On this page
- First, understand who issues what
- Two rules that apply to almost every transfer
- Paper title vs. electronic title
- What to bring (checklist)
- Step by step: a private-party title transfer
- Private party vs. dealer: what’s different
- Fees at a glance
- Special situations
- Common questions
- Helpful next pages
- before you visit
- Where this information comes from
Learning how to transfer a car title in Ohio comes down to one fact that other states’ rules get wrong: in Ohio, the title is issued by the County Clerk of Courts, not the BMV. So a transfer is usually a two-stop process, you get the new title at a Clerk of Courts title office, then you register and plate the vehicle at a BMV deputy registrar. This guide walks through the whole sequence for a private-party sale, a gift, and a dealer purchase, including what to bring, how notarization works, and the deadlines that cost money if you miss them.
This is statewide guidance. The in-person registration steps happen at your local BMV deputy registrar.
First, understand who issues what
If you remember nothing else, remember this split:
- County Clerk of Courts title office → issues the Certificate of Title (legal ownership). This is where ownership changes hands.
- BMV deputy registrar → issues your registration and license plates, plus driver license/ID service. The BMV does not issue titles.
Because of that split, a complete change of ownership means: Clerk of Courts first (to put the title in your name), then BMV (to register and plate the vehicle so you can legally drive it). Ohio also uses cross-county titling, so you can title at any county office in the state, you’re not locked to your county of residence. For the full breakdown, see BMV vs. Clerk of Courts in Ohio.
Two rules that apply to almost every transfer
- Signatures must be notarized. Do not sign the title until you’re in front of a notary or deputy clerk. A title pre-signed by the seller is a red flag and can be rejected. Notaries are available at Clerk title offices.
- You have 30 days. The title must be transferred within 30 days of the date of sale (the notarized assignment date) or a $5 late fee applies.
Paper title vs. electronic title
Ohio issues titles on paper, but many are held electronically (especially when there’s a lien). How you assign ownership depends on which you have:
- Paper title: the seller completes the assignment of ownership on the back of the title, the buyer’s full legal name and address, the purchase price, and the odometer reading, and signs in front of a notary.
- Electronic title: there’s no paper to sign, so the parties use the Ownership Assignment and Title Application for Casual Sale (form BMV 3770). The seller completes page 1; the buyer completes page 2; both are notarized. Note: BMV 3770 can’t be used by dealerships or insurance companies, or for watercraft, outboard motors, all-purpose vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, or unconventional vehicles.
What to bring (checklist)
Private-party sale, paper title
- The original Ohio title with the seller’s assignment completed and notarized (buyer’s full legal name and address, purchase price, odometer reading)
- Valid photo ID (Ohio driver license or state ID) for the buyer
- The buyer’s Social Security number (required for all owners)
- Payment for the $18 title fee (plus a lien notation fee if you’re financing)
- Sales/use tax on the purchase price (rate varies by county)
- If two owners will be on the title, both must be present unless a notarized Power of Attorney (form BMV 3771) covers the absent owner
Private-party sale, electronic title
- A completed, notarized BMV 3770 (seller page 1, buyer page 2)
- The same photo ID, SSN, sales tax, and $18 title fee as above
Gift or family transfer
- The original title, assigned and notarized, with the purchase-price line marked “GIFT” (write the word, not “$0.00”)
- Valid photo ID and the $18 title fee
- A true gift is generally exempt from Ohio sales tax, confirm the exemption with the title office. For the full rules, see Gifted, inherited, or lost title in Ohio.
After the Clerk, register and plate at the BMV
- Your new Ohio title (or a memorandum title if there’s a lien)
- Proof of Ohio insurance
- Payment for registration and plate fees (you can transfer existing plates for $9.00)
Step by step: a private-party title transfer
This is a HowTo you can follow in order.
- Verify the title before money changes hands. Confirm the seller is the listed owner, the VIN on the title matches the vehicle, and there are no alterations or erasures. An altered title is void. If there’s a lien, the lienholder likely holds the title, sort that out first.
- Meet at a notary together (or use a POA). The seller fills in the assignment, buyer’s full legal name and address (no nicknames or initials), the odometer reading, and the purchase price, and signs in front of a notary. The easiest move is for buyer and seller to go to the title office together, where a deputy clerk notarizes on the spot.
- Go to the County Clerk of Courts title office. Bring the notarized title (or notarized BMV 3770 for an electronic title), photo ID, SSN, the $18 title fee, and sales tax on the purchase price. The Clerk issues the new title in the buyer’s name.
- Register and plate at the BMV. With the title in hand, visit a BMV deputy registrar for your registration and license plates. You can transfer plates from a vehicle you already own ($9.00) or buy new ones. Bring proof of insurance.
- Store your documents safely. Keep the title somewhere secure (not in the vehicle) and keep the registration in the car.
Private party vs. dealer: what’s different
| Item | Private-party sale | Dealer sale |
|---|---|---|
| Who prepares the title paperwork | You and the seller | The dealer handles it for you |
| Where ownership transfers | County Clerk of Courts | Dealer submits to the Clerk on your behalf |
| Notarization | You arrange it (title office or notary) | Dealer handles signatures |
| Temporary tags | Not issued; register promptly | Dealer can issue temp tags so you can drive |
| Sales tax | Collected by the title office | Collected by the dealer at purchase |
| Your BMV trip | Register and plate yourself | Often just plates, or the dealer transfers them |
When you buy from an Ohio-licensed dealer, the dealer is required to handle the title work. Dealer-side title work follows separate dealer and official title-office processes.
Fees at a glance
| Charge | Where you pay it | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Title | Clerk of Courts | $18.00 |
| Notation of Lien | Clerk of Courts | $18.00 |
| Late 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 |
| Plate/registration transfer | BMV | $9.00 |
| Passenger registration (annual) | BMV | $36.00 + permissive tax + DR fee |
Fees and figures change. Verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov before your visit.
For a full cost breakdown with examples, see How much does it cost to transfer a title in Ohio. Fees change, verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov.
Special situations
- There’s a loan on the car (lien). The lienholder usually holds the title. You’ll need it released, or you’ll register using a memorandum title while the lien stays on record. See Memorandum title.
- The car came from another state. Convert the out-of-state title to an Ohio title, and a used vehicle needs an out-of-state VIN inspection first. See Out-of-state title transfer in Ohio.
- The title is lost. The seller must get a duplicate title before transferring to you. See Duplicate title.
- A minor is involved. Anyone under 18 needs a notarized Minor Consent (form BMV 3751) with the title.
- Inherited vehicle. A surviving spouse can transfer vehicles totaling up to $65,000 by affidavit; larger estates may need probate paperwork. See Gifted, inherited, or lost title.
Common questions
Does the BMV transfer my car title in Ohio? No. Ohio titles are issued by the County Clerk of Courts, not the BMV. Get the title at your county Clerk title office, then register and plate at a BMV deputy registrar.
Can I sign the title before I arrive? No. The seller’s assignment must be signed in front of a notary. A pre-signed title can be rejected. Meeting at the title office lets a deputy clerk notarize for free or for a small fee.
How long do I have to transfer a title after buying a car? 30 days from the date of sale. After that, a $5 late fee is added at the title office.
What if the title is electronic? Use the Ownership Assignment and Title Application for Casual Sale (form BMV 3770) instead of the back of a paper title, seller completes page 1, buyer page 2, both notarized.
Do I need the seller present? For a single buyer, no, you just need the seller’s notarized assignment. For dual ownership, both new owners must be present unless a Power of Attorney (BMV 3771) covers the absent one.
Can someone handle the transfer for me? Yes, with an original Power of Attorney (form BMV 3771).
Where do I register after I get the title? At a BMV deputy registrar. Bring the title and proof of insurance. Find your nearest deputy registrar.
Helpful next pages
before you visit
Got your new title from the Clerk of Courts? Check queueing options at your local deputy registrar to finish registration and plates with less waiting. Not sure what to pack? Check the what-to-bring checklist first.
DMVQ is an independent resource, not affiliated with the Ohio BMV or any government agency. We organize publicly available information to help you plan your visit with confidence.
Where this information comes from
- Ohio BMV, How to Title (assignment, casual sale, BMV 3770): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/titles-new.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Transfer a Title (titles issued by Clerk of Courts): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/titles-transfer-death.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Documents & Fees: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/doc-fees.aspx
- Ohio Revised Code 4505.06 (titling, 30-day rule): https://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4505.06