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Ohio title transfer fees
How much is the title fee in Ohio?
$18 or $23
Amounts in the quoted line; read it for which applies.
In plain English
The title fee is $18 statewide. In some counties it may be $23, where local officials approve an additional charge.
“The $18 title fee applies statewide. In some counties, the fee may be $23 if local officials approve an additional charge.”
Worked example
Example: a $12,000 used car bought from a private seller in Ohio. Title fee: $18 or $23, whichever case in the quoted line applies. Tax is left out of this example. Not included: registration and plates, a lien fee, an out-of-state inspection, county or office add-ons, and late fees.
A made-up price; every other figure is from the quotes on this page. It is an illustration, not a bill.
What other fees come with it?
- Out-of-state inspection$8added if from another state
“Out-of-State Vehicle Inspection $8.00”
What are the steps in Ohio, and by when?
In plain English
The seller completes the “assignment of ownership” portion on the back of the title and has the signature notarized.
The official words
“The seller must complete the “assignment of ownership” portion on the back of the title and have their signature(s) notarized.”
The title is issued by a Clerk of Courts title office. The BMV does not issue titles.
The official words
“Ohio titles are issued by Clerk of Courts title offices, the BMV does not issue titles.”
The page’s list of what to bring to the title office includes the original title assigned to the buyer and acceptable identification, with the details left to the County Clerk of Courts Title Office.
The official words
“Original title assigned to the buyer”
“Acceptable identification (please contact your County Clerk of Courts Title Office for details)”
The list also includes payment for title fees, including a lien holder notation if there is one. The buyer pays sales and use tax on the purchase price.
The official words
“Payment for title fees , including a lien holder notation (if applicable)”
“The buyer will pay sales and use tax on the purchase price of the vehicle.”
Where there are two owners, both have to be present unless a notarized power of attorney is provided. Social Security numbers are required for all parties, and photocopies of the title are not accepted.
The official words
“Dual ownership requires both parties to be present unless a notarized power of attorney is provided.”
“Social Security numbers for all parties are required.”
“Photocopies of title are not accepted.”
A lien holder has to be noted on the assignment portion of the title.
The official words
“If you have a lien holder, it must be noted on the assignment portion of the title”
A 45-day temporary tag, for a buyer who chooses one, has to be obtained before the title is transferred into the buyer’s name.
The official words
“If you choose to have a 45-day temporary tag issued, it must be obtained before you transfer the vehicle title into your name.”
The title transfer has to take place within 30 days of the date of sale. Otherwise a late fee is assessed.
The official words
“Title transfers must take place within 30 days of the date of sale, otherwise a late fee will be assessed.”
What if the car comes from another state?
New residents have
30 days
“Within 30 days of establishing residency , you are responsible for transferring your out-of-state driver license or ID card, vehicle title, and vehicle registration to Ohio.”
In plain English
An out-of-state title must be converted to an Ohio title before the vehicle can be registered and get license plates in Ohio.
The official words
“In order to register a vehicle and obtain license plates in Ohio, an out-of-state title must be converted to an Ohio title.”
The agency's fee page lists an out-of-state vehicle inspection at $8.00.
The official words
“Out-of-State Vehicle Inspection $8.00”
The page’s list of what to bring for an out-of-state title includes an out-of-state vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection.
The official words
“An out-of-state vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection.”
When a lender holds the out-of-state title, the owner completes a transfer request form and sends it to the lienholder.
The official words
“If your lienholder has your title, you must complete a transfer request form and send it to your lienholder.”
A new resident has 30 days from establishing residency to transfer an out-of-state driver license or ID card, vehicle title and vehicle registration to Ohio.
The official words
“Within 30 days of establishing residency , you are responsible for transferring your out-of-state driver license or ID card, vehicle title, and vehicle registration to Ohio.”
What about tax on the purchase in Ohio?
In plain English
The buyer pays sales and use tax on the purchase price of the vehicle. The state's sales tax statute sets the rate at five and three-fourths per cent.
The official words
“The buyer will pay sales and use tax on the purchase price of the vehicle.”
“The rate of the tax shall be five and three-fourths per cent.”
We don’t work out tax for Ohio.
What does a gift or family transfer change in Ohio?
Nothing on this in the official pages we read for Ohio. That is about our reading, not about Ohio’s rules.
What happens if the transfer is late in Ohio?
In plain English
For late titling, the statute sets a fee of five dollars for each certificate of title that is not applied for within thirty days after the later of the assignment or delivery of the vehicle. The agency's page puts it as a late fee when the transfer does not take place within 30 days of the date of sale.
The official words
“Five dollars for each certificate of title that is not applied for within thirty days after the later of the assignment or delivery of the motor vehicle described in it.”
“Title transfers must take place within 30 days of the date of sale, otherwise a late fee will be assessed.”
What the pages we read do not cover
The quotes we hold do not cover gifts or transfers within a family.
The pages we read do not give the amount of the lien holder notation fee.
How Ohio compares
The lowest title fee amount quoted for Ohio is $18. Of the other 37 states with a figure, 22 states quote less, 14 states quote more and 1 state quotes the same. A title fee is one line, not the whole cost.
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Every state in one table · How a title transfer works
Add it up for Ohio
Reference only, not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the agency. Full statement
More from Ohio’s official pages
Registration and plates
“Annual vehicle renewal registration fees do not include permissive (local) taxes which vary based on the taxing district and vehicle type.”
Sources
21 quoted lines from 5 official sources, each matched word for word on November 12, 2026. The state’s own titling page is bmv.ohio.gov.
- Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Fees · bmv.ohio.gov
- Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, How to Title · bmv.ohio.gov
- Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, New Ohio Residents · bmv.ohio.gov
- Ohio Revised Code, Section 4505.09 Certificate of title fees · codes.ohio.gov
- Ohio Revised Code, Section 5739.02 Levy of sales tax · codes.ohio.gov