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If you’re asking how much it costs to transfer a title in Ohio, the honest answer is that the title fee itself is small, $18.00 for 2026, but it’s rarely the whole bill. Most transfers also include sales/use tax on the purchase price (which dwarfs the title fee), plus registration and plate costs at the BMV. This guide breaks every charge into plain numbers, shows you where each one is paid, and works through real examples so you can budget before you go.
One thing to keep straight, because it changes where you pay: in Ohio, titles and sales tax are handled by the County Clerk of Courts, while registration and plates are handled by the BMV deputy registrar. See BMV vs. Clerk of Courts in Ohio.
The four cost buckets
A typical used-car transfer has four parts:
- Title fee, flat $18.00 (Clerk of Courts).
- Sales/use tax, a percentage of the purchase price (Clerk of Courts). This is usually the biggest line.
- Registration fee, annual, by vehicle type (BMV).
- Plate cost, transfer existing plates ($9.00) or buy new (BMV).
Add notary and lien fees if they apply. Let’s take them one at a time.
1. The Ohio title fee: $18
The Certificate of Title fee rose to $18.00 statewide for 2026 under House Bill 96 (the prior fee was $15). A few counties may charge $23 if local officials approve an extra $5, Summit County’s fee is $18.00. The same $18 applies to a duplicate or replacement title.
If you’re financing the vehicle, add an $18 notation of lien fee so the lender can be recorded on the title.
2. Sales and use tax: usually the biggest cost
Ohio charges sales/use tax on the purchase price of a vehicle, collected by the title office at transfer. The rate is the state 5.75% plus your county/transit add-on, so your total rate depends on where you live:
| County | Combined vehicle sales-tax rate |
|---|---|
| Summit | 6.75% |
| Cuyahoga | 8.00% |
| Stark | 6.50% |
| Portage | 7.25% |
| Medina | 6.75% |
| Wayne | 6.50% |
Fees and figures change. Verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov before your visit.
Rates change and are set by county. Confirm your exact rate with the Ohio Department of Taxation or the title office.
Tax is based on the price actually paid. The title office can question a suspiciously low price, and a true gift between family is generally exempt (see Gifted, inherited, or lost title). On a private sale there’s no trade-in credit; when you buy from a dealer, Ohio reduces the taxable amount by your trade-in allowance, which can save real money.
3. Registration fee: built from three parts
Registration is paid at the BMV and isn’t a single number, it stacks:
- State registration fee by vehicle type, $36.00/year for a passenger car (2026).
- Deputy registrar service fee, $8.00 for a one-year transaction.
- Local permissive tax, varies by your taxing district, assessed in $5 increments, capped at $30 per vehicle.
So a one-year passenger registration is roughly $36 + $8 + permissive tax. EV and hybrid owners add an annual fuel-type fee: $200 electric, $150 plug-in hybrid, $100 hybrid. For the full table by vehicle type, see Ohio vehicle registration fees by type.
4. Plates
- Transfer your existing plates to the newly titled vehicle: $9.00.
- Buy new standard plates: included with registration; specialty or personalized plates add an annual charge ($25–$50+). See New & specialty plates.
Full fee reference
| Charge | Where you pay it | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Title | Clerk of Courts | $18.00 |
| Duplicate / replacement title | Clerk of Courts | $18.00 |
| Notation of lien (if financing) | Clerk of Courts | $18.00 |
| Late transfer fee (after 30 days) | Clerk of Courts | $5.00 |
| Notary (per signature) | Clerk / BMV | Up to $5.00 |
| Sales/use tax | Clerk of Courts | Varies by county |
| Passenger registration (annual) | BMV | $36.00 |
| Deputy registrar service fee (1 yr) | BMV | $8.00 |
| Local permissive tax | BMV | up to $30.00 |
| Plate/registration transfer | BMV | $9.00 |
Fees and figures change. Verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov before your visit.
Fees change. Confirm current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov and with your County Clerk of Courts before you go.
Worked examples
Example 1, Buying a $12,000 used car privately, transferring your plates
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $18.00 |
| Sales tax (6.75% × $12,000) | $810.00 |
| Plate transfer | $9.00 |
| Registration (1 yr passenger + DR fee + ~$20 permissive) | ~$64.00 |
| Estimated total | ~$901.00 |
Fees and figures change. Verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov before your visit.
The tax is by far the largest piece, the title transfer itself is only $18.
Example 2, Gifting a car to your daughter
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $18.00 |
| Sales tax (true gift) | $0.00 (exempt) |
| Plate transfer or new plates | $9.00+ |
| Registration (1 yr) | ~$64.00 |
| Estimated total | ~$91.00 |
Fees and figures change. Verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov before your visit.
Mark the purchase price as “GIFT” and confirm the sales-tax exemption with the title office.
Example 3, Buying a $25,000 car from a dealer with a $7,000 trade-in
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Taxable amount ($25,000 − $7,000 trade-in) | $18,000 |
| Sales tax (6.75% × $18,000) | $1,215.00 |
| Title fee (dealer handles paperwork) | $18.00 |
| Plates/registration | ~$73.00+ |
| Estimated total (tax + fees) | ~$1,306.00 |
Fees and figures change. Verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov before your visit.
The dealer collects tax and processes the title; the trade-in credit lowered the taxable amount by $7,000, saving about $472 in tax versus a private sale at the same price.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Buy from a dealer if you have a trade-in. Ohio’s trade-in allowance reduces the taxable price; private sales get no such credit.
- Don’t miss the 30-day window. A late transfer adds a $5 fee at the title office, small, but avoidable.
- Transfer plates instead of buying new when you can ($9.00).
- Register for multiple years if eligible, the deputy registrar service fee per year drops at longer terms.
- Confirm gift eligibility before assuming an exemption; a “gift” that’s really a sale at a low price can be reassessed.
Common questions
How much is it to just transfer a car title in Ohio? The title fee alone is $18.00. But almost every transfer also includes sales tax on the price plus registration/plate fees, which is where most of the cost is.
How much is sales tax on a used car in Ohio? The state rate is 5.75%, plus your county/transit add-on, for example 6.75% in Summit County and 8.00% in Cuyahoga County. It’s collected by the title office on the purchase price.
Do I pay sales tax on a gifted car? Generally no, if it’s a true gift. Mark the price as “GIFT” and confirm the exemption with the title office. See Gifted, inherited, or lost title.
Is there a trade-in tax credit in Ohio? Yes, when you buy from a dealer, your trade-in allowance is subtracted from the taxable price. Private-party sales don’t get this credit.
What does registration add to the cost? For a passenger car in 2026, roughly $36 + $8 deputy registrar fee + local permissive tax (capped at $30), plus any EV/hybrid fuel-type fee.
Where do I pay each charge? Title fee and sales tax at the County Clerk of Courts; registration and plates at the BMV. See BMV vs. Clerk of Courts in Ohio.
Helpful next pages
before you visit
Budgeted your transfer? Get in line online to handle registration and plates with less waiting. Bring the documents from the what-to-bring checklist.
Where this information comes from
- Ohio BMV, Documents & Fees (title fee, registration, deputy registrar fee, permissive tax): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/doc-fees.aspx
- Ohio LSC, HB 96 (136th G.A.) bill analysis (title fee $15→$18/$23; registration changes effective 1/1/2026): https://www.lsc.ohio.gov/assets/legislation/136/hb96/en0/files/hb96-dps-bill-analysis-as-enacted-136th-general-assembly.pdf
- Ohio Department of Taxation, Sales & Use Tax / county rates: https://tax.ohio.gov/business/ohio-business-taxes/sales-and-use/rate-changes
- Summit County Clerk of Courts, Title Forms & Fees: https://clerkweb.summitoh.net/title-forms-fees
- Ohio BMV, Transfer a Title (titles issued by Clerk of Courts): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/titles-transfer-death.aspx