Plates and registration
Plates and registration when you buy a car in Ohio
In Ohio, plates belong to the owner, not the car. When you buy, you either transfer the plates from your old car for $9 or get new plates with a fresh registration: $36 for a passenger vehicle plus an $8 service fee and up to $30 in local tax, with an extra $100, $150 or $200 a year for a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric car.
- Plate transfer
- $9
- Passenger registration
- $36 + $8 + local tax
- Temporary tag
- $23, 45 days
- Buying from us
- We handle it
New plates or a plate transfer?
If you are replacing a car you own, you can move your current plates and registration to the new car for $9. If this is an additional car, or you want a new plate design or personalized plates, you register it with new plates. Registration for most passenger vehicles expires on the owner's birthday.
When you sell a car in Ohio, keep the plates. Do not let the buyer drive away on your registration.
What registration costs in 2026
| Item | Per year |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicle registration | $36.00 |
| Deputy registrar service fee (1-year term) | $8.00 |
| Local permissive tax, set where you live | $0 to $30 |
| Hybrid | $100.00 |
| Plug-in hybrid | $150.00 |
| Electric | $200.00 |
| Personalized plate | $50.00 |
Registrations can run for two to five years at once, paying each year's fees up front. Price the whole purchase in the out-the-door calculator.
Temporary tags
A 45-day temporary tag costs $23. In a private sale it must be obtained before the title is transferred into your name, because once an Ohio title is issued only permanent plates are available.
E-Check counties
Vehicles registered in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties need a passing E-Check emissions test when due, before registration can be issued or renewed. In September 2026 the state began the process of ending E-Check after the Cleveland area met federal air quality standards; it still needs federal approval, so testing continues for now.
Insurance before you register
When you register a car, you sign a statement that it will not be driven without insurance. Ohio's minimum liability coverage is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries and $25,000 for property damage, often written as 25/50/25.
Plates done before the car arrives
We register every car we sell, transfer your plates or issue new ones, and deliver it ready to drive anywhere in Ohio.
Registration questions
Do Ohio plates stay with the car when it is sold?
No. Plates stay with the owner, who can transfer them to another vehicle for $9.
How much does it cost to register a car in Ohio?
For a gas passenger vehicle, $36 plus an $8 service fee and $0 to $30 in local permissive tax, so $44 to $74 for one year. Hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric cars add $100, $150 or $200.
How long do new Ohio residents have to register a car?
30 days after becoming a resident, which includes transferring the title to Ohio first.