An Ohio electronic title (often called an Ohio e-title) is a digital version of your vehicle’s title that the Ohio BMV maintains electronically instead of issuing a paper certificate. In many cases, when you have a car loan or a lien on your vehicle, the state will hold the title electronically while the lien is active. This means you (and the lienholder) won’t have a physical paper title until the lien is released – the record of the title exists in the BMV’s database.
Even if there is no lien, Ohio offers the option to hold titles electronically for convenience. With an electronic title, you don’t have to worry about losing a paper document, and transactions (like lien releases or dealer transfers) can be processed digitally between banks and the BMV. For example, when you pay off your car loan, the lender can electronically notify the BMV, and the state can then allow a paper title to be issued to you.
It’s important to note that if you have an e-title and you decide to sell your vehicle to a private party, you’ll need to request the BMV to convert that electronic title into a paper title so you can transfer it to the buyer. This usually involves a quick trip to the title office to get the physical title printed once any liens are cleared.
The electronic title system is very useful for lienholders and for reducing paperwork. However, for everyday purposes, you might not notice a difference until it comes time to obtain your paper title. If you’re unsure whether your title is electronic or paper, you can check with the Ohio title office. And if you need help obtaining a paper copy of an electronic title (for instance, after paying off a lien), our Ohio lien title retrieval service can assist in getting your title for you.
