The State of Ohio Requires Titles for Bikes, Boats and Trailers

In the state of Ohio, Street Bikes and some boats need to be registered with the state. This means they must come with a real title when you purchase them. Make sure you have a clear title in hand when you exchange your money for the seller's product. If you wait until later to try to get your title, the seller may disappear or you may find out that the title isn't legally his or hers. The bottom line will then be that you don't legally own the product yourself.

A legal title must be notarized in your name. It also must be recorded in the county in which you reside.

Why should a street bike be titled? The simple reason is that you can ride it on the streets, after you pay for its yearly tag. But in order to purchase the tag you must have a clear title, registered in your name.

The difference between a street bike and a dirt bike are: street bikes are equipped with headlights, mirrors, horns and turn signals. These must be fully operationally too.

Boat sthat are 16 feet or longer in length and/or are equipped with a 25 horsepower motor or larger must come with a real title, too. Why? In the state of Ohio, boats of this size have to be registered the same as automobiles are. The difference is that the license for a boat lasts for 4 years and if you sell the boat while the license is active, the buyer can have the license transferred into his/her name.

Trailers that hook up to the back of your truck for hauling also comes with a title. They do not look the same as the ones for automobiles, bikes or boats, yet they serve as a legal instrument, showing proof of ownership. Yes, trailers must have tags in the state of Ohio, too. These can also be purchases at any Ohio License Bureau.

Many states do not require licenses or tags for their boats. Ohio does. Be sure to always remember this fact if you ever decide to participate in this popular sport.

A good rule of thumb, if you are buying something in Ohio with a motor, that has wheels or that floats in the water, check with your local department of Motor Vehicles before purchasing and make sure you understand what you need to do in order to license it before you hand over any of your hard earn money.