Ohio memorandum title paperwork with car keys and courthouse representing legal vehicle title process

Ohio Memorandum Title (Memo Title) Explained 2026: What It Is, What It Means, and How to Get a Clean Title Fast

Quick Answer

An Ohio memorandum title (often called a memo title) is issued when a vehicle has an active lien. It allows you to register, plate, and insure the vehicle while the original title is held by the lienholder (usually a bank).

It’s not a “problem title” and it’s not a restriction…it’s simply proof you own the vehicle while a loan is still attached.

If you want the short, service-focused version (and the fastest way to resolve a memo-title situation), start here:
Ohio Memorandum Title

Why Ohio Memorandum Titles Are So Common in 2026

In 2026, most vehicles are financed…which means most Ohio drivers will encounter a memorandum title at some point.

Two reasons this keeps showing up:

  1. More auto loans and refinancing

  2. More electronic lien and title processing (which changes how “paper titles” are handled)

If your vehicle is financed…a memo title is normal.

What Is an Ohio Memorandum Title?

An Ohio memorandum title is an owner’s copy of title information that’s issued while the lender holds the actual title.

It is commonly called:

  • Memorandum Title

  • Memo Title

  • Memorandum Certificate of Title

The key point is simple:

A memorandum title is for registration and proof purposes…not ownership transfer.

For the official EZ Ohio Title service page that explains the memo title process and how we handle it end-to-end, see:
Ohio Memorandum Title

What an Ohio Memorandum Title Can Be Used For

An Ohio memorandum title can be used for:

  • Registering the vehicle

  • Getting plates

  • Proving ownership for insurance

  • Showing the vehicle is legally in your name (with a lien)

An Ohio memorandum title cannot be used for:

  • Selling the vehicle

  • Transferring ownership

  • Completing a private-party sale in the normal way

That’s where people get stuck.

Ohio Memorandum Title vs Clean Title vs Electronic Title

Here’s the simplest comparison.

Feature Ohio Memorandum Title Clean Certificate of Title Electronic Title (with lien)
Lien present Yes No Yes
Who holds “original” Lender Owner Electronic record
Register/plate/insure Yes Yes Yes
Sell/transfer ownership No Yes No…not until lien cleared
How long it lasts Until lien is released Indefinite Until lien is released

Can You Sell a Car With an Ohio Memorandum Title?

No.

You can’t complete a clean ownership transfer while the lien is active…and a memorandum title is your signal that the lien is active.

To sell the car, you need:

  1. The loan paid off

  2. The lien released

  3. A clean title issued (paper or electronic depending on situation)

If you’re at the payoff stage right now, this is the correct next step:
Ohio Loan Payoff Title Retrieval

What Happens After You Pay Off the Loan With an Ohio Memorandum Title?

This is the moment where most delays happen.

People assume payoff automatically produces a clean title.

It doesn’t.

What has to happen next is a process…not a wish.

Here’s the real sequence:

  1. Payoff completes

  2. Lender releases the lien (often electronically)

  3. Title record updates

  4. You obtain the clean title (or the clean title is issued electronically)

If you want the fastest “handled-for-you” pathway, start here:
Ohio Loan Payoff Title Retrieval

Step-by-Step: How to Get a Clean Title After an Ohio Memorandum Title

This is the clean, practical checklist.

Step 1: Confirm payoff is fully posted

Make sure the lender shows a $0 balance.

Step 2: Confirm the lien release is issued

Some lenders issue releases fast…some drag it out.

Step 3: Prepare the documents

What you need depends on your situation (and whether your title is paper vs electronic).

Step 4: Complete the title update process

This is where mistakes, missing items, and delays happen.

Step 5: Receive your clean title

Once the lien is cleared, you can sell, transfer, or trade normally.

If you want this handled without guesswork, the two services most commonly used are:

How Long Does an Ohio Memorandum Title Last?

An Ohio memorandum title lasts as long as the lien exists.

It does not “expire.”
It simply becomes irrelevant once the lien is released and a clean title is issued.

Common Ohio Memorandum Title Mistakes That Cost People Time

These are the recurring landmines:

  • Assuming you can sell with a memorandum title

  • Waiting too long to follow up with the lender after payoff

  • Confusing “lost title” with “lienholder holds title”

  • Using the wrong process when the title was never delivered after payoff

If you truly lost a title (not a memo-title situation), use this instead:
Duplicate Car Title Ohio

If your goal is selling/transferring once the lien is cleared, this guide helps:
Ohio Car Title Transfer Guide (2026)

Ohio Memorandum Title Scenarios We See Every Week

You financed a car…now you need plates

Memo title is normal…you can register.

You paid off your loan…but never got a clean title

This is the payoff-title pathway:
Ohio Loan Payoff Title Retrieval

You’re trying to sell privately but only have a memo title

You need lien release + clean title first. Start here:
Ohio Memorandum Title

FAQ About Ohio Memorandum Titles

What is an Ohio memorandum title?

An Ohio memorandum title is issued when there is an active lien. It allows registration and insurance while the lender holds the actual title.

Can you sell a car with an Ohio memorandum title?

No. The lien must be released and a clean title issued before ownership can be transferred.

Is an Ohio memorandum title temporary?

It’s not “temporary” in the way people think…it lasts as long as the lien exists and ends when the lien is released.

What if I paid off the loan but the lender hasn’t released the lien?

That’s the most common delay point. If you want the clean title fast, use:
Ohio Loan Payoff Title Retrieval

For more common Ohio title questions, use:
Ohio Title FAQs

Need Help With an Ohio Memorandum Title?

If you’re holding a memorandum title and you need a clean title for a sale, trade, refinance, or peace of mind…don’t guess.

Start here and submit your vehicle details…we’ll guide the process correctly from the beginning:
Get Started

Or contact the team directly:
Contact EZ Ohio Title

If you want to browse all educational resources in one place:
Ohio Title Guides

Dealership Note

If you’re a dealership processing memorandum titles, ELT workflows, and high-volume title operations…that’s not EZ Ohio Title.

That’s our dealer-only sister platform:
EZ ETitle