BMV 3771, Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title, is the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) form that names an attorney-in-fact to sign for a vehicle owner on a title document. It covers the assignment of, or application for, the Certificate of Title for one described motor vehicle. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF. The official PDF is published by the Ohio BMV at dam.assets.ohio.gov.
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What is BMV 3771?
BMV 3771, Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title, is the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles form in which a person appoints an attorney-in-fact to make and execute the assignment of, or application for, that person's Certificate of Title for a described motor vehicle.
The form is issued by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and the revision printed on it is 12/25. The person giving the power names the attorney-in-fact (last name with any suffix, first name, middle initial and address) and identifies the vehicle by year, make, model and VIN. The form asks whether the vehicle is a replica motor vehicle and, if so, for its year, make and model.
The printed text grants the attorney-in-fact full authority to do everything requisite, necessary and proper in connection with the title assignment or application, with full power of substitution and revocation. The person giving the power prints their name, gives the last 4 digits of their Social Security number, signs, and the signature is acknowledged by a notary public or other authorized officer.
The BMV forms list shows this form under Titles. It is separate from BMV 5736, Power of Attorney for Ohio Vehicle Registration, which the BMV lists under Vehicle Registration, and from BMV 3770, Ownership Assignment and Title Application for Casual Sale, and BMV 3774, Applications for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle, which are other forms in the same Titles list.
Who needs to file BMV 3771?
The main user is a vehicle owner who wants another person to sign the assignment of, or the application for, a Certificate of Title on their behalf. The owner is the "person giving power of attorney" on the form and must sign it.
The person named as attorney-in-fact is the representative who acts for the owner under the form. The form lets the owner name only one attorney-in-fact, and it describes one vehicle.
Notarization applies to the owner's signature: the form includes an acknowledgement block for a notary public or other authorized officer. One exception is printed on the form. A motor vehicle dealer licensed under R.C. Chapter 4517 who is the owner or purchaser of the motor vehicle is not required to have this document notarized under R.C. section 4505.063.
Do not use BMV 3771 for vehicle registration matters. The BMV lists a different form, BMV 5736, Power of Attorney for Ohio Vehicle Registration, under Vehicle Registration.
When to file BMV 3771
Complete BMV 3771 when an owner needs someone else to make and execute the assignment of, or application for, the Certificate of Title for a specific vehicle. The form prints no deadline and no validity period; it is dated by the owner on the line "In Witness whereof... this ___ day of _, 20." Sign it in the presence of the notary, because the acknowledgement states that it is sworn to and subscribed in the notary's presence. Licensed dealers who are the owner or purchaser of the vehicle do not need the notarization.
How to fill out BMV 3771
Enter the attorney-in-fact's name
Under the appointment statement, enter the attorney-in-fact's last name, including any suffix such as Sr., Jr. or III, then first name and middle initial.
Enter the attorney-in-fact's address
Fill in the street address, city, state and ZIP code of the person you are appointing.
Describe the motor vehicle
Enter the vehicle's year, make, model and VIN in the line that follows "covering the following described motor vehicle."
Answer the replica vehicle question
Mark Yes or No for "Is this a Replica Motor Vehicle?" If you mark Yes, provide the year, make and model on the second line.
Enter the date of signing
Complete the "In Witness whereof" line with the day of the month and the year, as "___ day of _, 20."
Print your name and last 4 SSN digits
Print the name of the person giving power of attorney and enter only the last 4 digits of that person's Social Security number.
Sign in front of the notary
The person giving power of attorney signs on the line marked X. The acknowledgement says the document is sworn to and subscribed in the notary's presence, so sign when the notary is there.
Complete the notary acknowledgement
The notary or other authorized officer enters the day, month, year, county and state, applies the seal, gives the commission expiration and signs. A licensed dealer who is the owner or purchaser does not need this notarization under R.C. section 4505.063.
Review and download the PDF
Check names, VIN and dates against the vehicle's title records, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF for signature and notarization.
How to submit BMV 3771
BMV 3771 is a supporting power of attorney, and the form itself names no mailing address, portal, office or appointment process. It authorizes the attorney-in-fact to make and execute the assignment of, or application for, the Certificate of Title, so it is used with that title transaction.
- Before use: the owner signs it, and a notary public or other authorized officer completes the acknowledgement (date, county, state, seal, commission expiration and signature). The notary step is not required for a licensed motor vehicle dealer who is the owner or purchaser, under R.C. section 4505.063.
- Where to find instructions and related forms: the Ohio BMV publishes its forms, including the title forms BMV 3770 and BMV 3774, at https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/doc-forms.aspx. Contact the BMV about how to submit the title transaction itself.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the BMV's channels for the title transaction.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Signing the form without a notary present. The acknowledgement says it is sworn to and subscribed in the notary's presence.
- Skipping the notary when the owner is not a licensed dealer; only a dealer licensed under R.C. Chapter 4517 who is the owner or purchaser is excused from notarization.
- Omitting the VIN or leaving year, make or model blank in the vehicle description.
- Leaving the replica question unanswered, or answering Yes without the year, make and model the form requests.
- Entering the full Social Security number instead of only the last 4 digits.
- Using BMV 3771 for registration matters, which the BMV handles with Power of Attorney for Ohio Vehicle Registration (BMV 5736).
- Omitting the attorney-in-fact's suffix (Sr., Jr., III) in the last-name field when the person has one.
- Leaving the notary's seal, county, state or commission expiration blank.
Frequently asked questions
What is BMV 3771 used for?
BMV 3771 is the Ohio BMV Power of Attorney for Certificate of Title. The owner uses it to appoint an attorney-in-fact to make and execute the assignment of, or application for, the Certificate of Title for one described motor vehicle.
Does BMV 3771 have to be notarized?
Yes, in general: the form has an acknowledgement block for a notary public or other authorized officer. The exception is a motor vehicle dealer licensed under R.C. Chapter 4517 who is the owner or purchaser of the vehicle; under R.C. section 4505.063 the dealer does not need notarization.
Can I fill out BMV 3771 online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. You still need to sign it and, unless the dealer exception applies, have it notarized. FillingPDF is independent of the Ohio BMV and does not file the form.
What vehicle information does the form ask for?
It asks for the vehicle's year, make, model and VIN, and whether it is a replica motor vehicle. If it is a replica, you provide the year, make and model on the extra line. One form covers one described vehicle.
Do I put my full Social Security number on BMV 3771?
No. The form asks only for the last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the person giving power of attorney. Do not write the full number.
Is BMV 3771 the same as the power of attorney for vehicle registration?
No. BMV 3771 covers the Certificate of Title. The BMV lists a separate form, BMV 5736, Power of Attorney for Ohio Vehicle Registration, under Vehicle Registration, with Somali and Spanish versions listed as BMV 5737 and BMV 5738.
What revision of BMV 3771 is this?
The form printed on the PDF carries the revision date 12/25. Check the Ohio BMV forms page at bmv.ohio.gov/doc-forms.aspx for the current version before you sign.
Where do I send BMV 3771?
The form prints no address or submission channel. It is used with the title assignment or application that the attorney-in-fact signs for the owner, so follow the BMV's instructions for that title transaction.
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