Ohio title guide
Selling a junk car without a title in Ohio
The short answer
In Ohio, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from your county clerk of courts title office before you book a pickup.
First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Ohio sources on and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).
What does Ohio ask of sellers?
In Ohio, a replacement title (form BMV 3774) costs $18 ($23 in some counties), and your signature on the title must be notarized. Each card links to the official page it came from.
- Replacing a lost title
- Form BMV 3774, Application for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle. Fee: $18 ($23 in some counties).
- Official source
- After the sale
- Hand the buyer the notarized title and remove the plates. The BMV's seller steps don't include a separate notice of sale.
- Official source
- License plates
- The seller must remove the plates when ownership transfers; the seller can apply to move them to another vehicle they buy.
- Official source
What do you do if you have the title?
Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. Ohio requires the seller's signature to be notarized, so sign in front of a notary after you've accepted an offer, not at pickup. Banks, credit unions and shipping stores often have a notary.
What if the title is lost or damaged?
Ohio replacement titles come from your county clerk of courts title office, using form BMV 3774 (Application for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle), for a fee of $18 ($23 in some counties). You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in Ohio.
For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.
What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?
If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and your county clerk of courts title office can tell you which estate papers Ohio accepts.
What do you do after the sale?
- Hand the buyer the notarized title and remove the plates. The BMV's seller steps don't include a separate notice of sale.
- Plates: The seller must remove the plates when ownership transfers; the seller can apply to move them to another vehicle they buy.
- Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.
Title rules change, so confirm them with your county clerk of courts title office before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Can you junk a car without a title in Ohio?
Usually not. In Ohio you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from your county clerk of courts title office. Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in Ohio when you get your offer.
How do I get a duplicate title in Ohio?
Apply to your county clerk of courts title office with form BMV 3774 (Application for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle), and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $18 ($23 in some counties), according to state law.
Can I sell a car in Ohio with just a bill of sale?
A bill of sale on its own usually isn't proof of ownership for a titled vehicle. It's a useful record of the sale, but buyers will normally want the title or a duplicate.