Free Ohio Trailer Bill of Sale
Ohio titles every travel trailer and camper, but a utility or commercial trailer needs a title only if it weighs over 4,000 lb. When a trailer is titled, the seller's signature on its assignment must be notarized. The transfer then splits between Ohio's two vehicle agencies: the County Clerk of Courts Title Office issues the title (5.75% state tax plus the county's permissive tax, $18 fee), and the BMV handles the trailer plate afterward. Homemade builds start at a third agency entirely — the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which inspects the trailer and assigns its VIN before any title can exist.
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Trailer titling rules trip up many sellers — GVWR thresholds, separate boat trailer titles, and state notarization requirements all vary. Our step-by-step writing guide walks you through the fields DMVs commonly ask for. Read: How to Write a Bill of Sale (Step-by-Step) →
Ohio Trailer Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Primary ID Field
VIN
Sales Tax
5.75%
Title Required
Yes
Travel trailers and campers need an Ohio title at any weight. Utility and commercial trailers need a title only if they weigh over 4,000 lb; lighter ones get BMV plates using a weight slip.
Inspection
Not required
Sales Tax Details
Same 5.75% + county permissive tax as cars.
Inspection Requirements
No state inspection for recreational trailers. Commercial trailer inspection via Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Ohio Trailer Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Complete bill of sale with VIN, type, length, weight, sale price.
- Seller signs the trailer title assignment before a notary — Ohio rule applies.
- Buyer completes BMV 3774 at County Clerk of Courts.
- Buyer pays 5.75% + county permissive tax + $18 title fee.
- Buyer registers at BMV and obtains trailer plate.
- Homemade trailers: additional VIN inspection required at Ohio State Highway Patrol.
- Check the trailer's weight first: over 4,000 lb, or any travel trailer or pop-up camper, means a title transfer at the Clerk of Courts; a lighter utility trailer is registered at a deputy registrar with a weight card.
Common Pitfalls
- Skipping notarization — required for every titled trailer.
- Going to BMV first for title — County Clerk handles title, BMV handles plates.
- Homemade trailer without OSHP VIN inspection — buyer can't title it.
- Treating a pop-up camper like a utility trailer. Ohio titles all travel trailers and fold-down campers, even light ones, so the seller still needs a notarized title assignment.
Pro Tip
Ohio trailers: notarized titles at the County Clerk, plates at the BMV. Homemade trailers start with OSHP.
Ohio Trailer Bill of Sale — FAQs
Do I need to notarize a trailer title in Ohio?
Yes — Ohio's title notarization rule applies to all titled vehicles, including titled trailers (travel trailers and campers, and utility trailers over 4,000 lb). The seller's signature on the trailer title must be notarized.
Do all Ohio trailers need titles?
No. Travel trailers and campers are titled at any weight. A utility or commercial trailer is titled only if it weighs over 4,000 lb; a lighter one gets plates at a BMV deputy registrar using a weight slip.
How do I title a homemade trailer in Ohio?
Homemade trailers require a VIN inspection by the Ohio State Highway Patrol before titling. OSHP assigns a VIN, and then the buyer can complete the standard BMV 3774 process at the County Clerk.
Do trailers under 4,000 pounds need a title in Ohio?
Most do not. Ohio county title offices say utility and cargo trailers that weigh 4,000 pounds or less are not titled. Franklin County puts it this way: a trailer must weigh over 4,000 pounds to be titled. The big exception is campers. Travel trailers and pop-up or fold-down campers must be titled in Ohio no matter what they weigh.
How do I get plates for a light trailer that has no Ohio title?
A trailer under the title weight still needs to be registered. Franklin County says these registrations are issued at deputy registrar offices. Fulton County adds that you must get a weight card from a license bureau and have the trailer weighed. With no title to sign over, your bill of sale is the main record of who sold it, who bought it and when.
How do I transfer a titled trailer in Ohio?
It works like a car title. The seller fills in the assignment on the back of the title and signs it in front of a notary or deputy clerk. Franklin County charges $1 per notarization. The buyer then takes the title to any county Clerk of Courts title office within 30 days, or pays a $5 late fee. One difference from a car: no odometer statement is needed for a trailer.
Is a boat trailer titled in Ohio?
Usually not. Franklin County notes that watercraft trailers are usually not titled because they are light. If a boat trailer weighs over 4,000 pounds, it is titled like any other heavy trailer.