Gifting Car - Ohio

[MisterB]

My sister wants to gift a car to me for my daughter. Is it as simple as writing "gift" as the sales price on the back of the title? Am I also going to need a bill of sale to document this gifting?

[Bob Kontak]

I don't have a title in front of me but I would write zero dollars / gift. The worst they will do is send a separate request down the line to your sister that asks if she gave the car to you.

[Tervuren]

Here in S.C. if you sell it between siblings son/daughter, or parents, there is no sales tax, so gifted or not, it wouldn't be an issue.

Why don't you look up Ohio law? I'm sure you can find it all spelled out.

[Bob Kontak]

Good thinking Terv

Gifting a Vehicle

If you receive a vehicle as a gift―meaning you didn't purchase it―the title process is similar to the title transfer process listed above for used car buyers. However, you need to make sure the giver writes "gift" on the back of the title in the spot designated for the sales price. Other than that, the process is the same, and you will need to:

Confirm that the owner has correctly filled out the odometer information if the vehicle is 10 years old or newer.
Appear before a notary public, and watch the owner sign and date the form in the proper spots.
Sign your name in the correct spot.
Receive the bill of sale from the owner.
Take everything to a County Clerk of Courts office.
Fill out the Application for Certificate of Title form.
Pay the $15 title fee.

Once you're finished with the titling process, you should go to a deputy registrar's office to register your vehicle, obtain your plates, and pay the assorted fees.

Ohio Title Transfers - BMV Titling & Registration Information Online at DMV.org: The Unofficial DMV Guide

[stomachmonkey]

Yeah it's that simple. In NY "gifting" was common. However if DMV had reason to believe the gift was simply to avoid tax (unrelated parties was a flag) they would tax you on the blue book value.

[Joe Bob]

I gave my Yulon to my kids....no problem, no tax. If there is a last name difference a notarized statement of facts gets you around it.