CAR REGISTRATION & LICENSE INFORMATION

Once you are an Ohio resident, you will need to get your official Ohio driver’s within 30 days. You are considered an Ohio resident once you: take a job, sign a lease, buy a home, register to vote, or enroll children in school.

The driving test may be required, but is usually waived for new residents who have a valid out-of-state license. The examiner may require one for someone who may need a license restriction.

If you need to take the knowledge test, the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, written by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, has all of Ohio’s driving rules and regulations. You can also request a hard copy from the Ohio Department of Public Safety (614-466-4344) or pick one up from a local license agency. All the information you need to study for an Ohio driver’s license test is in the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws booklet.

After you’ve studied the Digest, you’re ready to take the test. Go to the nearest State Highway Patrol Examination Station for a written test and vision screening. The list of locations begin on page 74 of the Digest. No appointment is necessary, but be sure to check which days and hours the nearest station is open.

If your old driver license has expired or you are a first-time driver, you’ll have to purchase a temporary permit packet from a license agency for $22.00. Proof of Social Security number and a certified birth certificate are required for this packet.

If you have an international driver’s license, you must make an appointment with the Highway Patrol Examination Station (216) 787-5880 using your Social Security number, to take the vision, written, and road tests. The written test is available in many languages, however, you must be able to understand directions and read traffic signs printed in English.

Upon passing all tests, you have 60 days to take your “examination passed” to a Deputy Registrar or Auto and

Driver’s License Bureau (visit to find a location near you) to obtain your license. You will need proof of your current address such as a lease or official mail, i.e. credit card statement. If your spouse is not on the lease – take your marriage certificate to prove your address is the same.

Step One: Out-of-State Inspection. If you purchased your vehicle out-of state or it is registered out-of-state, you must take it to a License Bureau for a vehicle inspection. You will need the paperwork from this inspection to obtain an Ohio Title. All license agencies offer this service and many, but not all, new car dealers do also, so call ahead to be sure. Ask for the service department at the car dealership. The inspection of your vehicle will verify the make, model, body type, and manufacturer’s serial number or vehicle identification number (VIN). You will be given the completed inspection form. This takes about five minutes. There is a $3.50 fee to the dealer or license agency and a $1.50 fee to be collected at your next stop, the auto title office (fees as of 2018).

Step Two: Obtain an Ohio Title. Title Transfer is done at a Title Bureau East Side: Golden Gate Plaza in Mayfield Heights. West Side: 1 mile west of the Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted.

• If your vehicle has two owners, both of you have to handle this unless you get a notarized power of attorney for the one who can’t come.
• If you have a lien on your car (i.e. you are making loan payments to an institution, bank, etc.), you will have to request that your original title be sent directly to the title office so the lien can be recorded on the Ohio title as well as supply an original or copy of the loan papers. It may take some time for your lien institution to send the papers, so be prepared.
• You will need to phone the Clerk of Courts to determine the charge for your title transfer. If sales tax is due, it will be collected before the title is issued..
• If you lease a car, contact your leasing agency to find out how they want you to handle the title transfer. It varies from company to company.
• Now it’s off to the license agency to get your new license plates. To register your vehicle in Ohio, you must present your new Ohio title (or memorandum of title, if your car has a lien).

Step Three: Emissions Testing. Find echeck locations or call 1-800-CAR-TEST. 

Step Four: Obtain License Plates and Registration. To obtain license plates, go to a Deputy Registrar’s Office or License Bureau (select your county and click “Deputy Registrar”). You will need your Ohio title, your “passing” e-test certificate and your driver’s license. You may complete a multi-year registration or renew on your birthday each year. The license agency will collect the proper registration fees depending on when you purchase your tags, what taxing district you reside in, and when your birthday is. For passenger vehicles and non-commercial trucks, the cost will range from $35 to $105. The legal owners must apply in person or you must have a notarized Power of Attorney for the person who cannot come.

If you are on the East side you can get your license, title and plates registered at the Golden Gate Plaza in Mayfield Heights. 

REMINDER–Don’t leave home without:

• Your vehicle’s original title (see above for instructions on how to obtain the original title if you are still making payments on/do not own your vehicle)
• A notarized Power of Attorney if the actual owner of the vehicle cannot be there in person (Must use Bureau’s form)
• A photo ID (a current driver’s license or passport) and one other ID with your Social Security number on it
• Proof of Social Security number and birth certificate if your Social Security number is not on your current driver’s license
• Proof of current address (lease with your name, official piece of mail) and a marriage certificate if your spouse is not on the lease.

The lines can be very long and slow-moving. If you have children, try to leave them at home.

Under Ohio law, you are required to carry adequate car insurance. No one can operate a motor vehicle without proof of insurance. To comply with the law, liability coverage of $25,000 for personal injury or death and $25,000 for property damage is required. The Ohio Shopper’s Guide to Automobile Insurance is provided by the Ohio Department of Insurance. This guide provides rate information, explanations of terms and coverage, and other information to help you choose an insurance company.

Ohio law requires all children who are under the age of 4 who weigh less than 40 pounds (18 kilograms), and those who are ages 4 – 7 and under 4’9” tall be restrained in an approved child safety seat. Drivers and front seat passengers MUST wear safety belts. Open containers of alcohol are not permitted inside a vehicle. Many municipalities now prohibit the use of hand held cell phones while driving. DO NOT use your phone and drive. The first violation is expensive, and the second violation results in suspension of license. Also pay attention to School Zone speed restriction locations and hours.

The purchase of a vehicle may be from a car dealer or directly from the previous owner (try the Plain Dealer, also try carsoup.com or autotrader.com, both of which lists vehicles for sale by dealers and individuals). Also check Craigslist for used cars. You may also consider leasing a vehicle if you will be here only a year or two. Some previous members have used Shaker Auto Lease in Warrensville Heights to lease a car. After purchase, all vehicles must pass the emissions testing as previously described; there is no law that mandates the car must pass before you purchase it. Use caution when purchasing from an individual.

It is strongly recommended you have a mechanic inspect a used vehicle before you purchase it. Call AAA or consult the Automotive Care section of the Nutshell for recommended garages (All Star Muffler: 3596 Lee Rd, Shaker Heights, OH 44120; (216) 991-1125).).