Ohio vehicle bill of sale

State form

• For an Ohio vehicle whose title is held only electronically, form BMV 3770 does the job of the back of a paper title, under Ohio Revised Code Section 4505.032.²
• Ohio’s BMV 3770 works only for electronic titles and cannot be used by dealerships or insurance companies.²
• To convert an out-of-state title in Ohio, the title office asks for a bill of sale when the vehicle was bought from an out-of-state dealer.²
• Ohio Revised Code Section 4505.06 has the registrar of motor vehicles prescribe an affidavit in which the seller swears to the true selling price and the true odometer reading.¹

Signing

• When selling a vehicle with an Ohio paper title, the seller fills in the assignment of ownership on the back and has the signature notarized.²
• On Ohio’s BMV 3770, every seller completes page 1 and every buyer completes page 2, and both sides have their signatures notarized.²
• Ohio Revised Code Section 4505.06 requires the title application to be sworn to before a notary public or another officer empowered to administer oaths.¹
• Someone signing an Ohio title transfer for an owner needs the original Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title, form BMV 3771.²
• When an Ohio vehicle has two owners, both must be present at the title office unless a notarized power of attorney is provided.²

Deadlines

• Ohio Revised Code Section 4505.06 requires the title application to be filed within 30 days after the vehicle is assigned or delivered.¹
• Once an Ohio clerk is satisfied with the application, the clerk issues the paper title within five business days of filing.¹
• An Ohio buyer who wants a 45-day temporary tag has to get it before transferring the title into the buyer’s name.²

Where it is filed

• Ohio titles are issued by the county clerk of courts title offices, not by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.²
• An Ohio title application is filed with the clerk of any court of common pleas, and may be filed electronically where the registrar allows.¹
• Ohio title offices do not accept photocopies of a title, and Social Security numbers are required for all parties.²

Taxes and fees

• An Ohio title application filed after the 30-day window costs an extra $5 fee, collected by the clerk.¹
• In an Ohio private sale, the buyer pays sales and use tax on the purchase price of the vehicle.²
• For an Ohio casual sale, the price written on the assigned title or the BMV assignment form is prima facie evidence of the amount used to compute the tax.¹

Law

• The Ohio title application in a casual sale warns that a false selling price violates Ohio Revised Code Section 2921.13 and is punishable by six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.¹
• Every Ohio vehicle transfer is audited by the department of taxation, and the buyer may be assessed any extra tax found due.¹

• Vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make, model and plate
• Odometer reading on the day of sale
• Sale price, or the value if it is a gift
• Full legal names and addresses of seller and buyer

It does not replace the title. Ownership moves when the signed title and the state’s title application reach the motor vehicle agency.