Photo ID
Ohio driver license or state ID.
Printable guide
Trailer, Farm & Motorcycle Registration Checklist
Use this before registering a trailer, farm truck, motorcycle, or moped at an official DMV or BMV office.
independent DMV and BMV information guide Verify requirements with the official DMV or BMV before you visit.
Bring these
Bring to register your vehicle
Ohio title or registration
The vehicle's Ohio title, or current registration if renewing.
Proof of Ohio insurance
Bring current insurance for the vehicle.
Farm truck details
Unladen weight and any required proof of agricultural use, farm fees are weight-based.
Payment
Registration fee, deputy registrar fee, and permissive tax for the term you choose.
Decision point
Pick your term before you arrive
Annual or multi-year
Most of these vehicles can register 2 to 5 years at once, the same total cost paid up front, no refunds for unused time.
Permanent (trailers only)
Roughly eight years of fees up front for a system-assigned plate that never needs a sticker. Non-transferable.
Renewing electronically
Many renewals can be handled through official Ohio BMV online services. First-time registrations and permanent trailer plates are handled in person at an official DMV or BMV office.
At the visit
Simple steps
- Title a newly acquired vehicle at the County Clerk of Courts first.
- Choose your class and term, annual, multi-year, or permanent for trailers.
- Bring your title or registration, ID, insurance, and payment.
- Get your plate and sticker, or a 30-day window card while a permanent trailer plate is mailed.
Avoid a return trip
- Do not confuse registering a motorcycle with being licensed to ride it, the endorsement is separate.
- Do not expect a personalized permanent trailer plate, they are system-assigned only.
- Do not count on refunds, multi-year registration is non-refundable for unused time.