How To Get a Title For a Motorcycle Without Title in Ohio (Bike w/no Title)

Have you ever wondered how to get a title for a motorcycle without a title in Ohio? Look no more. We´ve got you covered.

Vehicle titles are designed to track ownership. As the vehicle is sold or gifted to a new owner, the title should transfer to the new owner’s name.

This way, the owner can always prove the vehicle is theirs. It can also help with disputes over ownership.

In the state of Ohio, all motorcycles need to have a proper title. If you do not have a title for your motorcycle, there are several steps you can take to get a replacement.

If you are looking to buy a motorcycle and the owner does not have the title, you should encourage the seller to obtain a replacement before you finalize the purchase.

Here are a few steps you need to do to get a title for a motorcycle without a title in Ohio:

1. Locate the County Clerk of Courts Title Office closest to you

2. You will need to either take it to the office or mail it to them

3. Complete an Application for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle

4. Prepare your identification for the office

5. Collect the money needed to pay the fees for titling

6. Go to the office and submit your paperwork, identification, and payment.

Table of Contents

What Types of Information are on a Title?

Since titles are used to designate ownership of a vehicle, the title will generally have information about who the owner is.

Similarly, if there is a lien against the vehicle, the title will list information about that. You can expect the title to list:

The owner’s name
The owner’s address
The lienholder’s name (if applicable)
The lienholder’s address (if applicable)
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
The current mileage of the vehicle, based on the odometer
The year of the vehicle
The model of the vehicle
The vehicle’s make
The weight of the vehicle

Why Would a Motorcycle Not Have a Title?

There are several reasons a motorcycle may not have a title. Titles can be lost or destroyed in moves and home disasters.

If a motorcycle is stolen, then the current owner would not have the title. Also, in the past, not every state required titles for motorcycles consistently.

This may mean some older motorcycles do not have a title.

How to Get a Title for a Motorcycle (Duplicate)

A duplicate motorcycle title is a title you will want to get if the title for your motorcycle was lost or destroyed.

The current owner is the one who needs to file for the duplicate motorcycle title, so this needs to be done before selling or buying the motorcycle.

It is essential to take care of this as quickly as possible, as there is a late fee for not titling the vehicle and transferring the title within 30 days of the date of sale.

1. Locate the County Clerk of Courts Title Office closest to you. Once you have prepared your paperwork, you will need to either take it to the office or mail it to them, so you must know where the office is located.

You can find the closest County Clerk of Courts Title Office by going to this website by the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

2. Complete an Application for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle. This application will ask for important information related to the title of the vehicle. It is crucial that you answer truthfully and do not guess if you are unsure.

You will want to fill out the form for a “duplicate certificate,” not an “original certificate of title.” To fill out this application, you will need:

Your name
Your address
The name and address of anyone applying with you (this is necessary for dual-ownership)
The county where you are titling the motorcycle
Your Social Security Number
The Social Security Number of your co-applicant, if applicable
The original title number (if you have the VIN of the motorcycle, the office can help you look it up.) Alternatively, you can find it through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Any lien information about the motorcycle, if applicable
Pertinent information about the motorcycle. This includes:
- Year of the motorcycle
- Make of the motorcycle
- Model of the motorcycle
- The motorcycle’s body type
- VIN of the motorcycle
- Information on if the vehicle has tax exemptions, and if so, why

3. Prepare your identification for the office. You must use identification that will be able to prove your identity. In most cases, a driver’s license will have the necessary information.

If you do not have a driver’s license, or you have questions about what identification is necessary, you can contact the local County Clerk of Courts Title Office.

4. Collect the money needed to pay the fees for titling. Later in the article, we will dive into the costs of re-titling a motorcycle.

5. Go to the office and submit your paperwork, identification, and payment.

What if You Want to Mail in Your Paperwork?

If you want to mail in your paperwork, that is allowed! You will follow steps 1-4 from above. Additionally, you will need to make sure you include the address where the state can send the new title.

You will also need to have your signature on the paperwork notarized so that you can prove your identity. To do that, you will need the identification from step 3.

How to Get an Original Certificate of Title

If you are purchasing a motorcycle used or from a dealer, the owner or dealership should be dealing with the title for you, and you will just need to help with the title transfer process.

However, if you own a dealership or if you are buying a motorcycle straight from the manufacturer, it may not come with a title.

Also, you may have purchased the motorcycle at a time when titles were not required, and now they are. In that case, you will need to apply for an original certificate of title.

1. Locate your local County Clerk of Courts Title Office. This will be for the county where you want to title the motorcycle, not necessarily the county where the motorcycle was purchased.

2. Complete an Application for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle. The application is the same as for a duplicate title, but you will fill out the application with the information required for the original certificate of title, rather than the duplicate certificate of title. For that you will need:

Evidence of ownership. This could come in several ways. The most common include:
- Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO). This will come directly from the manufacturer when they send the motorcycle to a seller.
Previous title number. You may have this if the motorcycle has been re-titled.
Registration. When you register the vehicle, you usually need to provide proof of ownership in the form of a title or similar document. If you have a registration number for the motorcycle, you can use that on this application.
How you acquired the motorcycle. This will require a quick explanation of how you came to be the owner of the motorcycle without a title.
Any lien information for the motorcycle

You will also need to provide standard information about the motorcycle like the VIN, make, model, and year, as with any title application.

3. Prepare your identification as stipulated by the County Clerk of Courts Title Office.

4. Collect money for the title fees.

5. Submit your application, either in person or through the mail. Remember, if you submit through the mail you will need to have your application and signature notarized and you will need to provide the address where the title should be sent.

How Much Does it Cost to Title a Motorcycle in Ohio?

To apply for a certificate of title, duplicate title, or replacement title in the state of Ohio costs $15.00. Lien notation can cost an additional $15.00.

If you are applying for a salvage title (for a re-built motorcycle), it will cost $4.00. Salvage titles also require an inspection to ensure the motorcycle is safe on the road before a salvage title will be rewarded.

If your motorcycle requires an out-of-state inspection, that will cost $6.00. The inspection costs $5.00 and there is a $1.50 clerk fee.

How to Transfer a Motorcycle Title in Ohio

Transferring the title to a new owner helps finalize the sale and transfer of ownership. In Ohio, the title transfer must be done within 30 days of the purchase for it to be legal.

To transfer the title, you will fill out the title transfer information that is usually listed on the back of the title. This includes information like the names and addresses of the previous owner and the new owner(s).

This can then be submitted to the title office. You may need a bill of sale to prove the sale of the motorcycle when you go to the County Clerk of Courts Title Office.

Make sure to have the bill of sale filled out before you go to the office.

How to Transfer an Out-of-State Motorcycle Title to Ohio

In Ohio, if the title of your motorcycle is from another state and you want to license and register it in Ohio, you will need to transfer the title to the state.

You will go to your local County Clerk of Courts Title Office with your identification and the motorcycle’s current title.

You will also need to have a VIN inspection completed, and you will need to bring payment for title fees.

To transfer an out-of-state title, you will need to pay $15.00 for the title and $6.50 for the out-of-state inspection.

References

https://publicsafety.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odps/local-office

https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/doc-fees.aspx