Under the amended rule, dealerships may charge a service fee not to exceed $50 when they provide qualifying services related to:

• Registering a vehicle on the customer’s behalf, and/or
• Electronically titling a vehicle using a third-party service provider paid for by the dealer

Important clarifications:

• The fee is not required
• The fee must be disclosed and itemized
• Only one service fee per vehicle transaction may be charged
• The fee is separate from government title and registration fees
• The fee is subject to Ohio sales tax

The rule does not allow dealerships to charge the fee when using Ohio BMV’s free electronic titling options.

If a dealership chooses to offer vehicle registration services for a fee, the dealership must perform all required steps, which generally include:

• Delivering required registration documents to the deputy registrar
• Retrieving license plates, registration documents, and validation stickers
• Delivering plates and registration materials to the customer (in person, by mail, or as agreed)

The service fee may apply to:

• Initial registrations
• Transfers of registration

The service fee may not be charged for:

• Issuing only a temporary tag
• Merely placing an existing license plate on a vehicle

Registration services may be offered for Ohio and non-Ohio customers, provided the dealership obtains registration materials from the appropriate state.

Dealerships are required by law to title vehicles purchased or leased by customers. However, electronic titling is optional.

Under the amended rule:

• Dealerships may charge up to $50 when they electronically submit title applications using a third-party service provider paid for by the dealer
• Dealerships may not charge a titling service fee when using Ohio BMV’s free electronic titling tools, including the Ohio Title Gateway or Electronic Title Service (ETS)

Electronic titling through a paid third-party provider offers benefits such as:

• Secure transmission of customer information
• Faster processing of titles and memo titles
• Timely perfection of security interests

To comply with the amended rule:

• The Registration or Titling Service Fee must be separately itemized on the Buyer’s Order or Lease Order
• The fee must not be included in government title or registration fee lines
• Registration service fees must include disclosure that the service is optional, unless required by a lender or lessor
• Fees may be financed, subject to lender requirements and Truth-in-Lending considerations
• Only one service fee per vehicle may be charged, even if both registration and titling services are provided

Dealerships should consult their forms provider, DMS provider, and legal counsel before implementing fee language.

The amended rule creates an opportunity for dealerships that:

• Provide qualifying registration services
• Use paid third-party electronic titling providers
• Maintain clean, consistent, and compliant workflows

Execution matters.
Dealerships should ensure that their systems and processes support:

• Accurate fee disclosure
• Consistent application across transactions
• Clear separation of dealer service fees and government fees

Secure handling of customer information

EZ E Title supports Ohio dealerships with third-party electronic titling workflows designed specifically for Ohio requirements.

Our electronic titling platform is built to help dealerships execute electronic title submissions securely, consistently, and at scale — supporting operational control while aligning with Ohio’s amended rule.

Ahead of March 1, 2026, dealerships should:

• Review how registration and titling services are currently handled
• Confirm which services qualify under the amended rule
• Ensure disclosures, forms, and workflows are compliant
• Evaluate whether existing electronic titling systems align with dealer goals

Preparation — not assumption — determines whether this rule change creates value or friction.