Obtaining a Certificate of Title in Warren County Ohio

• Alterations should not be made on a Certificate of Title. If this is done, the title becomes null and void and a replacement title must be obtained.
• Do not fill out any part of the title unless it is done in the presence of a Notary Public or a deputy clerk in our title offices. All signatures must be notarized.
• You must apply for your Certificate of Title within 30 days of it being notarized or a $5 late fee will be applied to your fee.
• When buying a vehicle, always make sure you compare the serial number on the vehicle to the title you were given.
• Your Certificate of Title may be obtained in any county in the state.

Ohio law requires the seller of a vehicle to complete an Odometer Statement.

Do not fill out the assignment on the reverse side of the Certificate of Title until an actual sale has been made. Make certain that you know the proper name and address of the buyer before making the assignment. You as the seller, are required to state the actual purchase price, the odometer reading and the date of sale of the vehicle. You must sign the title exactly as your name appears on the front and your signature must be notarized.

No person can sign your title for you without a notarized Power of Attorney. Powers of Attorney can be obtained in any county title office or at www.bmv.ohio.gov/doc-forms.aspx and go to Form #3771.

You must state the purchase price of the vehicle so that appropriate sales tax is collected, depending on the tax rate for your county of residence.

A 7% tax must be paid by a resident of Warren County when purchasing a motor vehicle outside the State of Ohio. Tax for residents of other counties in the state can vary from this amount. This applies to the purchase of a car for use or storage in Ohio. Credit may be given for any tax paid to the other state and may be deducted from taxes due in Ohio.

The seller must have completed the assignment portion on the back of the Ohio title and sign in the presence of a Notary Public. The buyer should bring the original assigned title and a photo ID to one of our offices. The fee for a title transfer is $15.00 plus any affidavit fees and sales tax.

When a title is going into or coming out of more than one name, all parties must sign in the presence of a Notary Public. The title will reflect the conjunction "and". NO Ohio title will be issued with the conjunction "or".

The original out-of-state title is needed. If you are making payments or leasing the vehicle and you are not in possession of the original title, contact the Clerk of Courts' Title Division. The owner or owners named on the title must be present to sign for the new Ohio Title. An inspection of the serial number is required and this can be completed at most new car dealers in Ohio or a Deputy Registrar's office. The fee for this inspection is $5.00 ($3.50 payable to the inspector and $1.50 payable to the Clerk of Courts at the time of the transfer). The average fee at the Title Division Office is $19.50 (Title $5; Memorandum $5; Lien Recording $5; Inspection $1.50; Affidavits $3). The process should be completed within 30 days of moving into the state.

If the original title is lost, stolen or destroyed, you may obtain a Duplicate Certificate of Title. The fee is $16 and a photo ID and vehicle information are required.

Upon the death of a married resident who owned at least one automobile at the time of death, the surviving spouse may transfer an unlimited number of vehicles valued up to $65,000 and one boat and one outboard motor not disposed of by Will. A surviving spouse must bring the vehicle title and death certificate to obtain a title in their name. All other transfers must be accompanied by a proper entry from the Probate Court.

For more thorough explanations of transferring a title for a surviving spouse, for “With Rights Of Survivorship” (WROS) or “Transfer On Death” (TOD), please click here.

Commercial trailers weighing 4000 pounds or more are required to be titled. A Certificate of Title is not required on any commercial or utility trailer weighing less than 4000 pounds. The sale, purchase or mortgage of the trailer is the same as a motor vehicle except for the odometer statement, which is not required.

All travel trailers, including fold down campers are required to be titled in Ohio.

When installing a camping unit on your pickup truck, you must record this "body change" with the title office you originally went to. Both original titles for the truck camper and the pickup truck will be required for this change. The new title will show a body type of Motor Home.

When you dismantle, destroy or change the character of your automobile so that it no longer is a complete car, you must surrender your Certificate of Title to a title office for cancellation. When you sell your vehicle to a junk dealer, you must assign the title to the dealer and have your signature notarized.

• REMEMBER: The Certificate of Title to your vehicle/watercraft is similar to the deed to your real estate property - take good care of it.
• Do NOT carry your Certificate of Title on your person or in your vehicle/watercraft - keep it in a safe place. It is your only proof of ownership. It is suggested that on the first of each year you check your Title Memorandum Certificate and, if it cannot be located, apply for a duplicate immediately.
• If you are in doubt concerning the transferring, buying, selling or mortgaging of a motor vehicle, always call your Clerk of Courts for complete information.