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If your car title was lost, stolen, or destroyed, you need a duplicate title in Ohio before you can sell, gift, or otherwise transfer the vehicle. Here’s the key detail Ohio drivers often get wrong: a duplicate title is issued by the County Clerk of Courts title office, not by the BMV. A deputy registrar handles registration and plates after the title office issues the duplicate. This page covers who to see, what to bring, the fee, and how to choose between in-person and mail.
DMVQ is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with the Ohio BMV, any County Clerk of Courts, or any government agency.
Who issues a duplicate title, Clerk of Courts, not the BMV
In Ohio, the Certificate of Title is a Clerk of Courts document. That includes duplicate (replacement for a lost/stolen/destroyed title) and replacement (when information on the title needs to change) titles. The BMV issues registration and plates and does not print titles.
So if you’ve lost your title, your destination is a Clerk of Courts title office. Thanks to Ohio’s cross-county titling, you can apply at any county title office in the state, not just your county of residence. For the full breakdown of which office does what, see BMV vs. Clerk of Courts in Ohio.
What a duplicate title is (and when you need one)
A duplicate title is a newly issued Certificate of Title that replaces an original that was lost, stolen, or destroyed. The original then becomes void. If you later find it, you must return it to the title office for cancellation.
You typically need a duplicate title when:
- You can’t find your title and need to sell, gift, or trade the vehicle.
- The title was damaged (torn, water-damaged, or written on). Note: any alteration or erasure on a title makes it void, so a marked-up title must be replaced.
- A lender released a lien and you need a clean title in hand.
If instead the title is intact but information needs to change (for example, you want a paper copy of an electronic title, or a detail needs correcting), that’s a replacement title, which follows the same process.
Who can apply
The owner listed on the title can apply for a duplicate when:
- There is no lien on the vehicle, or
- The lien has been cancelled/released, or you have a notarized lien termination statement.
If a lender still holds an active lien, you must contact the lienholder to make changes to the title record. The lienholder controls the title until the loan is satisfied.
What to bring (checklist)
Applying in person
- Valid photo ID (Ohio driver license or state ID)
- Application for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle (form BMV 3774), marked Duplicate
- Payment for the $18 duplicate title fee (some counties charge $23 if local officials approved an additional charge)
- Your title number if you have it. If not, you can look it up using the VIN in the BMV’s online title search tool
- A lien release letter if the BMV’s record doesn’t already show a “Lien 1 Cancel Date”
Applying in person is the fastest route, the duplicate title is printed on the spot.
Applying by mail
Send the following to the Clerk of Courts that issued the title:
- Form BMV 3774, with your name and current mailing address, marked Duplicate, stating the title was lost/stolen/destroyed, and with your signature notarized
- Payment of the title fee
- A self-addressed, return-stamped envelope
If there’s an unreleased lien showing on the record, include the lien release letter as well.
Step by step (in person)
- Find your title number or VIN. Use the BMV’s online title search to look up the title number and confirm any lien is released (“Lien 1 Cancel Date” is filled in).
- Complete form BMV 3774, marked Duplicate. You can fill it out at the title office.
- Bring valid photo ID and visit any Clerk of Courts title office in Ohio (cross-county titling is available statewide).
- Pay the $18 fee and sign as required (notarization handled by a deputy clerk on-site).
- Walk out with your duplicate title, printed on the spot.
Fees
| Charge | Where you pay it | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate Certificate of Title | Clerk of Courts | $18.00 |
| Replacement Certificate of Title | Clerk of Courts | $18.00 |
| Notary (per signature) | Clerk / BMV | Up to $5.00 |
| Cancellation of Lien | Clerk of Courts | No charge |
Fees and figures change. Verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov before your visit.
The $18 title fee applies statewide for 2026; a few counties may charge $23 if local officials approve an additional charge. Verify your county’s amount on bmv.ohio.gov or with your local Clerk of Courts before you go.
Common scenarios
- You’re selling and can’t find the title. Get a duplicate first; you cannot transfer ownership without a valid title. Then follow the title transfer steps.
- There’s still a lien on the car. Contact the lienholder. They hold the title and must initiate changes. Once the lien is released, you can apply for a clean duplicate.
- You only have a memorandum title. A memorandum (memo) title is not an ownership title and cannot be used to transfer the vehicle. You’ll still need the full title or a duplicate. See memorandum title.
- The title is electronic and you want paper. Apply for a replacement title (same form, same $18 fee) to get a printed copy.
- The owner is deceased. A surviving spouse or estate representative may need additional documents (death certificate, affidavit, or probate paperwork). Call the title office first.
- You found the original after getting a duplicate. Return the original to the title office for cancellation. Only one valid title can exist.
Common questions
Does DMVQ issue duplicate titles? No. DMVQ is an informational resource, not a government office. Duplicate titles are issued by the County Clerk of Courts. Deputy registrars handle registration and plates.
How much is a duplicate title in Ohio? $18.00 in most counties for 2026. A few counties charge $23 where the local additional charge has been approved.
How fast can I get it? Same day if you apply in person, the title is printed while you wait. By mail, allow time for processing and return postage.
Can I get a duplicate title at any county office? Yes. Ohio’s cross-county titling lets you apply at any Clerk of Courts title office statewide.
What if I don’t know my title number? Look it up by VIN using the BMV’s online title search tool. The same tool shows whether a lien has been released.
Can I get a duplicate if there’s a loan on the car? Not on your own. The lienholder holds the title and must handle changes until the lien is released or you provide a notarized lien termination statement.
Can I apply by mail? Yes. Send a notarized form BMV 3774 (marked Duplicate), the fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the title office that issued the title.
Helpful next pages
Before you visit
Got your duplicate title and need to register or plate the vehicle? Check online queueing options at your local deputy registrar. If a mail-in title form needs notarized, sign it in front of a notary or use the Clerk title office’s guidance before mailing it.
Where this information comes from
- Ohio BMV, Vehicle Titles, Duplicate Title (Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/titles-new.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Documents & Fees: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/doc-fees.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Online Title Inquiry / Title Search: https://bmvonline.dps.ohio.gov/titles/titlesearch
- Summit County Clerk of Courts, Duplicate or Replacement Titles: https://clerkweb.summitoh.net/duplicate-or-replacement-titles
- Summit County Clerk of Courts, Title Forms & Fees: https://clerkweb.summitoh.net/title-forms-fees
- Summit County Clerk of Courts, Title FAQs: https://clerkweb.summitoh.net/title-faqs