Selling or junking a car in Ohio, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the your County Clerk of Courts Title Office (Ohio) using BMV 3774 Application(s) for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. On a paper title, the seller fills out the ownership assignment on the back, and the signatures must be notarized. For an electronic title, the seller can assign ownership with form BMV 3770, also notarized. The buyer then takes the documents to a County Clerk of Courts title office, and the transfer must happen within 30 days.
- Deal with your plates. Ask the your County Clerk of Courts Title Office (Ohio) whether you keep, transfer or return your plates.
- Tell the state and your insurer. Ohio has no separate seller notice that we could confirm. Keep a copy of the signed title and receipt, then cancel your insurance and registration.
How to sign over a title in Ohio
On a paper title, the seller fills out the ownership assignment on the back, and the signatures must be notarized. For an electronic title, the seller can assign ownership with form BMV 3770, also notarized. The buyer then takes the documents to a County Clerk of Courts title office, and the transfer must happen within 30 days.
Official page: bmv.ohio.gov. For general tips on avoiding mistakes, see how to sign over a car title.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Ohio
If a title is lost, stolen or destroyed, you can get a duplicate in person at any County Clerk of Courts title office or by mailing form BMV 3774. The BMV does not issue titles itself.
- Form: BMV 3774 Application(s) for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle — download
- Available online: no
- Official page: bmv.ohio.gov
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
License plates after you sell
We couldn't confirm Ohio's plate rule on an official page. Ask the your County Clerk of Courts Title Office (Ohio) before pickup, and see plates and insurance when junking a car.
Junk and salvage titles in Ohio
To title a rebuilt salvage vehicle in Ohio, the vehicle must first pass an Ohio State Highway Patrol inspection. Salvage title applications use the back of the title, marked as Salvage, with notarized signatures.
Official page: bmv.ohio.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Ohio
We didn't find an official Ohio page describing a no-title option, so the safest route is to request a duplicate first. Our guide to junking a car without a title covers the general options buyers may accept.
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Ohio title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Ohio?
If a title is lost, stolen or destroyed, you can get a duplicate in person at any County Clerk of Courts title office or by mailing form BMV 3774. The BMV does not issue titles itself. The form is BMV 3774 Application(s) for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle.
Do I need to notify Ohio when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for Ohio. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the your County Clerk of Courts Title Office (Ohio).
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Ohio?
Check with the your County Clerk of Courts Title Office (Ohio); plate rules vary by state.
Can I junk a car without a title in Ohio?
It depends on the car and the buyer. The simplest route is usually to request a duplicate title first. Our guide to junking a car without a title explains the general options.
Official sources
- your County Clerk of Courts Title Office (Ohio) — homebmv.ohio.gov
- Selling or transferring a vehicle titlebmv.ohio.gov
- BMV 3774 Application(s) for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle formpublicsafety.ohio.gov
Summarized from official Ohio government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the your County Clerk of Courts Title Office (Ohio) before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.