Ohio
Vehicle Resource Center
Ohio isn't just the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the home of the famous Wright Brothers, and famous for Cincinnati; it's also home to millions of drivers. All these vehicle owners must comply with local laws and regulations, and there is a lot to think about as a vehicle owner in Ohio.
Ownership and Maintenance
As an Ohio vehicle owner, there are regular requirements that must be completed to stay legally compliant to drive. Things like driver's license renewal, registration renewal, emissions inspections, and more. Learn about all these requirements here.
While Ohio does not require safety inspections on vehicles, like many other states, it does demand that vehicle owners in select counties submit to semi-annual emissions tests known as E-Checks. These E-Checks are used to determine whether or not the vehicle emits too many harmful particles while driving.
Counties included in the E-Checks include:
Vehicles that are four years old or newer aren't required to submit to the E-Checks, but once they reach four years old, the requirements begin. E-checks can be performed at self-service stations for any vehicles with a model year newer than 1996, and vehicles older than that can be tested at a full-service inspection station.
E-Checks are due on odd years for vehicles manufactured in an odd year and even years for vehicles made in an even year. Following this simple rule and bringing the vehicle to one of the E-Check locations is an easy way to keep the vehicle compliant over time.
Getting a Temporary Exemption
Some Ohio residents can get E-Check exemptions in select conditions. Military members stationed outside of Ohio can get an exemption, out-of-state students can avoid the requirement while in school, and the spouse of a deceased vehicle owner can also be exempt from the E-Checks requirement.
Get more information from this Ohio Emissions testing guide page.
Ohio residents with vehicles, like most vehicle owners in other states, are legally required to carry liability insurance protecting against damage caused by an automotive accident. Ohio residents must have insurance that covers injury and death of all the passengers involved in an accident, as well as property damage.
The minimum Ohio insurance limits are the following:
These requirements can be covered by 25/50/25 insurance coverage. Most insurance companies already know the minimum liability insurance requirements, and many will recommend more insurance protection for added security.
Ohio is not a no-fault state, which means one driver will be found to be at fault in each accident. The driver that is at fault will be liable for the damages caused by the accident, and it's possible for the other people involved in the accident to sue the other driver. Having a more comprehensive insurance policy protects against lawsuits more effectively, and some policies will repair an individual's vehicle even if they are found to be at fault during an accident. All these values are specified by the Ohio BMV.
In Ohio, vehicle registration must be renewed once every three years. Fortunately, it's simple to renew the registration, and there are several different ways to go through the renewal process. The state provides many BMV Express Kiosks that allow residents to scan their old registration, pay the renewal fee, and print a new registration immediately. It's also possible to renew the registration at a BMV location or go through the renewal process online in just a few minutes and have the new registration sent in the mail.
Ohio driver's licenses last between four and eight years, depending on the year the license was issued. Drivers are expected to have their licenses renewed before they expire and can be ticketed and charged with a misdemeanor if caught driving with an expired license.
Renewing a driver's license in Ohio is a simple process. Residents can complete the process online by visiting the BMV.Ohio.gov website or by visiting a local BMV office. You will need to submit the necessary documents and pay the renewal fee. When having a license renewed in-person, an individual must go through a vision exam, provide the necessary identification documents, and pay any fees to renew their license.
Renew Within 6 Months to Avoid Retesting
It's essential to note that letting an Ohio driver's license lapse for more than 6 months leaves drivers with the requirement to go through all the testing once again. Drivers must submit to the knowledge and driving skills test to obtain a valid Ohio driver's license at that point.
Maintaining a vehicle in Ohio is all about getting it inspected, keeping adequate insurance coverage, and renewing the license and registration as required. These tasks are simple but can be confusing without the necessary information.
Get all the details about the license renewal process from this Ohio BMV page.
Buying & Selling
Buying or selling a vehicle in Ohio is a big deal that comes with significant paperwork. Individuals selling a vehicle must be sure to provide all the necessary information to the buyer, and buyers must be careful to file the necessary paperwork and, more importantly, to research any vehicle they're considering purchasing. This is essential for avoiding fees, keeping a vehicle legal, and staying clear of low-quality vehicles.
When a vehicle is bought or sold in Ohio, the title must change ownership. Fortunately, transferring a title is simple and affordable.
Individuals buying or selling the title should have form BMV 3374 to fill out in front of a notary. The seller should also have the physical title to fill out during the sale.
To transfer the title, the seller fills out the vehicle's odometer reading, and the buyer adds their full name and address before both people sign the title.
With the back of the vehicle's title fully filled out and signed and form BMV 3374 completed, the buyer only needs to bring the documents to a local BMV office, pay a small $15 title transfer fee as well as any sales tax due on the sale, and the process is complete.
A new title will be mailed to the buyer with a fresh back, making it possible to later sell the vehicle and transfer the title again.
After having the title of a purchased vehicle transferred into the buyer's name, they can register the vehicle at a Deputy Registrar agency.
Once at the agency, present the title, an Ohio driver's license, and an E-Check certificate to register the vehicle. There will be a small registration fee to finalize the process, and then the vehicle is legally registered.
Whether registering, transferring, or renewing documents in Ohio, there are fees tied to all these tasks. Knowing the fees helps drivers prepare for the costs associated with maintaining, buying, and selling a vehicle.
Registering a Vehicle
Title Transfer
Driver's License
For a more complete list of the different fees associated with Ohio licenses, registrations, and titles, see this BMV fees overview.
Before buying any vehicle, it's important to know about its history, any accidents it was involved in, and more about its features and specifications. Most sellers won't divulge all this information in-depth, which is why buyers should rely on a License Plate Lookup or Vehicle VIN Check from GoodCar instead. These simple reports give interested buyers a way to quickly look at a vehicle's history, open recalls, in-depth features and specifications, title brands, and more. By getting these reports, it's easy to see whether a vehicle is a good purchase or not.
Laws and Regulations
Understanding the laws that govern the licensed driver and vehicle owner in Ohio is essential for staying out of trouble. Learn the most useful laws immediately, and consider reading through the Ohio Driver's Manual for more in-depth information about rules and regulations.
Every driver residing in Ohio must hold a valid driver's license. The process to obtain one of those licenses is detailed below:
Getting a Brand-New Ohio License
The most common way that Ohio residents obtain a state license is by getting it for the first time. Both teens under 18 and adults over 18 go through a similar process to obtain a full driver's license, but things vary slightly based on age.
Earning the Learner's Permit
The first step in the process is to apply for the Ohio Learner's Permit. This requires providing documents to get a Temporary Instruction Permit Identification card, which essentially means proving your U.S. residence, your Ohio residence, your identity, and your birth date.
When you do those things, you are allowed to take the state's written knowledge test and earn an Ohio Learner's Permit if you're over 18. You can take the test at any of the driver exam stations throughout Ohio. Just be prepared to pay a $23.50 fee at the station to obtain the permit after taking the test. To study for the test, read through the Ohio Driver's Manual closely. If you get 30 or more questions right on the 40-question exam, you've successfully earned the Learner's Permit.
Individuals under 18 years old must also go through 24 hours of an instructional driver's course at a driving school and complete eight hours of driving practice with a certified instructor before taking the permit test.
Meeting Any Probationary License Requirements - When Under 18
As a teen with a valid learner's permit, it's necessary to meet a set of probationary license requirements before moving on to take the BMV road test.
The requirements are all of the following:
Passing the Ohio BMV Road Test
Finally, it's time to take and pass the BMV road test. This test requires drivers to demonstrate their understanding of turning with proper signal usage, safe acceleration, stopping safely, backing up, performing three-point turn maneuvers, using the proper lanes, and following vehicles safely. Drivers will demonstrate their ability to back up into a marked box with accuracy.
When the road test is finalized, drivers will have earned their full Ohio driver's license and can begin driving on roads unsupervised. There is a new license issue fee of $24.50 after passing the test and the license will eventually arrive in the mail, though a temporary is provided at first.
Transferring From Another State
Drivers moving to Ohio from another state must convert their state license to an Ohio license within the first 30 days of becoming residents. This process is a straightforward one.
Drivers must visit a BMV Service Center and provide proof of their identity, state residency, a valid out-of-state driver's license, and Social Security number proof, and pay the licensing fees to convert their license.
Out-of-state drivers under 18 must also have a co-signer over 18, provide proof of 6 or more months of driving experience, and show that an approved Ohio driver's education course has been completed before being able to obtain an Ohio license.
Tinting the windows in an Ohio vehicle is a good way to enhance privacy and comfort while driving. There are rules to what tint is allowed on the windows of an Ohio vehicle, though.
On the windshield, a tint is only allowed if it allows 70% of visible light to pass through the material during use.
The side windows on either side of a driver must enable 50% of the light to pass through effectively.
The rear windows of the vehicle don't have any tint restrictions, and most tint materials are allowed.
More details are available in this overview of Ohio tint laws.
According to Ohio's Ohio's Lemon Law, new vehicles purchased within the state are offered additional protections against manufacturer defects. These protections demand that manufacturers make repairs to significant defects that lead to loss of value or safety of the vehicle. The vehicle is only protected for the duration of the original manufacturer's warranty, and once it exceeds the warranty period, it no longer qualifies for lemon law protection if the defects have not already been brought to the attention of the manufacturer.
The Manufacturer Must Make a Reasonable Number of Repair Attempts
Under the Lemon Laws affecting residents in Ohio, the manufacturer must make repair attempts for any serious defects covered by their warranty. Once at least four repair attempts have been made without success, the vehicle may be declared a lemon through legal action. Once a vehicle is declared a lemon, the manufacturer must replace it or refund its purchase price.
Useful Things to Know
Besides the essential knowledge points listed above about Ohio's road laws and regulations, there are more valuable links that every resident should have access to. Use this section for access to charging station locations, Ohio BMV Service Center locations, and more.
BMV Service Location Finder: Locate self-service kiosks, full-service locations, and more using the BMV finder tool: BMV Service Location Finder
Ohio State Crash Trends: Ohio is safer than the average state, according to statistics about fatal car accidents provided by the IIHS. A total of 1,354 fatalities occurred in 1,242 accidents in the state in 2021, with an average of 1.2 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Residents who know more about accident statistics can prepare for safer driving conditions. Get the full picture with Ohio car accident statistics from GoodCar.
Ohio EV Charging Station Locator: Any Ohio residents with electric vehicles must learn the locations of nearby charging stations. The charging station locator below makes that easy to do: Ohio EV Charging Station Locator
The Most Popular Ohio Vehicles: Here is a resource that showcases the most popular vehicles titled in Ohio in recent years. The data cited in this overview comes from statistics gathered by the Ohio BMV: 10 Most Popular Vehicles Titled in Ohio
Most Ohio residents own vehicles because being a driver throughout Ohio is one of the most efficient ways to get around. With this guide hopefully, more Ohioans understand common state laws, simple maintenance issues, and tricks to obtain safer and more reliable vehicles overall.
Get the Latest Ohio Vehicle Information with GoodCar
Ohio vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.