Ohio Vehicle Power of Attorney

Q: Which form does Ohio use for a vehicle power of attorney?

Form BMV 3771. The Ohio Department of Public Safety publishes it under the heading Power of Attorney, with the identifier BMV 3771 12/25 printed at the foot, and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles refers to it on its titles page as the Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title. The page names the attorney in fact by last name including suffix, first name and middle initial, records that person's street address, city, state and ZIP code, then describes the vehicle by year, make, model and VIN.

Q: Does an Ohio vehicle power of attorney have to be notarized?

Yes, in the ordinary case. BMV 3771 prints an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT section headed Notary with the line sworn to and subscribed in my presence this day of, followed by the county and state of signing, a notary seal area, the notary's signature as a notary public or other officer authorized by law, and the date the commission expires. Because it is sworn to in the notary's presence, the owner has to be in front of the notary when the form is signed.

Q: Who is exempt from notarizing an Ohio vehicle power of attorney?

A licensed dealer who is party to the deal. The footnote on BMV 3771 states that a motor vehicle dealer licensed in accordance with Chapter 4517 of the Ohio Revised Code, who is the owner or purchaser of the motor vehicle, is not required to have the document notarized under Ohio Rev. Code Section 4505.063. That statute removes the notarization requirement from title documents, title applications, assignments of ownership and a power of attorney used for titling, where a licensed Ohio dealer is a party to the transfer. A private owner selling to another private buyer is not covered by it.

Q: Where does a completed Ohio BMV 3771 get filed?

At a county clerk of courts title office, which is the office that issues Ohio certificates of title. The power of attorney goes in with the title work the attorney in fact signs, not on its own. The BMV's own guidance is explicit that the original form is what the office needs, so plan on handing over the signed and notarized original. Take identification and the Social Security numbers for the parties, because the title office asks for those as part of the same transaction.

Q: Can an Ohio title office accept a photocopy of BMV 3771?

No. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles states that power of attorney can be used, but the original Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title, form BMV 3771, is required. The same guidance notes separately that photocopies of a title are not accepted. The practical consequence is that a scanned or faxed power of attorney will not get the title work done in Ohio: the signed original has to reach the clerk of courts office, so build the mailing time into your plan if the owner is out of state.

Q: Does Ohio ask for a Social Security number on BMV 3771?

Partly. The form has a field labeled last four digits of Social Security number of person giving power of attorney, printed next to the printed name of that person and above the signature line, so only the last four digits go on the form. Separately, the BMV notes that Social Security numbers for all parties are required for the title transaction itself at the clerk of courts office, so bring the numbers with you even though the form only takes the last four.

Q: How many powers of attorney does Ohio need for a lease transaction?

Two. The BMV states that for lease transactions only, two original powers of attorney from the lessor are needed: one to obtain an Ohio title and one to obtain the vehicle registration and license plates. Both must be originals, not copies. If you are handling a leased vehicle, ask the lessor for both documents up front, because arriving with one and discovering the title office needs a second means a return trip once the lessor has mailed it.

Q: Can one owner of a jointly titled Ohio vehicle handle the title work alone?

Only with a notarized power of attorney. The BMV states that dual ownership requires both parties to be present unless a notarized power of attorney is provided. So where two names are on the Ohio title and only one owner can get to the clerk of courts office, the absent owner signs a BMV 3771 in front of a notary appointing someone, which can be the co-owner, and that original form goes in with the title work. Without it, the office expects both owners at the counter.

Ohio uses BMV form 3771, Power of Attorney, for titling by an attorney in fact. The owner signs before a notary, and the county clerk of courts title office requires the original form. Attorney review available.

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Introduction

A completed Ohio vehicle power of attorney ends up at a county clerk of courts title office, which is where Ohio certificates of title are issued, and that office asks for the original of form BMV 3771 rather than a copy. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles lists it on its titles page as the Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title, while the form itself, published by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, is headed simply Power of Attorney and footed BMV 3771 12/25. It appoints an attorney in fact to make and execute the assignment of, or the application for, the owner's certificate of title for one described motor vehicle, and it grants that person full authority to do every act requisite, necessary and proper about it, with full power of substitution and revocation. Ohio prints an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT block on the form, headed Notary, so the owner signs in front of a notary who records the day, the county and the state of signing, applies a seal and states when the commission expires. There is one carve out, and the form prints it as a footnote: a motor vehicle dealer licensed under Chapter 4517 of the Ohio Revised Code, who is the owner or purchaser of the vehicle, is not required to have the document notarized, under Ohio Rev. Code Section 4505.063. Two Ohio details catch people out. Where a vehicle is titled in two names, both parties have to be present at the title office unless a notarized power of attorney is provided. And for a lease transaction the office needs two original powers of attorney from the lessor, one to obtain the Ohio title and one to obtain the registration and license plates. BMV 3771 also asks the person granting the authority for the last four digits of their Social Security number. DocDraft builds your Ohio vehicle power of attorney from your facts, with attorney review available before you sign.

Key Things to Know

1
Form BMV 3771, headed Power of Attorney and listed by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles as the Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title, is what an Ohio owner signs to appoint an attorney in fact to make and execute the assignment of, or the application for, the owner's certificate of title covering one described motor vehicle.
2
The owner signs in front of a notary. BMV 3771 prints an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT block headed Notary, reading sworn to and subscribed in my presence this day of, with spaces for the county and state, a notary seal area, the notary signature and the commission expiry.
3
The exception is a dealer. The form's footnote states that a motor vehicle dealer licensed in accordance with Chapter 4517 of the Ohio Revised Code, who is the owner or purchaser of the motor vehicle, is not required to have this document notarized under Ohio Rev. Code Section 4505.063.
4
Ohio certificates of title are issued by a county clerk of courts title office, and the BMV states that power of attorney can be used but the original Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title, form BMV 3771, is required. Photocopies of a title are not accepted there either.
5
BMV 3771 asks the person giving the power of attorney for the last four digits of their Social Security number, printed above the signature line, alongside their printed name.
6
Where a vehicle is titled in two names, both parties have to be present at the title office unless a notarized power of attorney is provided, and Social Security numbers are required for all parties.
7
A lease transaction takes two original powers of attorney from the lessor: one to obtain an Ohio title and one to obtain the vehicle registration and license plates.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Vehicle Power of Attorney in Ohio, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Vehicle Power of Attorney guide walks through them.

Open the Vehicle Power of Attorney guide

Customize your Vehicle Power of Attorney Template with DocDraft

OHIO POWER OF ATTORNEY (BMV FORM 3771)

Use this worksheet to collect every entry form BMV 3771 asks for, then copy the entries onto the BMV 3771 itself and sign that form in front of a notary. The county clerk of courts title office needs the original, so do not plan on sending a copy.

ATTORNEY IN FACT APPOINTED Last name, including suffix such as Sr., Jr. or III: [LAST NAME] First name: [FIRST NAME] Middle initial: [MI] Street address: [STREET ADDRESS] City: [CITY] State: [STATE] ZIP code: [ZIP]

DESCRIBED MOTOR VEHICLE Year: [YEAR] Make: [MAKE] Model: [MODEL] VIN: [VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, copied from the title] Is this a replica motor vehicle? [ ] Yes [ ] No If yes, also give: Year [YEAR] Make [MAKE] Model [MODEL]

THE AUTHORITY, AS BMV 3771 STATES IT The undersigned makes, constitutes and appoints the person named above as true and lawful attorney in fact, for the undersigned and in the undersigned name, place and stead, to make and execute the assignment of or application for the certificate of title covering the motor vehicle described above, granting that attorney in fact full authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary and proper to be done about it, as fully as the undersigned might or could do, with full power of substitution and revocation.

EXECUTION In witness whereof, the undersigned has caused the name to be subscribed hereto this [DAY] day of [MONTH], 20[YY]. Printed name of person giving power of attorney: [PRINT OWNER FULL LEGAL NAME, as shown on the title] Last four digits of that person's Social Security number: [XXXX] Signature of person giving power of attorney: X_______________________________

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, PRINTED ON BMV 3771 Notary: Sworn to and subscribed in my presence this [DAY] day of [MONTH], 20[YY], in [COUNTY] County, State of [STATE]. (Notary seal) Signature of notary public or other officer authorized by law: X_______________________________ My commission expires: [DATE]

Note on the dealer exception: a motor vehicle dealer licensed in accordance with Chapter 4517 of the Ohio Revised Code, who is the owner or purchaser of the motor vehicle, is not required to have this document notarized, under Ohio Rev. Code Section 4505.063.

CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU HAND IT IN

The attorney in fact is named in full and their address is complete.
The vehicle year, make, model and VIN match the title, and the replica question is answered.
The printed name and the last four digits of the Social Security number are filled in.
The owner signed in the notary's presence and the notary completed the acknowledgment, seal and commission expiry.
You are taking the original to the title office, not a photocopy.
For a lease, you have two original powers of attorney from the lessor: one for the Ohio title and one for the registration and license plates.

WHERE IT GOES To a county clerk of courts title office, with the title assignment or title application the attorney in fact signs. Where the vehicle is in two names, this notarized form is what lets one party handle it alone.

Note: this worksheet mirrors the field order of Ohio BMV form 3771. For the generic template and other states, see the Vehicle Power of Attorney hub.

Once your Vehicle Power of Attorney is ready, you can check whether it needs to be notarized in Ohio in about a minute, and notarize it online through DocDraft if it does.

Ohio Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney

BMV Form 3771, Power of Attorney
Ohio uses form BMV 3771, headed Power of Attorney and published by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The BMV lists it on its titles page as the Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title. The identifier printed at the foot of the current page is BMV 3771 12/25.
Notarized: Sworn to and Subscribed in the Notary's Presence
BMV 3771 prints an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT block headed Notary. It reads sworn to and subscribed in my presence this day of, with spaces for the county and the state of signing, a notary seal area, the notary signature line and the commission expiry, so the owner signs in front of the notary.
Licensed Dealer Exemption Under Section 4505.063
The form's footnote states that a motor vehicle dealer licensed in accordance with Chapter 4517 of the Ohio Revised Code, who is the owner or purchaser of the motor vehicle, is not required to have this document notarized under Ohio Rev. Code Section 4505.063. That statute lifts notarization where a licensed Ohio dealer is a party to the transfer.
Last Four Digits of the Owner's Social Security Number
BMV 3771 asks the person giving the power of attorney for the last four digits of their Social Security number, in a field printed next to their printed name and above the signature line. The BMV separately notes that Social Security numbers for all parties are required for the title transaction itself.
Replica Motor Vehicle Question
The vehicle block on BMV 3771 asks for year, make, model and VIN, and then puts a yes or no question next to it: is this a replica motor vehicle. If the answer is yes, a second year, make and model have to be given in the space provided.
Scope: Assignment or Application, With Full Power of Substitution
The attorney in fact may make and execute the assignment of, or the application for, the owner's certificate of title covering the described vehicle, with full authority to do every act requisite, necessary and proper about it, as fully as the owner might, and with full power of substitution and revocation.
The Original Is Required at the Clerk of Courts Title Office
Ohio certificates of title are issued by a county clerk of courts title office. The BMV states that power of attorney can be used, but the original Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title, form BMV 3771, is required. The same guidance notes that photocopies of a title are not accepted.
Two Owners, and the Two Originals a Lease Takes
Where a vehicle is titled in two names, the BMV states that dual ownership requires both parties to be present unless a notarized power of attorney is provided. For lease transactions only, two original powers of attorney from the lessor are needed: one to obtain an Ohio title and one to obtain the vehicle registration and license plates.

Does your Vehicle Power of Attorney need to be notarized in Ohio?

Whether a Vehicle Power of Attorney needs to be notarized depends on your state. Upload yours, pick your state, and get the current rule with the official source behind it, free and with no account. If yours does need a notary, online notarization is part of your DocDraft plan.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which form does Ohio use for a vehicle power of attorney?

Does an Ohio vehicle power of attorney have to be notarized?

Who is exempt from notarizing an Ohio vehicle power of attorney?

Where does a completed Ohio BMV 3771 get filed?

Can an Ohio title office accept a photocopy of BMV 3771?

Does Ohio ask for a Social Security number on BMV 3771?

How many powers of attorney does Ohio need for a lease transaction?

Can one owner of a jointly titled Ohio vehicle handle the title work alone?

Find out where you stand in Ohio

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Vehicle Power of Attorney Template with DocDraft

Ohio Requirements for Vehicle Power of Attorney

BMV Form 3771, Power of Attorney

Notarized: Sworn to and Subscribed in the Notary's Presence

Licensed Dealer Exemption Under Section 4505.063

Last Four Digits of the Owner's Social Security Number

Replica Motor Vehicle Question

Scope: Assignment or Application, With Full Power of Substitution

The Original Is Required at the Clerk of Courts Title Office

Two Owners, and the Two Originals a Lease Takes

Does your Vehicle Power of Attorney need to be notarized in Ohio?

Frequently Asked Questions