Ohio Auto Title Information
An title is required in Ohio for every automobile that is insured, registered or driven on public roads. If you are an Ohio resident, you will need to obtain an Ohio-issued title for every car that you own and regularly drive in Ohio. If your car is totaled, it will be issued a salvage title and cannot be driven on public roads until a rebuilt salvage title is issued.
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Title Certificate
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If you purchase a new car, the dealer will handle the paperwork for the issuance of the title. The title will contain a description of the car, its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), your name and identifying details, and a section for transfer of title. Do not fill out the transfer of title section until you transfer ownership of the car to someone else. Keep the title certificate in a safe place.
Duplicate Titles
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If you lose or damage your title certificate, you will need to obtain a duplicate title certificate. You can do this by going to a local title office (please see Resources section), filling out an application for a duplicate title, presenting a photo ID and paying a $15 issuance fee.
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Title Transfers
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If you buy, sell, donate, gift or inherit a car, you must obtain a new title certificate in the name of the new owner. If you add a co-owner, you must have a new title certificate issued reflecting the change. In order to transfer the title, you will need to fill out the title transfer section on the old title certificate. You will need to enter the odometer reading (if the car is less than 10 years old) and the sales price. Both the transferor and the transferee must sign the old title certificate in the presence of a notary public. You will have to complete a bill of sale if the car is being sold. The transferee will need to go to a local title office, fill out a title transfer application and pay a transfer fee of $5 (as of 2010) plus $5 for each lien on the car.
Salvage Titles
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If your car is damaged, an insurance company will examine it to determine whether it is economically feasible to fix it. If the cost to repair it would exceed the value of the repaired vehicle, it will be declared a "total loss." The car's original title will be replaced with a salvage title, and the car cannot be insured, registered or driven on public roads--it can only be sold for its salvage value.
Rebuilt Titles
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If you wish to repair a salvage titled car and drive it again, you will need to obtain a rebuilt salvage title. You will need to repair the car, keep the receipts for the repair and any parts, obtain a government-issued inspection form and have it inspected by a government-approved inspector. If the car passes the inspection, you may go to your local title office to apply for the issuance of a rebuilt salvage title. The new title certificate will include a notation indicating that the car was salvaged and has since been rebuilt.
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