Ohio Bill of Sale Requirements & Free Form

Ohio requirements

• For a used vehicle with a paper title, the seller completes the assignment of ownership on the back of the Ohio title and must have that signature notarized.
• Title transfers must take place within 30 days of the date of sale; a late fee applies after that.
• Ohio titles are issued by county Clerk of Courts title offices, not by the BMV, so the buyer applies at a county title office with the assigned title, identification and proof of sales tax payment where applicable.
• Odometer disclosure follows federal rules; Ohio uses form BMV 3724 (Odometer Disclosure Statement) when a separate statement is needed.
• Ohio BMV guidance does not name a required statewide bill of sale form for private sales; a bill of sale is a recommended record of price, date and parties. Our template is a general purpose option.
• Confirm county-specific requirements, such as how sales tax proof is handled, with your county Clerk of Courts title office.

Frequently asked questions

Does Ohio require a notarized bill of sale?

No, the notarization requirement is on the title: the seller's signature in the title assignment must be notarized. A separate bill of sale is a useful record but Ohio guidance does not require it to be notarized.

Where do I transfer a car title in Ohio and how long do I have?

At a county Clerk of Courts title office, since the BMV does not issue titles. The transfer should happen within 30 days of the sale date to avoid a late fee.

Official sources

• https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/titles-new.aspx
• https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/registration-titles.aspx