In Ohio, a “bonded title” is not a stand-alone document you can buy with a surety bond like you can in many other states. Ohio titles its vehicles through the County Clerk of Courts using the Application(s) for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle (form BMV 3774), and when you have no proper title, you reach a real Ohio title through a court-ordered process or a sworn ownership filing rather than a posted bond.
That difference trips people up every day. Folks who buy a car cash with no paperwork, inherit a vehicle, or build a trailer at home often search for a “bonded title” and end up confused when the Ohio BMV tells them the state runs a court route instead. Ohio processes millions of title transactions each year, and a single wrong box on the BMV 3774, like an understated purchase price, can stall your title and expose you to a tax audit and a perjury warning printed right on the form.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 🚗 What the BMV 3774 is, who must file it, and how it fits Ohio’s “bonded title” path
- 📋 A line-by-line walkthrough of every box on the form, with sample entries
- 👩⚖️ Three real-world scenarios filled out from start to finish
- 💲 The exact fees, deadlines, and the $5 late penalty to plan around
- ⚠️ The most common field mistakes and how to dodge a rejected application
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Application(s) for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle, known as form BMV 3774, is the master title application the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles uses to record vehicle ownership. The same form covers an original title, a duplicate, a replacement, a memorandum title, and a salvage title. When your “bonded title” situation ends in a court order or a sworn ownership filing, this is the form that turns that result into an actual Ohio certificate of title.
You must file this form when you own or buy a vehicle and need a title in your name but cannot use the back of a paper title. That happens when the seller never gave you a title, the title is lost, the vehicle has an electronic title, or you built or assembled the vehicle yourself. Ohio titles are issued by County Clerk of Courts title offices, not by the BMV itself, so you file the BMV 3774 at a Clerk of Courts office.
The form exists because Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4505 requires a certificate of title to prove legal ownership before you can register or sell a vehicle. The agency that receives the form is your County Clerk of Courts. The deadline that governs it is 30 days from the date of assignment or purchase, and the penalty for missing that window is a $5 late fee printed at the top of the form. Without a valid title, you cannot register, plate, insure, or legally sell the vehicle.
A quick word on the “bonded title” label. In states like Arizona, you post a surety bond worth about 1.5 times the vehicle value and the state issues a bonded title. Ohio does not issue that document. Instead, Ohio sends owners with missing paperwork to the Court of Common Pleas for a court-ordered title, and the BMV 3774 is the application that finalizes it.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything below before you open the form. A missing item is the single most common reason a Clerk of Courts office hands the application back unprocessed.
- Photo ID. You need a valid driver license or state ID. Without it, the Clerk cannot verify you are the person signing, and the office will refuse to process the application.
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The 17-character VIN ties the application to the right vehicle. A wrong digit creates a title for a car you do not own and forces a correction later.
- Evidence of ownership. This is your bill of sale, prior title, Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO), or court order. Without proof, the Clerk has no legal basis to issue a title in your name.
- Bill of sale or purchase price record. You must state the true price you paid. A missing record makes it hard to defend the tax figure if the Ohio Department of Taxation audits the transfer.
- Social Security Number or EIN. The form requires an SSN for an individual or an EIN for a business. A blank field stops processing because Ohio links titles to a taxpayer record.
- Seller name and address. You must show who you acquired the vehicle from. Without it, the “state how acquired” section is incomplete and the application is rejected.
- Lien information. You must list every lien or write “none.” Skipping this can leave a stale lien on your record and block a future sale.
- VIN inspection certificate, if needed. Vehicles last titled in another state need a physical inspection under Ohio Revised Code 4505.061. Missing it stops an out-of-state title cold.
- Court order, if the bonded-title route applies. When you have no chain of title, a Court of Common Pleas order directs the Clerk to issue the title. Without it, the Clerk has nothing to act on.
- Payment for fees. The Clerk needs the title fee plus any late fee and sales tax. No payment means no title that day.
Pull these items together first. Walking into the title office with one box missing turns a 20-minute visit into a second trip.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You can download the BMV 3774 directly from the Ohio BMV forms page, where it sits with the rest of the motor vehicle title forms. The official PDF is the Application(s) for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle, and it is the version the Clerk of Courts expects. Always confirm you have the current revision by checking the form code, BMV 3774, in the bottom corner before you print it.
You can also pick up a paper copy at any County Clerk of Courts title office. Staff there can hand you the blank form and tell you which boxes apply to your situation. This is the safest option when you are unsure, because the same staff process the finished form.
Print the form in black ink and type or print your answers, since the form itself says “Type or Print in Ink.” Do not fill it out in pencil, because the Clerk will not accept an application that can be altered. Do not sign it at home either, because most boxes need a notary to watch you sign.
One thing to remember: the BMV 3774 must be notarized unless you are a licensed Ohio motor vehicle dealer, under Ohio Revised Code 4505.063. Many Clerk of Courts offices have a notary on site at no extra charge, so you can sign there.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the BMV 3774 Line by Line
Work through the form from top to bottom. Each box below is its own step. Use the exact field names printed on the form so you and the Clerk are looking at the same line.
1. Check Type of Application(s)
This top section asks which kind of title you want. The choices are Original Certificate of Title, Duplicate, Replacement, Memorandum, and Salvage Certificate of Title.
To answer it, check one box that matches your need. For a bonded-title situation where you have no title, you check Original Certificate of Title because you are creating the first Ohio title in your name. For a lost Ohio title, you check Duplicate instead.
For example, Derek Hall bought a pickup with no title from a private seller, so he checks Original Certificate of Title.
A common edge case is a vehicle that had an Ohio title that was lost. In that case you do not need the bonded route at all; you check Duplicate and state the title was lost, stolen, or destroyed.
A frequent mistake is checking two boxes at once, like Original and Duplicate. The consequence is a kicked-back form, because the Clerk cannot tell which title you are requesting.
People often believe the “Original” box means the original paper they lost. It does not; it means the first title issued in your name for this vehicle.
2. Applicant’s Printed Name
This box asks for the legal name of the person who will own the vehicle. It is the name that will print on the title.
Enter your full legal name as it appears on your photo ID, in the order first, middle, last. Print clearly or type it.
For example, Maria Lopez writes Maria Elena Lopez exactly as it reads on her driver license.
If two people will own the vehicle together, the second owner goes in the Co-Applicant’s Name box, not stacked into this one. A married couple titling jointly uses both name fields.
A common mistake is using a nickname or maiden name that does not match your ID. The consequence is a name mismatch that delays the title and can block your registration later.
People wrongly think the title name can differ from the insurance name without trouble. In practice, lenders and insurers cross-check the title name, so a mismatch causes friction.
3. SSN / EIN
This box asks for your Social Security Number if you are an individual, or your Employer Identification Number if a business owns the vehicle. Ohio uses it to tie the title to a tax record.
Write your nine-digit SSN, or your EIN if titling under a business. Use the format the form shows, with no extra marks.
For example, Maria Lopez enters her full SSN, while Hartman Landscaping LLC enters its EIN.
Under Ohio Revised Code 4505.09, you may use only the last four digits in limited cases, such as a salvage certificate for an owner-retained vehicle. For a standard original title, give the full number.
A common mistake is leaving this blank for privacy. The consequence is an instant stop, because the Clerk cannot process a title without the number.
People believe the SSN appears on the printed title for anyone to see. It does not; it stays in the secure title record.
4. Applicant’s Printed Address, City, State, Zip Code, County
This group asks where you live. The County field matters because it sets which Clerk of Courts office holds your record.
Enter your current residential mailing address, the city, the two-letter state, the five-digit ZIP, and your Ohio county. Print each part in its own box.
For example, Derek Hall writes 418 Maple St, Dayton, OH, 45402, Montgomery.
If you use a P.O. Box for mail, still list your physical county of residence, because the county controls jurisdiction even when mail goes elsewhere.
A common mistake is leaving the County box blank. The consequence is a processing delay, since Ohio routes the title record by county.
People assume any county office will permanently hold the record. Any office can issue the title, but your home county is what you list here.
5. Co-Applicant’s Name and SSN / EIN
This box asks for a second owner, if any. It controls whether the vehicle is titled to one person or two.
Enter the co-owner’s full legal name and SSN exactly as on their ID. If there is no co-owner, leave it blank.
For example, Maria Lopez adds her husband Carlos Lopez and his SSN as co-applicant.
If the co-owner cannot appear in person, you need a notarized Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title (form BMV 3771). Without it, both owners must be present.
A common mistake is adding a co-owner casually without thinking about survivorship. The consequence is a title that may not pass cleanly to the survivor unless you also mark the survivorship box.
People think adding a co-owner is harmless. In reality it gives that person equal legal claim to the vehicle.
6. Evidence of Ownership / How Acquired / Previous Owner
This is the heart of a bonded-title situation. The form asks for your evidence of ownership, how you acquired the vehicle, and the previous owner’s name and address.
In the evidence line, list your MCO, previous title number, registration, bill of sale, or court order. In “state how acquired,” write the plain method, such as purchased, gift, or court order. Then enter the previous owner’s name and address.
For example, Derek Hall writes Bill of sale as evidence, Purchased as how acquired, and lists the seller Thomas Reed with his address.
If you truly cannot identify the previous owner because the chain is broken, this is exactly where the Ohio court-ordered route comes in, and you would attach the Court of Common Pleas order as your evidence. The form also asks “Is Seller a Minor?”; check Yes or No, since a minor seller triggers the Minor Consent Form (BMV 3751).
A common mistake is writing “none” for evidence when you have no title. The consequence is a flat rejection, because Ohio cannot issue a title with zero ownership proof; you need the court order first.
People believe a handwritten note from a seller counts as a title. It does not; it is only one piece of evidence toward the title.
7. Statement of All Liens
This box asks whether anyone has a financial claim on the vehicle. It protects lenders and future buyers.
List each lien holder, the E Code number if known, and the address. If there is no lien, write none. If more than one lien exists, attach a separate statement.
For example, Maria Lopez financed her car through a credit union, so she writes Riverside Credit Union with its address.
If you paid cash and own the car free and clear, you simply write none in the lien holder box. Leaving it blank is not the same as writing “none.”
A common mistake is leaving the lien box empty. The consequence is a held application, because the Clerk reads a blank as missing information rather than “no lien.”
People think old, paid-off loans must be relisted. They should not be; only active liens belong here.
8. Vehicle Description: Year, VIN, Model, Body Type, Make, Conversion
This group identifies the exact vehicle. It is the data that prints on the face of the title.
Enter the model Year, the full 17-character VIN, the Model, the Body Type, the Make, and any Conversion. Match every character to the vehicle and its documents.
For example, Derek Hall enters 2014, his truck’s VIN, Silverado, Pickup, Chevrolet.
If you built the vehicle yourself, such as a homemade trailer, an Ohio State Highway Patrol inspection assigns or verifies the VIN before you title it. Use the VIN exactly as the inspector records it.
A common mistake is transposing two VIN digits. The consequence is a title tied to the wrong vehicle, which forces a corrected-title filing and another fee.
People assume the VIN is the same as the license plate number. It is not; the VIN is the unique 17-character code stamped on the vehicle.
9. Purchase Price, Trade In Allowance, Gross Tax Due, Vendor’s Discount, Tax Paid
This financial group sets the sales and use tax you owe. Ohio audits these numbers.
Enter the true Purchase Price, any Trade In Allowance, the Gross Tax Due, any Vendor’s Discount, and the Tax Paid. For a private casual sale, you usually enter the price and the tax due, leaving dealer-only boxes blank.
For example, Derek Hall paid $7,500, so he writes $7,500.00 as the purchase price and the matching tax due for Montgomery County.
If you received the vehicle as a genuine gift, you enter the Tax Exemption box as Yes and write the reason, such as gift, instead of inventing a sale price. Gifts between family members can qualify for exemption.
A common and serious mistake is understating the price to lower the tax. The consequence is steep: the form’s warning cites Ohio Revised Code 2921.13, and a false statement can mean up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
People believe a low “sale” price beats the tax. The Department of Taxation audits transfers and can assess the extra tax due plus penalties.
10. Tax Exemption and Dealer / Vendor Numbers
This section asks if the transfer is tax-exempt and captures dealer identifiers. Most private filers use only the exemption part.
Check Tax Exemption Yes and write the reason only if a real exemption applies, such as a gift or a transfer to a qualifying party. Leave the Dealer’s Permit Number and Vendor’s Number blank unless you are a dealer.
For example, Janet Price inherited her late father’s sedan and writes inheritance as the exemption reason.
If you claim an exemption you cannot support, expect to pay the tax later with interest. Keep proof of the exemption reason in your records.
A common mistake is checking the exemption box to skip tax on a normal cash purchase. The consequence is an audit and a back-tax bill, because a cash buy is not exempt.
People think any family transfer is automatically tax-free. Only specific relationships and gift situations qualify under Ohio rules.
11. Condition, Print Title, Survivorship, Transfer on Death
This group sets the vehicle condition and how the title is held. It shapes what happens to the vehicle if an owner dies.
Check one condition: Good, Fair, Poor, or Wrecked. Check Print Title Yes if you want a paper title. Check With Right of Survivorship or Transfer on Death only if you intend that estate planning.
For example, Maria Lopez checks Good, Print Title Yes, and With Right of Survivorship Yes so her husband keeps the car automatically.
If you choose Transfer on Death, you must also file the Transfer on Death form (BMV 3811). The form states this directly next to the box.
A common mistake is ignoring the survivorship box on a jointly owned car. The consequence is that the vehicle may pass through probate instead of going straight to the co-owner.
People believe a joint title automatically includes survivorship. It does not; you must check the box to get that protection.
12. Minor, Replica, and Adaptive Mobility Vehicle Questions
This group flags special vehicle and owner types. Each triggers extra paperwork.
Answer “Applicant is a minor” Yes or No, and if Yes add the date of birth and the BMV 3751 form. Answer the Replica and Adaptive Mobility Vehicle questions Yes or No based on the vehicle.
For example, Derek Hall checks No on all three because he is an adult titling a standard truck.
If you are titling a replica vehicle, note that Ohio began allowing replica titles on 12/27/2025, and they need an Ohio State Highway Patrol HP-106 inspection report. Mark Replica Yes and provide the replicated make, model, and year.
A common mistake is skipping these because they look irrelevant. The consequence is a returned form, since the Clerk needs a Yes or No, not a blank.
People think these boxes are optional. They are required answers, even when the answer is simply No.
13. Applicant’s Signature and Co-Applicant’s Signature
This is where you swear the form is true. Your signature makes the whole application a sworn legal statement.
Sign your name on the Applicant’s Signature line, and have the co-owner sign the Co-Applicant’s Signature line. Do not sign until you are in front of the notary.
For example, Maria and Carlos Lopez both sign at the Clerk’s notary desk while the notary watches.
If a co-owner cannot attend, the notarized BMV 3771 power of attorney lets someone sign for them. Without it, an unsigned co-owner line voids the joint title.
A common mistake is signing at home before seeing the notary. The consequence is that the notary cannot certify a signature they did not witness, so you must sign again.
People think a signature is just a formality. It is a sworn statement under penalty of perjury, tied to the tax warning above it.
14. Notary Block (Sworn to and Subscribed)
This bottom block is the notary’s certification that you signed in their presence. It is what makes the form legally valid in Ohio.
Leave this blank for the notary. The notary fills in the day, month, year, county, and state, applies the seal, signs, and writes the commission expiration date.
For example, a Montgomery County notary completes the block after watching Derek Hall sign.
If you are a licensed Ohio motor vehicle dealer who owns the vehicle, Ohio Revised Code 4505.063 waives notarization. Everyone else needs it.
A common mistake is filling in the notary block yourself. The consequence is rejection, because only the notary may complete and seal that section.
People believe any witness can sign here. Only a commissioned notary or other officer authorized by law can.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three scenarios show the most common reasons Ohioans search for a “bonded title.” Each follows one person through the BMV 3774.
Scenario 1: Derek bought a used truck cash with no title. Derek paid a private seller $7,500 but never got a signed title, so he files a court action for a court-ordered title, then completes the BMV 3774.
| Form Section | What Derek Enters |
|---|---|
| Type of Application | Original Certificate of Title |
| Applicant’s Printed Name | Derek James Hall |
| SSN / EIN | His full SSN |
| Address, City, State, Zip, County | 418 Maple St, Dayton, OH 45402, Montgomery |
| Evidence of Ownership | Court order plus bill of sale |
| How Acquired / Previous Owner | Purchased; Thomas Reed |
| Liens | None |
| Year / VIN / Make / Model | 2014 / full VIN / Chevrolet / Silverado |
| Purchase Price | $7,500.00 |
| Signature | Signed before notary at Clerk’s office |
Scenario 2: Maria and Carlos title a financed car jointly. They buy from a private seller with an electronic Ohio title and want survivorship.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Type of Application | Original Certificate of Title |
| Applicant’s Printed Name | Maria Elena Lopez |
| Co-Applicant’s Name | Carlos Lopez |
| Evidence of Ownership | BMV 3770 casual sale assignment |
| How Acquired / Previous Owner | Purchased; Gregory Tan |
| Liens | Riverside Credit Union, with address |
| Purchase Price | $12,300.00 |
| With Right of Survivorship | Yes |
| Print Title | Yes |
| Signature | Both sign before notary |
Scenario 3: Bryan titles a homemade utility trailer. Bryan built a trailer and has receipts but no MCO, so he gets an Ohio State Highway Patrol inspection first.
| Form Section | What Bryan Enters |
|---|---|
| Type of Application | Original Certificate of Title |
| Applicant’s Printed Name | Bryan Scott Webb |
| Evidence of Ownership | Highway Patrol inspection plus parts receipts |
| How Acquired | Self-assembled |
| Previous Owner | Self-built, no prior owner |
| Liens | None |
| Year / VIN / Body Type | 2026 / assigned VIN / Trailer |
| Purchase Price | Total parts cost, $1,850.00 |
| Condition | Good |
| Signature | Signed before notary |
How to File the Completed Form
Ohio gives you two filing channels for the BMV 3774, both through the County Clerk of Courts title office. The BMV does not accept these directly.
In person. Bring the completed but unsigned form, your photo ID, your evidence of ownership, and payment to any County Clerk of Courts title office. Sign in front of the on-site notary. The standard title fee is about $15 per title, plus the $5 late fee if you are past 30 days, plus county sales tax. Most offices take cash, check, or card, but call ahead since payment options vary by county. Your title usually prints the same day, and your stamped copy is your proof of filing.
By mail. For a duplicate or replacement, mail the notarized form, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to your County Clerk of Courts title office. Confirm the mailing address and accepted payment with that office first. Processing by mail takes longer, often one to two weeks, and your returned title plus your mailing receipt serve as proof.
For a true bonded-title situation with no chain of ownership, you file a separate petition in the Court of Common Pleas first. Court filing fees commonly run $100 to $300, and the full court timeline can take two to six months. Once the judge signs the order, you take it to the Clerk with your BMV 3774.
Keep a copy of everything you submit. If a question comes up later about tax or ownership, your stamped application and receipts are your record.
What Happens After You File
Once the Clerk of Courts accepts your BMV 3774 and payment, the office enters the vehicle into Ohio’s title system and prints your certificate of title. When you file in person with complete paperwork, you usually walk out the same day with the title in hand.
If you filed by mail, the Clerk reviews the form, processes payment, and mails the title back, which generally takes one to two weeks. If anything is missing, such as a blank lien box or a notary error, the office contacts you or returns the packet, and the clock resets until you fix it.
With the title issued, you can register the vehicle, get plates, add insurance, and legally sell it. The title is the legal proof of ownership Ohio recognizes under Ohio Revised Code 4505.04.
Remember that the Department of Taxation can audit any transfer after the fact. Keep your bill of sale and the stamped application, because an audit can arrive months later and ask you to back up the price you reported.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Understating the purchase price to save on tax, which can trigger a perjury charge and a back-tax assessment.
- Leaving the lien box blank instead of writing “none,” which causes the Clerk to hold the application as incomplete.
- Signing the form at home, which voids notarization and forces you to sign again in front of the notary.
- Checking two application-type boxes, which confuses the Clerk and gets the form rejected.
- Transposing VIN digits, which ties the title to the wrong vehicle and forces a costly correction.
- Skipping the County field, which delays routing your title to the right record.
- Using a nickname instead of your legal name, which creates a mismatch with your ID and registration.
- Writing “none” for evidence of ownership when you truly have none, which fails because you need a court order first.
- Forgetting the VIN inspection for an out-of-state vehicle, which stops the title under Ohio Revised Code 4505.061.
- Missing the 30-day deadline, which adds the $5 late fee on top of your other costs.
- Leaving the Yes/No special-vehicle boxes blank, which gets the form returned for incomplete answers.
- Checking the tax-exemption box on a normal cash sale, which invites an audit and a tax bill.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Do print or type in ink, because the form requires it and pencil entries are rejected.
- Do bring your photo ID, because the Clerk cannot verify your identity without it.
- Do write “none” in the lien box when you owe nothing, because a blank reads as missing data.
- Do state the true purchase price, because the Department of Taxation audits transfers.
- Do get the VIN inspection for out-of-state cars, because Ohio law requires it before titling.
- Do keep copies of everything, because an audit can come months after filing.
Don’ts
- Don’t sign before you reach the notary, because the notary must witness your signature.
- Don’t guess at the VIN, because one wrong digit creates the wrong title.
- Don’t leave required Yes/No boxes empty, because the Clerk needs an answer in each.
- Don’t claim a false tax exemption, because you will owe the tax plus penalties later.
- Don’t miss the 30-day window, because the late fee applies automatically.
- Don’t assume a bill of sale alone is a title, because Ohio needs the full application or court order.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
| Filing on Your Own | Filing With Professional Help |
|---|---|
| Cheaper, since you avoid service or attorney fees | Costs more, but the helper handles the court petition and paperwork |
| You control the timeline and can file the same day in simple cases | A pro can speed a complex court-ordered title that you might stall on |
| You learn the process, which helps with future vehicles | You save time and avoid learning a court process you may use once |
| Risk of rejection if you misread a field like evidence of ownership | Lower rejection risk, because the pro knows the common errors |
| Full responsibility for tax figures and the perjury warning | Guidance on tax exemptions and proper price reporting |
Filing on your own works well for a clean cash purchase where you can get a signed assignment or a quick court order. Bringing in help makes sense when the chain of ownership is broken, the vehicle is self-assembled, or a court petition feels overwhelming.
Bonded Title vs. Court-Ordered Title in Ohio
| Traditional Bonded Title (Other States) | Ohio Court-Ordered Title |
|---|---|
| You buy a surety bond, often 1.5x the vehicle value, like in Arizona | You file in the Court of Common Pleas for an order, since Ohio does not issue bonded titles |
| The state issues a “bonded” title quickly | A judge orders the Clerk to issue a standard title |
| One premium covers a three-year bond term | You pay court filing fees, commonly $100 to $300 |
| Bond protects later claimants for the term | The court ruling settles ownership before the title issues |
This is the key reason Ohio searches for “bonded title” lead to confusion. The end result in Ohio is a normal certificate of title from the BMV 3774, reached through the court rather than a bond.
FAQs
Does Ohio offer a true bonded title?
No. Ohio does not issue bonded titles. When you have no title, you get a court-ordered title through the Court of Common Pleas, then finalize it with the BMV 3774 at the Clerk of Courts.
Do I file the BMV 3774 at the BMV?
No. Ohio titles are issued by County Clerk of Courts title offices, not the BMV. You file the form at any Clerk of Courts office.
Do I write my legal name or nickname in the Applicant’s Printed Name box?
No. Never use a nickname. Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your photo ID to avoid a mismatch that delays your title.
Do I leave the lien box blank if I paid cash?
No. Write “none” in the lien holder box. A blank field reads as missing information and the Clerk will hold your application.
Do I check the “Original Certificate of Title” box for a missing title?
Yes. Check Original Certificate of Title when creating your first Ohio title. Check Duplicate only when an Ohio title was issued before and then lost.
Do I have to state the real purchase price?
Yes. You must state the true price under penalty of perjury. A false figure can mean up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, and back taxes.
Do I need the form notarized?
Yes. Most filers must have the form notarized. Only licensed Ohio dealers who own the vehicle are exempt under Ohio Revised Code 4505.063.
Do I sign the form before going to the title office?
No. Wait to sign until you are in front of the notary, because the notary must witness your signature for it to count.
Do I need a VIN inspection for an out-of-state vehicle?
Yes. A physical VIN inspection is required under Ohio Revised Code 4505.061 for any vehicle last titled in another state before Ohio will issue a title.
Do gifts between family members owe sales tax?
No. A genuine gift can qualify for a tax exemption. Check the Tax Exemption box and write “gift” or the qualifying reason, and keep proof.
Do I have a deadline to file?
Yes. You have 30 days from the date of assignment or purchase. After that, Ohio adds a $5 late fee to your title cost.
Do I need a court order for a self-built trailer?
No. You usually do not need a court order. You need an Ohio State Highway Patrol inspection to assign or verify the VIN, plus your parts receipts as evidence.
Do both owners have to appear for a joint title?
Yes. Both owners must appear, unless one provides a notarized Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title (form BMV 3771) authorizing the other to sign.
Do I get survivorship automatically on a joint title?
No. You must check the “With Right of Survivorship” box. Without it, the vehicle may pass through probate instead of going to the co-owner.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out the Arizona Bonded Title Application (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Michigan Bonded Title Application (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Ohio Abandoned Vehicle Title Application + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Ohio Salvage Title Application (BMV 3768) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Washington Bonded Title Application (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Colorado DMV Bonded Title (DR 2922) (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Delaware DMV Application for Duplicate Title (Form MV213) + FAQs