BMV 3774 — Ohio's title application, and what it costs.
In Ohio, titles come from the county Clerk of Courts title office, and BMV 3774 is the application you swear to there. One page covers a first title after a purchase, a duplicate for a lost or stolen title, a replacement, a memorandum title and a salvage title. You state how you got the car, every lien, the purchase price and trade-in, and the tax, then sign in front of a notary. Apply more than 30 days after the title was assigned to you and there's a $5 late fee. The price you write is audited by the Department of Taxation. Here's the form and the fee table.
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Quick Answer
- What is BMV form 3774?
- Ohio's Application(s) for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle (12/25). It's used for an original title after you buy a vehicle, a duplicate when the title is lost, stolen or destroyed, a replacement, a memorandum title and a salvage title. You declare under penalty of perjury that you're the lawful owner, purchaser or lienholder, and sign before a notary.
- How much is a title in Ohio?
- $18 in 84 of Ohio's 88 counties and $23 in Columbiana, Crawford, Lake and Noble, according to the Department of Public Safety's county fee table. Duplicates, replacements and lien notations cost the same as a title; a memorandum title is $5, and the late fee is $5.
- Does the Ohio title application need to be notarized?
- Yes. The applicant and any co-applicant sign before a notary public or other officer authorized by law. The form notes that a licensed Ohio motor vehicle dealer who is the owner or purchaser doesn't need the document notarized (R.C. 4505.063). Montgomery County's clerk, for example, charges a $1 notary fee.
Four steps through a BMV 3774
One page, sworn before a notary, filed with the county Clerk of Courts.
- 1Check the application typeOriginal, duplicate, replacement, memorandum or salvage.
- 2Ownership and liensHow you acquired it, from whom, whether the seller is a minor, and every lien.
- 3Price, trade-in and taxPurchase price, trade-in allowance, gross tax due, vendor's discount, tax paid or exemption.
- 4Sign before a notaryApplicant and co-applicant swear to it; licensed dealers are exempt.
Ohio Title Fees
From the Ohio Department of Public Safety's "Vehicle Title Fees by County", read on 28 October 2026. Fees are the same in every county except where noted.
| Transaction | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certificate of title | $18 ($23 in Columbiana, Crawford, Lake and Noble) |
| Duplicate certificate of title | $18 ($23 in the same four counties) |
| Replacement certificate of title | $18 ($23 in the same four counties) |
| Lien notation, on an existing title or with a transfer | $18 ($23 in the same four counties) |
| Memorandum title | $5 |
| Out-of-state inspection | $9.50 ($8 inspection + $1.50 clerk fee) |
| Salvage title, motor vehicle | $4 |
| Cancellation of lien | No fee |
| Late fee (title not applied for within 30 days) | $5 |
Clerk offices may add their own service charges; Montgomery County's title office lists a $1 notary fee.
What's on the BMV 3774
The 12/25 revision is one page, typed or printed in ink. The top names the late fee: $5 for failing to apply for title within 30 days of assignment. The applicant and any co-applicant give their names, SSN or EIN, address and county, and declare under penalty of perjury that they are the lawful owner, purchaser or lienholder.
For an original title you give the evidence of ownership (a manufacturer's certificate of origin, the previous title number, a registration), how you acquired the vehicle and from whom, whether the seller is a minor, and a full statement of liens, writing "none" if there are none. A duplicate needs the old title number, whether it was lost, stolen or destroyed, who has the vehicle, and a promise to hand the old title to the Clerk of Courts for cancellation if it turns up. Replacement, memorandum and salvage titles each have their own line.
The vehicle block takes year, VIN, model, body type, make and any conversion, then the money: purchase price, trade-in allowance, gross tax due, vendor's discount, tax paid, and any tax exemption with its reason, plus a dealer's permit number and vendor's number. You rate the condition (good, fair, poor or wrecked) and answer five yes/no questions: right of survivorship, transfer on death (BMV 3811 required), applicant a minor (BMV 3751 required), a replica vehicle, and an adaptive mobility vehicle under 49 C.F.R. part 568 or 595.
Above the signatures is the warning that matters most in a private sale: you must state the true selling price. A false statement violates Ohio Revised Code 2921.13 and is punishable by 6 months in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. All transfers are audited by the Department of Taxation, buyer and seller must provide any information it requests, and the buyer may be assessed any additional tax found due.
BMV 3774 at a Glance
The fees, the deadline, the notary and the price warning, on one card.
From BMV 3774 (12/25) and the Ohio DPS county fee table, read on 28 October 2026.
The Price You Write Gets Audited
The purchase price, trade-in, gross tax due and tax paid all sit on the title application itself, so the price you swear to is the number the tax is figured from. Writing a low price to save tax is exactly what the warning at the bottom is about: R.C. 2921.13, six months, up to $1,000, and an audit by the Department of Taxation that can bill the buyer for the difference.
The form also has a few smaller rules worth knowing. The notary requirement doesn't apply to a licensed Ohio dealer who is the owner or purchaser. And under R.C. 4505.09, applicants may give only the last four digits of their SSN when applying for a salvage certificate for an owner-retained vehicle, or when transferring titles to insurers or nonprofits.
Extra forms you might need
- BMV 3811: if you choose transfer on death.
- BMV 3751: if the applicant is a minor.
- Out-of-state title: an inspection, $9.50 at the clerk.
- More than one lien: attach a statement of the additional liens.
Check the Car Before You Swear to It
BMV 3774 asks you to rate the condition, from good to wrecked. Enter the VIN for a free preview of the title brands, salvage records and odometer readings on file.
The Five BMV 3774 Applications
Each has its own box on the form (12/25).
Original title
After a purchase: evidence of ownership, seller, liens.
Duplicate title
Lost, stolen or destroyed; return the old one if found.
Replacement title
For an existing certificate of title number.
Memorandum title
$5: a copy for an existing title number.
Salvage title
$4: the original surrendered to the Clerk of Courts.
$5 late fee
If you apply more than 30 days after assignment.
Private Buyer vs. Licensed Dealer
The same form, filled in by two different people.
Private buyer
- Completes BMV 3774 and signs before a notary.
- States the true price; tax is figured on it.
- $18 title fee in most counties.
- $5 late fee after 30 days.
Licensed Ohio dealer
- Fills in the dealer's permit and vendor's numbers.
- No notary needed when the dealer is owner or purchaser.
- Vendor's discount line on the tax section.
- Same title fees at the clerk.
R.C. 4505.063 is the dealer notary exemption the form cites.
Related Checks and Guides
The other DMV form guides, and the Ohio pages they connect to.
Where These Facts Come From
From the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Montgomery County Clerk of Courts, read on 28 October 2026. bmv.ohio.gov and codes.ohio.gov refused our requests, so this page doesn't state an Ohio sales tax rate.
CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles or any Clerk of Courts. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
BMV 3774 — Frequently Asked Questions
What Ohio buyers and owners ask most.
Where do I file the BMV 3774?+
At a county Clerk of Courts title office. Ohio titles are issued by the clerks, which is why the form refers to surrendering titles to the Clerk of Courts and why the state publishes its title fees county by county.
How long do I have to title a car in Ohio?+
The form charges $5 for failing to apply for title within 30 days of assignment.
How do I get a duplicate title in Ohio?+
Tick Duplicate Certificate of Title on BMV 3774, give the title number, say whether it was lost, stolen or destroyed, list any liens, and sign before a notary. The fee is $18 in most counties ($23 in Columbiana, Crawford, Lake and Noble).
Why does Ohio's title application ask for the purchase price?+
Because the form records the tax on the sale: it has lines for the price, trade-in allowance, gross tax due, vendor's discount and tax paid. The price must be true; the form warns that all transfers are audited by the Department of Taxation and the buyer may be assessed any additional tax due.
Which Ohio counties charge $23 for a title?+
Columbiana, Crawford, Lake and Noble, according to the Department of Public Safety's county fee table. The other 84 counties charge $18.
What's a memorandum title in Ohio?+
A memorandum certificate of title for an existing title number, one of the five application types on BMV 3774. It costs $5 in every county.
Run the VIN Before You Title It
Enter any 17-character VIN for a free preview. The full report lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
CarCheckerVIN is an independent vehicle-history service and is not affiliated with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles or any Clerk of Courts. This guide summarizes BMV 3774 and the Department of Public Safety's county fee table and is not legal or tax advice. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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