|
Press Release: | Cindy A. Hofner, Wood County Clerk of Courts, announced today that she has become a "Watercraft Agent" for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. She and the staff at the Wood County Title Office will be processing the watercraft registrations at the Wood County Title Office, located at 1616 E. Wooster St., Unit 16, Bowling Green, OH 43402. Cindy and her staff at the title office are taking on these additional responsibilities due to customer requests. In researching the possibilities of this undertaking she found that the Bowling Green and southern Wood County areas were not being adequately served in this area. Whether you need to register your watercraft for the first time; renew the registration; or, transfer the time from a previous owner to yourself; the Wood County Title Office will be glad to assist you. The hours of the Wood County Title Office are 8:30-4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday and 9:00 to Noon on Saturday. The office can be reached at 419-354-9180. |
 |
"Continuing Excellent Customer Service" |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Contact Us
|
Page Quick Links
·
Application for motor vehicle certificate of title
For additional information, please go to the State of Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles website.
This link provides access to a variety of BMV forms and other information on rules, regulations, requirements and other general information.
Please visit our frequently asked questions page for introductory answers to frequently asked questions we receive at the Wood County Clerk of Courts title office.
All motor vehicles used upon Ohio highways including manufactured homes,
recreation vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers weighing over 4,000 pounds and motorcycles are titled in Ohio. In addition,
all off-highway motorcycles and all-purpose vehicles are titled. Return to TOP of Page $15.00 $15.00 $5.00 $5.00 $1.00 $5.00 $15.00 $15.00 $4.00 $1.50 $5.00 $15.00 $15.00 $5.00 $5.00 $1.00 $5.00 $15.00 $15.00 $5.00 Return to TOP of Page A title no longer must be obtained in the county of residence of
the buyer.
Wood County residents may conveniently contact us or obtain their titles at: A title must be issued in the buyer's name within thirty days of
the date of the
assignment of the seller, or a $5.00 penalty is assessed.
General Tips
Never make any alterations or erasures on a certificate
of title. If this is done, the title becomes null and void, and an application for a replacement title will be necessary.
A replacement title must be applied for by the owner(s) on the front of the altered title.
It is imperative that the assignment section of the title
(on back) is not
filled in, unless it is completed in the presence of a notary public, or other duly authorized
officers with the power to administer oaths. The notary or other duly authorized office must witness all signatures.
Loans on Vehicles
If one is applying for a loan using the vehicle as
collateral, always insist on applying for a memorandum certificate of title (white copy), this memorandum enables the vehicle
owner to conveniently obtain license plates; however, ownership of the vehicle cannot be
transferred on a memorandum title.
When the loan has been satisfied, the financial
institution holding the lien against the vehicle used as collateral will discharge the lien or provide a termination statement and
return the title to the owner.
Penalty
A title must be issued in the buyer's name within thirty days of the date of sale from the seller,
or a $5.00 pentaly is assessed.
When purchasing a vehicle from a licensed Ohio dealer, the
dealer is required to obtain a title for the purchaser.
Inspection needed when purchasing a used vehicle from out-of-state
An out-of-state vehicle must be inspected. The inspection certificate must be presented to the Clerk of Courts title office
within thirty (30) days of the inspection, or it becomes invalid and a new inspection certificate will need to be obtained before the title can be transferred.
BUYING MANUFACTURED HOMES AND TRAVEL TRAILERS
All manufactured homes and travel trailers (including tent and
fold-down campers) must havea certificate of title. Never purchase a vehicle of this type without the seller's assignment on the
proper title. Manufactured home titles must have the Auditor's and Treasurer's stamps showing that taxes are current placed on the
front of the title prior to transfer.
WHEN SELLING A CAR
Never execute the assignment section on the reverse
side of the certificate of
title until a bona fide sale has been completed. Make certain that the buyer's name, address and
mileage is inserted before signing the assignment. Always,
sign in the presence of a notary public or other duly sworn officer who will attest to the signature on the title.
DUPLICATE TITLE
When a title is lost, stolen, or destroyed, a duplicate
title must be applied for. The application for duplicate
title must be completed and notarized. All persons listed as owners on the original title
must sign for the duplicate title.
If the original title has an open lien, the lienholder must apply
for the duplicate title. The person making the application for the duplicate title should sign the institution's name,
followed by their name and their position with the institution.
If the lost or stolen title is an interstate or "Non-Resident" title,
the Clerk of Courts office must have confirmation from the owner's state that no title has been issued on
the vehicle in question.
REPLACEMENT TITLE
A replacement title is issued when an error has been
made on either the face of the title or on the assignment portion of the back of the title.
Possible reasons that cause a replacement title: When requesting a replacement title, the original title
must be presented at the title office by the owner(s) listed on the front of the title along with a notoarized application for the replacement title.
If a deputy clerk made the error, the title will be issued free. If it as not a title office error, please refer
to the title fee section of this webpage for the cost of a replacement title.
TRANSFERS TO AND FROM A MINOR
Any person under the age of 18 is considered a minor
in the State of Ohio. In
order for a minor to sell or purchase a vehicle or watercraft in Ohio, their parent or legal guardian must sign a
"Minor Consent Form." The parent or legal
guardian will be asked to produce picture/signature type identification.
The minor's date of birth will appear after the minor's
last name on the title.
A married minor is considered emancipated, but will be
asked to show proof of
the marriage to avoid having a parent sign for the minor.
BODY CHANGE TRANSPERS
When the owner of a motor vhicle changes the body
style (i.e. van to a station
wagon or motor home, etc.) the title must be changed to conincide with the change. There is a
body change affidavit that rtequires information on the change, and the owner's notarized signature.
Also, a new application for title must be completed and notarized. The original title
must be puresented and a new title will be issued noting the new body type and the phrase "Body
Change" will be inserted on the new title.
RAFFLES
When an Ohio resident wins a motor vehicle in a raffle,
the agency that held
the raffle must provide a correctly assigned Ohio title. No sales tax is charged to the winner of a
vehicle won in a bona fide raffle.
OUT-OF-STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION
FORM
A) Vehicles that Must be Inspected
All motor vehicles last previously registered in another
state or foreign country
are subject to this inspection. This includes automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, manufactured
homes, travel trailers, and trailers when weight exceeds 4,000 pounds. All off-highway motorcycles and all-purpose vehicles
must also be inspected unless you have a manufacturer’s statement of origin assigned directly to you from a licensed dealer
or you have an Ohio title.
The inspection also applies to an Ohio title that has
been assigned to an out-of-
state dealer, and then reassigned back into Ohio. Vehicles with a Government title must be
inspected also.
B) Serial Plate - Missing, Defaced or Mutilated
In the event the person making the inspection
discovers that a serial plate is missing, defaced, mutilated or shows signs of alternation, they are to
immediately notify the nearest Ohio State Highway Patrol Post for instructions. The inspection
certificate should not be completed.
If a serial plate is missing, the individual must go to the State Highway Patrol
for verification of the serial number. The individual must then take the Highway Patrol Inspection Form and the out-of-state
title back to the title office. The title office will take the information off the Highway Patrol Inspection Form and fill out
the Ohio Out-of-state Vehicle Identification Inspection Form. Both forms along with the title will be used to obtain an Ohio
Certificate of Title. The individual will then have to apply through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for a "duplicate serial plate."
C) The Inspection Certificate
The inspection certificaates are assigned to specific
stations and should never be given to other stations. The different stations cannot use forms that are assigned to the Clerk of
Courts title offices.
Erasures or corrections on the inspection
certificate invalidate
the form and it is to be voided. Erasures or corrections on the inspection certificate invalidate the form
and it is to be voided. Inspection forms need to be legible! The applicant receives the first (white) copy and
the Inspection Station retains the pink copy for their monthly reporting purposes.
Power of Attorney
A power of attorney is a legal document giving specific authority to
another person to act as an agent or attorney for the person giving this authority. Power of attorneys cannot
be given for a position (i.e. executor, trustee). Power of attorneys cannot be chained. The power of attorney
name must match the paperwork exactly.
Signture and Notarization of Power of Attorney
The signature on any power of attorney should be the
same as the signature on
all other papers required in the transaction. The forms are completed with the necessary
information and are notarized.
Power of Attorney Used by a Dealer
Ordinarily, the person trading in the vehicle would simply sign the
reverse side of the title as the seller-assignor. When a customer trades in a vehicle for which the title is not
immediately available, the seller who allows the dealer to sign for the seller when the title becomes available signs a power of attorney.
When a dealer sells a used vehicle retail for which the title is not immediately available,
the buyer will sign this form to allow the dealer to get the title in the buyer’s name when the title becomes available. A dealer
may not use a power of attorney to sign the federal odometer statement for their customer.
Power of Attorney Used by an Individual
1) Limited Power of Attorney -- There are occasions when an
individual cannot be available at the time of a sale or purchase. That individual can give a specific
person power of attorney to sign on their behalf. A specific person, not a dealership, is an
appointed attorney-in-fact to sign for the customer.
The power of attorney, when needed to supplement a
customers' paperwork,
becomes part of the transaction and accompanies the title to the Clerk of Courts office for filing.
This power of attorney can only be used for one specific transaction.
2) General Power of Attorney -- A general power of attorney may
also be used to atransfer a title. It specifies a certain person who can sign. We can accept a
certified copy (from Recorders' Office) of this power of attorney.
Odometer Statements
Federal Odometer Statement The Federal Odometer Statement is required on all
cars, trucks (with weight
under 16,000 pounds or under), and motorcycles less than ten years old.
On the computer-generated titles (ATPS -- brown and beige),
the Federal
Odometer Statement is on the back of the title. For all other titles a separate Federal Odometer
Statement is used.
A dealer cannot use a Power of Attorney to execute a
Federal Odometer Statement on the behalf of a customer, or on the behalf of another dealer.
If signing for a company, the individual signing for the
company must sign and
print their name on the statement. The company name and the job position of the signer is
required.
Click here to see a Federal Odometer Statement
Seller's Affidavit
A seller’s affidavit is used to complete Ohio’s odometer requirement of mileage on
all vehicles driven upon Ohio roadways (e.g.: vehicles over 10 years old). This form must be notarized.
The following is required to be filled-in on the seller's
affidavit: Applicant's Affidavit
The applicant's affidavit is used when mileage is
reqauired in order to obtain
title and the Federal Odometer Statement would be inappropriate (e.g.: repossession titles, self-assembled vehicles,
unclaimed affidavits, and vehicles coming to Ohio from out-of-state without
ownership change). This form must be notarized.
Off Highway Motorcycles (OHM) and All-purpose Vehicle (APV) Titling Requirements
A certificate of title must be obtained for an OHM or APV before an owner can register
the vehicle for the first time or renew registration to a vehicle not already titled.
Dealers are required to provide titles to all OHM and APV’s purchased through their
dealership within 30 days of the date of purchase. Also, dealers must title all used vehicles in their dealership’s name before
selling them.
To title an OHM or APV, the title office will need the following documentation:
Notary Public Information
As a Notary Public, you are required to see that the person whose signature you are notarizing prior to
completing the notarization completes all blank areas above the notary. The assignments and the applications are affidavits that the person
is swearing or affirming to in your presence. You could unknowingly become an accomplice in aiding and abetting title fraud, tax fraud, and/or odometer fraud by notarizing an incomplete affidavit.
If you have any questions about notarizing a title and are unsure of what to do, please call the title office before you proceed.
Usually, the notary is trying to help someone rather than attempting to participate in any fraudulent activity. By a notary using common sense and taking precautions, the notary can minimize their risk of exposure.
The following needs to be completed on a title in front of the notary
National Motor Vehicle Title Information Sysytem (NMVTIS)
NMVTIS is a consumer protection feature that automatically places brands on a title if it detects one belonging to the title being transferred. It will prevent the
transfer of a title that has been reported stolen to law enforcement.
The Ohio Department of Public Safety added NMVTIS to the statewide computer system in August of 2004. NMVTIS has been placed on the computer system in every
title office in the State of Ohio.
Any questions regarding a NMVTIS brand should be directed to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 614-752-7671. A NMVTIS brand that is put on in error can only be
removed by the state that instituted it. The only option available to local title offices is to transfer the title with the brand listed on the title or not transfer the title.
Surviving Spouse - Motor Vehicles and Watercraft
For the transfer of vehicles the Ohio Revised Code § 4505.10 (B) provides that:
"The clerk shall transfer a decedent’s interest in one or two automobiles to the surviving spouse of the decedent, as provided in section 2106.18 of the Revised Code, upon receipt of the title or titles executed by the surviving spouse. An affidavit by the surviving spouse shall be submitted to the clerk with the title or titles."
"Automobile" includes a motorcycle and includes a truck (one ton or less) if the truck was used as a method of conveyance by the deceased spouse or by the family when the deceased spouse was alive. The transfer does not affect any liens upon the vehicle. The statute still only permits two vehicles with an estimated value of $40,000.00 or less.
For the transfer of watercraft the Ohio Revised Code (§ 2106.19) provides that the surviving spouse is entitled to transfer one watercraft and one outboard motor owned by their deceased spouse.
Ohio law requires all watercraft to have a 12-digit serial number prior to title transfer.
To issue a title to a surviving spouse, the title office needs the following documentation:
Click to view the surviving spouse affidavit for motor vehicle, watercraft
Estate with Administration
The title office will need either the "letters of authority" or the "application to transfer and entry to transfer a motor vehicle" to transfer a vehicle from an estate. The requirements for each are as follows:
Letters of Authority (a copy that is file stamped and signed by the judge) - showing who can sign for the estate. With these papers we will need the assignment portion of the title completed by the person appointed in the letters of authority.
Application to Transfer and Entry to Transfer Motor Vehicle (a copy that is file stamped and signed by the judge) - this order will show who is to receive the vehicle. With these papers the assignment portion of the title should be completed by the person who is the fiduciary. If there is not a fiduciary, no assignment is needed.
In addition to one of the above documents, the title office will need the following:
Estate with No Administration
To issue a title from an estate with no administration, the title office needs the following documentation:
With Right of Survivorship (WROS)
Ohio Revised Code § 2106.17 states:
"'Joint ownership with right of survivorship' means a form of ownership of a motor vehicle, watercraft, or outboard motor that is established pursuant to this section and pursuant to the entire interest in the motor vehicle, watercraft, or outboard motor is held by two persons for their joint lives and thereafter by the survivor of them."
This law permits any two persons to establish joint ownership in a motor vehicle, watercraft, or outboard motor. Both parties are required to sign and list WROS after their name.
Note: to put WROS on a title, the parties do not need to be related by either marriage or blood.
If these two persons have established in a certificate of title, this joint ownership, and if one of the persons dies, the interest of the deceased party passes to the survivor upon transfer of the title in accordance with continuing law. The motor vehicle, watercraft, or outboard motor is not considered an estate asset and is not to be included in the estate inventory for probate.
It is very important to note that WROS must be on the title before one party dies. The title office cannot place this on a title after the fact.
The title will show: John Doe and Mary Doe WROS
And must be signed: John Doe, WROS
Transfer of a WROS Title - When One Party is Deceased
If one of the parties is deceased, the survivor must apply for a new title. The title office will need the following documentation:
At the title office, we will notarize the assignment and application portion of the title, signed by the survivor, only.
Trusts
An individual or company that establishes a trust can transfer any and all motor vehicles owned by that individual or company into that trust. Trusts are a means to make a transfer of property which may in some instances prevent that property from being subject to probate proceedings.
To transfer a vehicle into a trust, the title office needs the following documentation:
The Clerk does not need to see the trust or use it as evidence that a trust exist. Any person who can prove identification and states they are a trustee is legally able to sign for a trust. There may be more than one trustee named in the trust document. The title office does not require each trustee named on the trust document to sign for the trust, unless otherwise stated in the trust.
A transferred title from an individual’s name to a trust with no money changing hands is exempt from sales tax.
Transfer on Death Notations (TOD)
Transfer on death notations on titles allows a sole owner who has a titled vehicle or watercraft to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries for that title.
This process is accomplished by the sole owner completing a “transfer on death affidavit” and making application for a new title to list the beneficiary or beneficiaries on the front of the title.
Upon the death of the sole owner, the beneficiary or beneficiaries needs to bring a certified copy of the death certificate to the title office and make application for title in their name(s).
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
