Ohio Vehicle Bill of Sale

Is a bill of sale required to sell a car in Ohio?

Ohio does not legally require a standalone bill of sale for a private-party vehicle sale, but the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) provides Form BMV 3774 (Application for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle) which serves as both the title application and a record of the sale. A separate bill of sale is strongly recommended because it documents the purchase price — which determines sales tax — and provides both parties with proof of the transaction terms. Titles in Ohio are issued by the County Clerk of Courts, not the BMV.

Does the title need to be notarized?

Yes. The seller's signature on the assignment section on the back of the Ohio certificate of title must be notarized. This is a requirement for the title transfer, not for the bill of sale — the bill of sale itself does not need to be notarized. The seller should not sign the title until both parties are in the presence of a notary, because a title that has already been signed cannot be notarized after the fact, and the seller would need to apply for a duplicate title to complete the sale.

If there are multiple owners listed on the title with "AND" between the names, all owners must sign before the notary. If the names are joined by "OR," only one owner's signature is required. The buyer then takes the notarized title to a County Clerk of Courts title office within 30 days to pay sales tax, pay the title fee, and receive a new title in their name.

What information should an Ohio vehicle bill of sale include?

A complete Ohio vehicle bill of sale should include the full legal names and addresses of both the buyer and seller, the date of sale, the agreed purchase price, and the vehicle's year, make, model, body type, color, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The odometer reading must also be disclosed — Ohio uses Form BMV 3724 (Odometer Disclosure Statement) for vehicles where the title does not include an odometer disclosure section. Federal law (49 CFR §580.5) requires odometer disclosure for vehicles less than 20 model years old.

Are emissions tests required?

Ohio requires E-Check vehicle emissions testing in seven northeastern Ohio counties: Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit. Vehicles registered in these counties must pass the E-Check before the registration can be renewed. The emissions test is separate from the title transfer process but is relevant to buyers planning to register the vehicle in one of these counties. Vehicles registered in all other Ohio counties are exempt from emissions testing.

What taxes and fees does the buyer owe?

Ohio imposes a 5.75% state sales tax on the purchase price of a vehicle, plus county permissive taxes that vary by location (Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5739). The combined rate typically ranges from 6.5% to 8% depending on the county. Sales tax is paid at the County Clerk of Courts title office at the time of title transfer. The title transfer fee is $15. If the buyer applies for a title more than 30 days after the date of sale, a late fee is assessed.

What should the seller do after the sale?

The seller must remove their license plates from the vehicle. Ohio law requires the plates to be turned in at a local BMV office or transferred to another vehicle owned by the seller. If the plates are not being transferred, the seller should submit Form BMV 4311 (Customer Request to Cancel Vehicle Registration) to formally cancel the registration. The seller should keep a copy of the notarized title and any bill of sale as proof of the transfer.