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Ohio Vehicle Registration


The state of Ohio requires all vehicles to be properly titled and have Ohio vehicle registration. This includes all passenger vehicles, motorcycles, off road motorcycles, snowmobiles, gold carts, and more.

First Time Ohio Vehicle Registration

If your vehicle has never completed OH vehicle registration, you must complete OH registration for your vehicle at your local Deputy Registrar Agency. When you do this, you will need your original Certificate of Title or your Memorandum Certificate of Title. The purpose of these documents during the OH vehicle registration process is to show ownership of the vehicle. The title document must be notarized and must contain the seal of the Clerk of Court. 

Only the owner of a vehicle or an individual with power of attorney can apply for OH registration of a vehicle. If the motor vehicle is leased, this power of attorney for OH vehicle registration must come from the leasing company.

Aside from the original title of the vehicle, there are other necessary documents for an Ohio Vehicle registration. You will also need the following documents for an OH registration:

• Smog inspection certificate or an exception form for motor vehicles that are completing the OH vehicle registration process in Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Medina, Lorain, Summit, or Portage counties
• Acceptable identification 

Ohio Vehicle Registration Fees

Depending on the type of vehicle, there are different Ohio vehicle registration fees that are applicable. These OH fees include the following:

• $34.50 Passenger vehicle 
• $50.00 Personalized registration
• $25.00 Initial reserve charge
• $28.50 House vehicle or moped
• $49.50 Motor home
• $49.50 Light non-commercial vehicle (up to 1500 lbs)
• $84.50 Heavy non-commercial vehicle 
• $39.50 Commercial trailer
• Trucks are based on unladen weight
• Buses are based on gross vehicle weight
• Non commercial vehicles are based on non-commercial trailers

• Permissive tax that cannot exceed $20 for a vehicle


There are various other registration fees that apply to OH vehicle registration. These include the following:

• $4.50 Plate or registration transfer
• $4.50 Duplicate or replacement sticker
• $10.50 Replacing or exchanging 1 license plate
• $11.75 Replacing or exchanging two plates
• $4.50 Replacement registration 
• $18.50 Temporary tag (30 days)
• $3.50 Out-of-state vehicle inspection
• $34.75 Snowmobile/APV registration (3 years)
• $14.75 Snowmobile/APV registration (1 year)
• $11.75 Restricted License Plate with current registration

Renewing your Ohio Vehicle Registration

Depending on your Ohio vehicle registration, you may need to renew your OH vehicle registration either biennially or annually.  You can do this either by mailing in your OH registration or going in person to the deputy registrar’s office

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