Yes. Ohio law requires a notary public’s certification on the seller’s signature in order to transfer a car title. This means the seller (the person whose name is on the current title) must sign the title in the presence of a notary, and the notary will then affix a seal or stamp to acknowledge that the signature is authentic. The Ohio BMV will reject a title transfer if the seller’s signature is not notarized – it’s a strict requirement.
The buyer’s signature on the title application (if one is used) is typically witnessed by the clerk at the title office or may also be notarized, but the critical part is the notarization of the seller’s signature on the title document itself. Many Ohio title offices have notaries on staff, so often the seller and buyer can go to the office together to handle the notarization and transfer in one step. If that’s not feasible, the seller should sign the title before an independent notary (for example, at a bank) prior to the buyer taking it in for transfer.
Always remember: do not sign an Ohio title as a seller until you are in front of a notary. If you sign it beforehand and it wasn’t notarized, the title will not be considered valid for transfer. If you need help finding a notary or understanding this requirement, EZ Ohio Title can help coordinate the notarization as part of our service to ensure your transfer is done correctly.
