An Ohio memorandum title is a specific type of title document issued by the Ohio BMV for informational purposes when there is a lien on a vehicle. When you finance a car in Ohio and the lender holds a lien, the actual title is often held electronically by the state or by the lienholder, and the owner doesn’t receive the standard paper title. In such cases, you have the option to request a memorandum title.
A memorandum title is basically a paper copy of the title that shows the vehicle’s details, the owner’s name, and the lienholder’s name, but it is marked “non-transferable.” This means you cannot use a memorandum title to sell or transfer ownership of the vehicle. It’s only for your records – for example, you might use it to prove ownership for insurance or to get license plates while the lien is in place. Think of it as a receipt for the title.
Not everyone with a lien needs or gets a memorandum title, but it’s available if the owner wants a physical document in hand. Once the lien is fully paid off and released, the memorandum title on its own doesn’t automatically become a full title. At that point, you or the lienholder will need to have the title converted: the BMV can issue a regular title (without the lien) in your name, either by using the memorandum title and lien release paperwork or through their electronic system. After lien release, the memorandum title is basically swapped out for the actual transferable title.
In summary, a memorandum title is a non-transferable copy of your car title that you can hold while a lien is active. It’s a convenience so you have something in hand, but it’s not required. If you have questions about obtaining a memorandum title or what to do with one, our Ohio memorandum title resource page explains it in detail, and we can help you request one or convert one into a full title when the time comes.
