The Out-of-State Title Lienholder Request Form is issued by the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer's Auto Title Division. You complete it when you have moved to Ohio and your out-of-state title is held by a lienholder or leasing company, and you want that company to forward the title to a county title office. You can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The form is published by the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer at the official link on this page, and it is delivered through the channels described below.
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What is Out-of-State Title Lienholder Request Form – Cuyahoga County, OH?
The Out-of-State Title Lienholder Request Form is the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer Auto Title Division form an Ohio vehicle owner completes and gives to a lienholder or leasing company, asking it to forward the original out-of-state title and documents to a county title office.
The form has two audiences. The owner fills in the Title Information portion: the lienholder or leasing company's name, address and fax number, the account number tied to the lien or lease, the owner's name, phone number and address, and the vehicle's year, make, model, body type and VIN. The lienholder or leasing company reads the notice above that portion, which says the original certificate of title must be sent to the Auto Title Division to begin the conversion to an Ohio title, in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code.
Completing it does not produce a title. It starts the conversion process. When the conversion is finished, the original Ohio Certificate of Title is sent to the lienholder or leasing company, and the owner receives a memorandum Certificate of Title, which is used to obtain Ohio license plates.
The attached instructions are titled "Instructions for Transferring Your Out-of-State Title with a Lien or Lease to an Ohio Title." The form does not cover Ohio license plates or driver's licenses; for those, the instructions refer you to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Who needs to file Out-of-State Title Lienholder Request Form – Cuyahoga County, OH?
Vehicle owners who have moved to Ohio and whose out-of-state title is held by a lienholder or leasing company use this form to ask that company to send the title to one of the Cuyahoga County Auto Title Division offices.
Conditions that come with the process:
- If the title is in two names, both owners must be present to apply for the Ohio title. An owner may authorize another person to apply with a notarized power of attorney.
- If the car is leased, the party appointed as power of attorney for the leasing company must apply for the title.
- If the owner's name on the title differs because of marriage, divorce or a court entry, a letter of permission from the lienholder is required to change the name on the new title.
- Any change of ownership, either adding or removing an owner, must be approved by the lienholder, with a letter of permission requesting the change.
Lienholders and leasing companies receive the form from the owner and send the original title and the form to the branch the owner selected. If the title is in a leasing company's name, the form also asks for the leasing company's permit number (LD# or 99#) and Federal Tax I.D. number.
When to file Out-of-State Title Lienholder Request Form – Cuyahoga County, OH
Complete the form once you have moved to Ohio and decided to convert your out-of-state title, because the lienholder or leasing company must send the original title before the Auto Title Division can begin the conversion. The form prints no deadline of its own.
Timing steps from the instructions: after your lienholder or leasing company confirms the title has been sent, follow up with the office you selected; a representative will tell you what else is needed or that the title is ready to be processed. An out-of-state motor vehicle inspection is required to apply for an Ohio title and is valid for only 30 days, so the instructions suggest waiting to get it until you have verified that your title is ready to be processed.
Documents you need
- The original out-of-state certificate of title, sent to the Auto Title Division by your lienholder or leasing company together with this form; certified mail is preferred.
- An out-of-state motor vehicle inspection, completed at any Ohio BMV license bureau; it verifies year, make, model and serial number and is valid for only 30 days.
- A notarized power of attorney, only if another person applies for the Ohio title on an owner's behalf.
- A letter of permission from the lienholder, only if the owner's name differs on the title due to marriage, divorce or court entry.
- A letter of permission from the lienholder, only if you are adding a new owner or removing a current owner.
- For a leased vehicle titled in the leasing company's name: the leasing company permit number (LD# or 99#) and Federal Tax I.D. number.
- For a leased vehicle titled in the leasing company's name: two notarized Powers of Attorney giving the customer authority to execute the title transaction and obtain registration.
How to fill out Out-of-State Title Lienholder Request Form – Cuyahoga County, OH
Select the office for your documents
Choose the Auto Title Division location where you want your lienholder or leasing company to send the title, from the branches listed on the form. Your lienholder will forward the title to that branch, so call that number later to verify receipt.
Enter the lienholder or leasing company
Write the name and address in Lienholder or Leasing Company Name and Lienholder or Leasing Company Address. Add the company's number in Lienholder Fax Number.
Enter the account number
In Account Number Associated with Lien or Lease, write the account number from your loan or lease.
Enter the owner's name and phone
Fill in Owner's Name and Owner's Telephone Number. If the name on the title differs because of marriage, divorce or court entry, a letter of permission from the lienholder is required.
Enter the owner's address
Write your current Ohio mailing address in Owner's Address.
Describe the vehicle
Under Vehicle Information, enter the Year, Make, Model and Body Type.
Enter the VIN
Write the 17-character-style number from your title or vehicle in Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), exactly as it appears on your title.
Add the submission date
Enter the date in Date Form Was Submitted.
Leave leasing details to the leasing company
If the title is in a leasing company's name, the note addressed to it asks for its permit number (LD# or 99#) and Federal Tax I.D. number, plus two notarized Powers of Attorney. Make sure the company knows to provide them.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check names, VIN and phone number, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and mail or fax it to your lienholder or leasing company as described under How to submit.
How to submit Out-of-State Title Lienholder Request Form – Cuyahoga County, OH
The form moves in stages: you mail or fax it to your lienholder or leasing company, and that company forwards the original title and the form to the Auto Title Division office you selected.
- To your lienholder or leasing company: mail or fax the completed form. The form has a line for the lienholder's fax number and asks for your phone number.
- To the Auto Title Division: the lienholder or leasing company sends the original title with this form to the branch you chose; certified mail is preferred. The branches listed on the form are:
- 2079 E. 9th St., 3rd Floor, Cleveland, OH 44115, (216) 443-8900
- 1585 Golden Gate Plaza, Mayfield Hts., OH 44124, (216) 443-7149
- 22121 Rockside Road, Bedford, OH 44146, (216) 475-6855
- 12100 Snow Rd., Suite 15, Parma, OH 44130, (440) 888-7050
- 27029 Brookpark Rd. Extension, North Olmsted, OH 44070, (440) 777-4060
- Follow-up: when your lienholder says the title was forwarded, call the number of the location you chose to verify receipt. This may save you an unnecessary trip.
The county's Auto Title Division page lists the North Olmsted office at 26642 Brookpark Road Extension, so confirm that address by phone before mailing there. Questions can go to [email protected], as printed on the form. Hours and the full branch list are at https://cuyahogacounty.gov/fiscal-officer/departments/auto-title. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out your phone number; the instructions say to include it when you complete the Title Information portion.
- Not selecting the office where your documents should be sent, so the lienholder has no branch to forward the title to.
- Having the out-of-state inspection done too early; it is valid only 30 days, so wait until your title is verified as ready to be processed.
- Showing up to apply alone when the title is in two names; both owners must be present unless one authorizes another with a notarized power of attorney.
- Requesting a name change or an ownership change without a letter of permission from the lienholder.
- Skipping the follow-up call to the selected office after the lienholder confirms the title was sent, which the form says may save you an unnecessary trip.
- Omitting the leasing company permit number (LD# or 99#), Federal Tax I.D. number or the two notarized Powers of Attorney when the title is in a leasing company's name.
- Sending a copy instead of the original title; the form says the original certificate of title must be forwarded.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Out-of-State Title Lienholder Request Form?
It is a Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer Auto Title Division form you give to your lienholder or leasing company, asking it to forward your original out-of-state title and documents to a county title office so the title can be converted to an Ohio title.
Can I fill out the Out-of-State Title Lienholder Request Form online?
Yes. You can complete the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF does not send it to anyone: you mail or fax the completed form to your lienholder or leasing company, which forwards it with the original title.
Where do I send the form?
Mail or fax it to your lienholder or leasing company, not to the county. That company then sends the original title and this form to the Auto Title Division branch you selected, with certified mail preferred. The branch addresses and phone numbers are printed on the form.
Do I need a vehicle inspection to get an Ohio title?
Yes. An out-of-state motor vehicle inspection is required to apply for an Ohio title and can be done at any Ohio BMV license bureau. It checks year, make, model and serial number and is valid only 30 days, so wait until your title is ready to be processed.
What if the title is in two names?
Both owners must be present to apply for the Ohio title. An owner can authorize another person to apply for them with a notarized power of attorney, available at any Auto Title Bureau location, at cuyahogacounty.gov or at ohiobmv.gov.
What is needed if my vehicle is leased?
If the title is in a leasing company's name, the company needs to provide its permit number (LD# or 99#), its Federal Tax I.D. number and two notarized Powers of Attorney. The party appointed as power of attorney for the leasing company must apply for the title.
What do I get when the conversion is finished?
The original Ohio Certificate of Title is sent to the lienholder or leasing company. You receive a memorandum Certificate of Title, which you use to obtain Ohio license plates.
Can I add or remove an owner when converting the title?
Only with your lienholder's approval. Any change of ownership, whether adding a new owner or removing a current one, requires a letter of permission from the lienholder requesting the change.
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