Ohio Title Support

How To Sign An Ohio Title

For any questions about how to sign a title for your specific donated vehicle, please contact the purchasing vendor which is usually the auto auction yard. Please note, the purchaser of your donated vehicle is not the charity. It will either be the vendor or Charitable Adult Rides & Services.

1. On back of title under "Assignment of Ownership" contains a statement that must be filled in with the date of sale and sale price. Ohio requires that titles must be signed before a public notary. Do not attempt to fill out the title until you are before a notary, as this will void the title.

2. Below date of sale & sale price, the transferee/buyer’s name and address must be printed.

3. On back of title under "Odometer Certification," the mileage should be recorded, and if there is a discrepancy that renders the mileage inaccurate, this should be noted by ticking the appropriate checkbox. Ohio also provides a special set of checkboxes to indicate if the vehicle is a former law enforcement vehicle, taxi or flood vehicle.

4. Under Odometer Certification the transferor/seller’s printed name and signature should be placed on the lines, along with their current address.

5. Below the seller’s address, there is a section reserved for the notary to sign and stamp. This section must be filled out by only a certified public notary.

6. Finally, once the notary has certified the title, the transferee/buyer must print and sign their name again on the title.

Helpful Tips

Ohio requires that titles must be signed before a public notary. Do not attempt to fill out the title until you are before a notary, as this will void the title.
Ohio combines the forms for vehicle reassignment or sale with the title application form. If this is not a new title application, the bottom section should be left blank.
The front of the title is where lien information is recorded. If there are no lienholders on the sale, leave this section blank.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When do I cancel my insurance?

A. Only cancel your vehicle's insurance AFTER your vehicle has been picked up and you have notified the state that you’ve donated your vehicle. If your state requires notification, please be aware that you should never cancel your insurance prior to reporting to the state you are no longer in possession of the vehicle. This is a general rule for States/Motor Vehicle Departments that require Notification be submitted or license plates returned.

Q: Who is considerd the purchaser of my vehicle donation? Is it the nonprofit or charity?

A. The purchaser of your donated vehicle is NOT the nonprofit or charity. It will either be the vendor or Charitable Adult Rides & Services, the vehicle donation program provider and partner of your nonprofit of choice.

Q. What is State Notification?

A. State notification releases the vehicle donor from liability over the vehicle, including registration fees and from having to keep the vehicle insured, after the vehicle is picked up. State notification is a way for the state to create a record that the owner is no longer in possession of the vehicle. The steps needed to release your liability of a donated vehicle vary by state.

Q. Who is supposed to take care of the state notification process?

A. If state notification is required, only the donor and/or owner of the vehicle can complete this process. Please do not rely on the pick-up driver or vendor to report to the State/Motor Vehicle Department that you are no longer in possession of the vehicle. If you need support, please contact the vehicle donation support team at donorsupport@careasy.org or call 855-500-7433. We would be happy to assist you.

If you have additional questions, please visit our vehicle donation FAQS.

If you would like assistance with your vehicle donation, please contact us here.

For more information on vehicle release or general DMV questions, contact your local Motor Vehicle Division.