(A) An application for a certificate of title shall be sworn to before a notary public or other officer empowered to administer oaths by the lawful owner or purchaser of the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle and shall contain at least the following information in a form and together with any other information the registrar of motor vehicles may require:

(1) Name, address, and social security number or employer's tax identification number of the applicant;

(2) Statement of how the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle was acquired;

(3) Name and address of the previous owner;

(4) A statement of all liens, mortgages, or other encumbrances on the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle, and the name and address of each holder thereof;

(5) If there are no outstanding liens, mortgages, or other encumbrances, a statement of that fact;

(6) A description of the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle, including the make, year, series or model, if any, body type, and manufacturer's vehicle identification number.

If the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle contains a permanent identification number placed thereon by the manufacturer, this number shall be used as the vehicle identification number. Except as provided in division (B) of this section, if the application for a certificate of title refers to an off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle that contains such a permanent identification number, but for which no certificate of title has been issued previously by this state, the application shall be accompanied by a physical inspection certificate as described in that division.

If there is no manufacturer's vehicle identification number or if the manufacturer's vehicle identification number has been removed or obliterated, the registrar, upon receipt of a prescribed application and proof of ownership, but prior to issuance of a certificate of title, shall assign a vehicle identification number for the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle. This assigned vehicle identification number shall be permanently affixed to or imprinted upon the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle by the state highway patrol. The state highway patrol shall assess a fee of fifty dollars for affixing the number to the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle and shall deposit each such fee in the public safety - highway purposes fund established by section 4501.06 of the Revised Code.

(B) Except in the case of a new off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle sold by a dealer title to which is evidenced by a manufacturer's or importer's certificate, if the application for a certificate of title refers to an off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle that contains a permanent identification number placed thereon by the manufacturer, but for which no certificate of title previously has been issued by this state, the application shall be accompanied by a physical inspection certificate issued by the department of public safety verifying the make, year, series or model, if any, body type, and manufacturer's vehicle identification number of the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle for which the certificate of title is desired. The physical inspection certificate shall be in such form as is designated by the registrar. The physical inspection shall be made at a deputy registrar's office or at an established place of business operated by a licensed motor vehicle dealer. The deputy registrar or motor vehicle dealer may charge a maximum fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code for conducting the physical inspection.

The clerk of the court of common pleas shall charge a fee of one dollar and fifty cents for the processing of each physical inspection certificate. The clerk shall retain fifty cents of the one dollar and fifty cents so charged and shall pay the remaining one dollar to the registrar by monthly returns, which shall be forwarded to the registrar not later than the fifth day of the month next succeeding that in which the certificate is received by the clerk. The registrar shall pay such remaining sums into the public safety - highway purposes fund established by section 4501.06 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 26, §101.01, eff. 6/30/2017; however, the modifications to provisions of law requiring the deposit of funds into the Public Safety - Highway Purposes Fund that are made in this section shall take effect not earlier than July 1, 2017.

Effective Date: 06-06-2001; 09-16-2004.

Related Legislative Provision: See 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 26, §745.40.