No – it is illegal to sell a car in Ohio without providing a valid title to the buyer. The title is the legal proof of ownership. If you don’t have a title, you as the seller have no legal document to sign over, and the buyer has no way to become the recorded owner. Ohio law requires that at the time of sale, the seller delivers a properly assigned title to the buyer, so selling a vehicle without a title is not a legitimate sale.
If your car’s title is lost or destroyed, you must obtain a duplicate Ohio title before you attempt to sell the vehicle. As the owner, you can go to the title office and request a replacement title (which we’ve described above). Once you have the duplicate title in hand, you can proceed with the sale by signing it over to the buyer with notarization, as usual.
For buyers, it’s very important: never buy a vehicle without getting the title from the seller at the same time. If a seller says “I don’t have the title right now, but I’ll get it to you” or “we can just do a bill of sale,” that is a red flag. In Ohio, a bill of sale alone is not sufficient to transfer ownership or get the car registered – the title is absolutely required. If you take a car without a title, you will not be able to get license plates or legally drive it, because the BMV will not issue a new title to you without the old one (or without the legal process like a court order, which is cumbersome).
There are a few exceptional cases (like very old vehicles or certain boats/trailers) where alternative paperwork might be used, but for all standard cars and trucks, a title is mandatory. So, if you’re a seller, do the right thing and get your paperwork in order first. And if you’re a buyer, protect yourself by ensuring the title is part of the deal.
If you find yourself needing to sell a car but you can’t locate the title, our duplicate Ohio title service can help you obtain an Ohio title replacement quickly. That way you’ll have the proper document to legally complete the sale. Remember, from the buyer’s perspective, no title = no deal (and as a seller, providing the title is your responsibility).
