Lost or Stolen Titles
lf a vehicle's original Certificate of Title has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, the owner or lien holder may obtain a duplicate title. lf the original title is recovered after the issuance of the duplicate title, the original title is no longer valid and must be destroyed.

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Salvage Titles
lf the cost of repairing a damaged vehicle is greater than its value, the vehicle is considered to be "totaled," and the owner's insurance company may require the issuance of a Salvage Title. To obtain a Salvage Title, the vehicle owner must take proper identification and the vehicle's original title to any Clerk of Courts Title Office.

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The Bureau of Motor Vehicles Deputy Registrar will not issue license plates for a vehicle with a Salvage Title. ln order to get license plates, the owner will need to convert the Salvage Title to a Rebuilt Salvage Title, requiring the purchase of an inspection application from the Deputy Registrar.

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Rebuilt Salvage Process
Before a Salvage Title can be converted to a Rebuilt Salvage Title, an inspection of the vehicle must be completed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Step 1: Purchase an lnspection Application from a deputy registrar

Step 2: Schedule a vehicle inspection appointment with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Inspection Station

Step 3: Present all required documentation for salvage inspections:

• Ohio Salvage Title in the name of the person applying for the title. ("Assigned titles" cannot be accepted.)

• Original receipts for all replaced "major" components and parts. (The inspection office may require receipts or documentation for any part in question). When "kits" are used, the manufacturer's certificate of origin must be presented.

Step 4: Take the State Highway Patrol lnspection and the Salvage Title to any Clerk of Courts title office to obtain a Rebuilt Salvage Title.

 

Self-Assembled Vehicles
Before a self-assembled vehicle can be titled in Ohio, an inspection of the vehicle must be completed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Step 1: Purchase an lnspection Application from a deputy registrar

Step 2: Schedule a vehicle inspection appointment with the Ohio State Highway Patrol Inspection Station.

Step 3: Present all required documentation for inspections:

• Title or proof of ownership.

• All original receipts for all replaced "major" component or parts. (The inspection office may require receipts or documentation for any part in question). When "kits" are used, the manufacturers certificate of origin must be presented.

• The vehicle owner must take the lnspection Certificate and all receipts to any Clerk of Courts title office to obtain a new title. The year the vehicle was inspected becomes the year of the vehicles on the title. The title also identifies the vehicles as self-assembled.

 

Recreational Vehicles
Titles for recreational vehicles, such as travel trailers, motor homes and fold-down campers, are transferred in the same manner as motor vehicle titles.

 

Death of a Vehicle Owner
When there is an estate involved and a will is probated through the court, you will need the court ordered documents to transfer the title.

When there is no will, Certificate of Title issuance is governed by the following guidelines:

• A surviving spouse may transfer an unlimited number of vehicles with a total combined valued of $65,000 or less, in addition to one boat, and one outboard motor.

• lf there is no surviving spouse or an executor to the estate, an Entry Relieving Estate from Administration must be filed in Probate Court. The applicant must bring the documentation issued by Probate Court, and the original Certificate of Title to any Clerk of Courts Title Office.

• Joint ownership title With Rights Of Survivorship (WROS): The survivor must bring the Certificate of Title and a copy of the decedent's Death Certificate to any title office to transfer the title into the survivor's name.  

 

A vehicle owner may obtain an Affidavit for Designation of Beneficiary from a Clerk of Courts title office to designate one or more beneficiaries for that vehicle. The vehicle owner must provide all beneficiaries' full legal names, social security numbers, and dates of birth. If a beneficiary is designated on the Certificate of Title, the survivor must bring a copy of the Death Certificate and the original Certificate of Title to any Clerk of Courts Title Office. 

 

Utility and Commercial Trailers
Utility and commercial trailers weighing less than 4,000 pounds do not require a Certificate of Title. Titles to trailers weighing more than 4,000 pounds are obtained through the normal procedures.

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Titling a Vehicle to a Minor
Anyone less than 18 years of age must appear with a parent or legal guardian at a Clerk of Courts title office and complete a Minor Consent Form.