate to the county title office and a title will be issued to your named beneficiary.

A35.

Please see the directive posted on May 16, 2007.  If you have further questions, please contact the Title Administration and Customer Service Unit (TACS) at 614-752-7671.

A36.

It will prevent your physical title from being lost or stolen.

A37.

Proceed to the dealer, who issued your electronic title, for correction.

A38.

Ohio Revised Code, Section 4503.035 required Ohio license dealers to retain the supporting evidence, that was submitted electronically, for 5 years.

A39.

You will need to submit your supporting evidence into the Clerk of Court office that you have a signed agreement with, within 14 days of the title issuance.

A40.

The dealer can complete a BMV 3772 form to allow the transfer to or from a motor vehicle dealer.  It has a provision for stating mileage and power of attorney.

A41.

Each morning the Bureau of Motor Vehicles receives notification, then the Clerk of Courts are notified to cancel liens.