Register Your Motor Vehicle

Effective July 1, 2015, Ohio requires that within 30 days of becoming a resident of this state, any person who owns a motor vehicle operated or driven upon the public roads or highways must register the vehicle in this state. After establishing residency, a person may not operate a vehicle in this state with a license from another state. Violation of this section of the External linkOhio Revised Code (ORC) is a minor misdemeanor (External linkORC §4503.111).

To register your vehicle in the External linkState of Ohio, please complete the following steps:

1. Ensure you have the following items:
   • Ohio Certificate of Title or Memorandum Certificate of Title.
   • A signed, notarized External linkPower of Attorney (if applicable).
   • External linkAcceptable Form of Identification.
2. Present your Ohio Certificate of Title (or memorandum title if your car has a lien) to any External linkDeputy Registrar Office. If you have not titled your vehicle in the External linkState of Ohio, you must complete this process first.
3. The Deputy Registrar will collect the proper Opens in new windowregistration fees depending on when you purchase your tags, which taxing district you reside in, and when your birthday is. Legal owners of thevehicle must apply for registration.

Please Note: If your full legal name is inconsistent on any of the documents presented to the External linkBureau of Motor Vehicles, you must provide additional documents to establish the full name. Acceptable documents may include: certified copy of a court ordered name change; a marriage certificate or marriage license; a certified copy of a decree of divorce, dissolution, or annulment of marriage.

For more information on registering your vehicle in the State of Ohio, please contact the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 844.644.6268 or visit the External linkOhio BMV website.