Buying a car from a private seller in Ohio brings an immediate problem: the car is yours, but the license plates aren’t. You cannot legally use the previous owner’s plates to drive the car home, and driving without plates is an instant ticket.
You need a Temporary Tag (officially called a “Temporary Tag/45-Day Expiration”).
While dealerships handle this for you automatically, in a private sale, you are 100% responsible for this paperwork. This guide will walk you through the specific “Title First, Tag Second” rule in Ohio, the exact documents you need, and how to skip the waiting room using the BMV’s virtual queue.
The Two Types of Ohio Temp Tags
Before you head to the agency, know which tag you are getting.
- The “Dealer” Tag (45-Day): If you buy from a licensed Ohio dealership, they issue this. It is a cardboard or paper tag placed in your rear window or plate holder. You do not need to do anything.
- The “Private Sale” Tag (45-Day): This is for when you buy a car from a neighbor, friend, or Facebook Marketplace. You must go to a Deputy Registrar agency to buy this tag yourself. This allows you to drive legally while you wait for your official metal plates or while you get an E-Check (emissions test).
The Critical “Title First” Rule
This is where most people fail. You cannot get a temporary tag with just a Bill of Sale.
In Ohio, the Certificate of Title is king.
- The Seller Must Sign: The seller must sign the back of the original title over to you.
- Notarization: In Ohio, the seller’s signature must be notarized. Do not buy a car if the seller has already signed the title without a notary present (unless they have a notarized bill of sale to back it up, but a notarized title is safer).
- Your Name: Your name must be filled in as the buyer.
You must present this assigned, notarized title to get your temporary tag.
How to Get Your Ohio Temp Tag (Step-by-Step)
This is an in-person process. You generally cannot print a first-time private sale tag online because the BMV needs to verify the physical title.
Step 1: Join the “Get In Line, Online” Queue
Don’t just walk in and wait.
- Go to the Ohio BMV website.
- Use the “Get In Line, Online” feature to check into your local Deputy Registrar agency.
- (For a full guide on how this system works, read our article on scheduling an Ohio BMV appointment).
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
You will need:
- The Original Ohio Title (signed and notarized).
- Your Ohio Driver’s License or ID.
- Proof of Insurance: You cannot get a tag without showing an active policy for the vehicle.
- Payment: The fee is approximately **$20.00** ($18.50 for the tag + roughly $1.50 in deputy fees).
Step 3: Visit the Deputy Registrar
- Go to the agency and check in.
- Hand them the title and proof of insurance.
- Ask for a “Temporary Tag.”
- Result: You will leave with a cardboard/paper license plate and a temporary registration card.
What About the “Title Transfer”?
This is a source of confusion. Getting a tag and transferring the title are technically two different transactions done at two different counters (and sometimes different buildings).
- Clerk of Courts Title Office: This is where you pay sales tax and get the title legally printed in your name.
- Deputy Registrar (BMV): This is where you get plates (tags).
The Pro-Tip: Many locations have a Title Office and a BMV Agency right next door to each other.
- Go to the Title Office first to transfer the title into your name and pay the tax.
- Walk next door to the BMV Agency with your shiny new title to get your Temp Tag (or permanent metal plates).
FAQs
Legally, yes, but be careful. Ohio law allows a grace period to transfer plates if you have sold your old car and bought a new one. However, if you get pulled over, you must have the Bill of Sale and Title for the new car to prove you just bought it. It is safer and less hassle to get a proper Temp Tag.
You usually get the temp tag from the state where you bought the car. For example, if you buy a car in Kentucky, you get a Kentucky temp tag to drive it home. Ohio cannot issue a tag for a car that isn’t in Ohio yet. Once you get it home, you follow our Ohio out-of-state transfer guide (which covers vehicles too) to get it registered.
No. You should not alter the tag. However, you should protect it. If it’s a cardboard tag for the rear plate spot, ensure it’s secure. If it’s a paper tag for the window, tape it securely to the inside of the rear windshield so it doesn’t get wet or blown away.
You can purchase a second temporary tag, but that is the limit. You cannot drive on temp tags forever. After the second one, the system will block you until you buy permanent metal plates.
They check your license status. If your license is suspended in Ohio, they will not issue you a temporary tag or registration. You must clear your suspension first.
Add Comment