On this page
- The most important thing: BMV vs. Clerk of Courts
- The three tasks, in order
- Task 1, Transfer your out-of-state driver license
- Task 2, Transfer your vehicle title (County Clerk of Courts)
- Task 3, Register your vehicle and get Ohio plates
- Fees
- Hours & location
- What causes return trips
- Questions people ask at the counter
- Helpful next pages
- Before you come in
- Where this information comes from
Just moved to Akron or anywhere in Summit County? Welcome. Ohio gives you a window to make things official, and this page lays out the new Ohio resident license and registration process in the right order so you don’t make a wasted trip. The Akron BMV, Ohio Deputy Registrar Agency 7731, operated by the Northeast Ohio Automobile Dealers Association at 688 Wolf Ledges Parkway, is where you’ll transfer your out-of-state driver license and register your vehicle.
Want a one-page checklist? Download the Akron BMV new Ohio resident PDF or use the accessible new resident checklist.
Here’s the rule that drives everything: within 30 days of establishing residency, Ohio expects you to transfer your out-of-state driver license (or ID), your vehicle title, and your vehicle registration. Three tasks, two different offices, and the order matters.
The most important thing: BMV vs. Clerk of Courts
New residents trip over this constantly, so read it once and you’re set:
- Your driver license/ID and your vehicle registration (plates) are handled by the BMV deputy registrar, that’s us, the Akron BMV.
- Your vehicle title is handled by the County Clerk of Courts title office, a separate government office.
You cannot register a car you haven’t titled in Ohio first. So the title (at the Clerk) comes before the registration (at the BMV). We’ll route you correctly below. For the full explanation, see our guide on BMV vs. Clerk of Courts in Ohio.
The three tasks, in order
| Order | Task | Where | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transfer your driver license | Akron BMV (deputy registrar) | Ohio driver license / ID |
| 2 | Transfer your vehicle title | County Clerk of Courts title office | Ohio Certificate of Title |
| 3 | Register the vehicle & get plates | Akron BMV (deputy registrar) | Ohio registration + plates |
You can do the license transfer (task 1) on its own visit, and many people do it first because the Ohio license then serves as ID for the rest. Tasks 2 and 3 must happen in that sequence.
Task 1, Transfer your out-of-state driver license
If you hold an unexpired out-of-state driver license, Ohio does not require you to retake the knowledge or road tests. You surrender the out-of-state license, pass a vision screening, prove your identity, and receive an Ohio license.
What to bring to the Akron BMV (originals or certified copies only):
- Your unexpired out-of-state driver license
- One document proving full legal name, date of birth, and legal presence in the U.S. (U.S. passport or certified birth certificate)
- One document proving your Social Security number (Social Security card, W-2, or 1099)
- Two documents from different sources proving your Ohio street address (utility bill, lease, bank statement, etc.)
- Proof of any legal name change, if your name differs across documents
- Payment for the license fee
At the counter you’ll: complete the Application Information for Standard/Compliant Ohio Driver License or ID Card (BMV 5745), pass a vision screening, surrender the out-of-state license, choose standard or REAL ID, have your photo taken, and pay. Your card arrives by mail; you leave with interim documentation.
If your out-of-state license is expired, Ohio may treat you like a new driver and require testing (knowledge, vision, and the skills test at a state exam station). Confirm your situation before you come. See new driver’s license & temps.
Task 2, Transfer your vehicle title (County Clerk of Courts)
Before you can put Ohio plates on your car, the vehicle must be titled in Ohio, and titles are issued by the County Clerk of Courts, not the BMV. Typically you will:
- Get an out-of-state VIN inspection, the Akron BMV performs VIN inspections (bring the vehicle and your out-of-state title). See our out-of-state title transfer and VIN inspection pages.
- Take your out-of-state title, the completed VIN inspection, and your ID to the Summit County Clerk of Courts title office to be issued an Ohio Certificate of Title.
Lienholder? If a lender holds your title, you’ll likely need a memorandum title or to coordinate with the lienholder, our out-of-state title transfer page explains the options.
Task 3, Register your vehicle and get Ohio plates
With your Ohio title (or memorandum title / electronic title receipt) in hand, come back to the Akron BMV to register the vehicle and receive your plates and validation sticker.
What to bring:
- Your Ohio Certificate of Title, memorandum title, or electronic title receipt
- Your Ohio driver license or ID (or proof of Social Security number)
- E-Check (emissions) if your vehicle is due: Summit County is an Ohio E-Check county, so an older vehicle may need a current passing E-Check (newer vehicles are exempt). Check your vehicle and find a free location at epa.ohio.gov; verify on bmv.ohio.gov.
- Payment for registration fees and any local district taxes
See vehicle registration renewal and new license plates for related details.
Fees
Fees come from the Ohio BMV schedule (last updated 9/30/2025) and include the deputy registrar service fee. Registration fees vary by vehicle type and your local taxing district. Confirm current fees on bmv.ohio.gov.
| Item | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| First Ohio operator license (age 21+) | $27.50 (4-year) / $54.00 (8-year) |
| Out-of-state VIN inspection | $8.00 |
| Ohio title (at County Clerk of Courts) | $18.00 statewide, or $23.00 in counties that approve the additional charge |
| Passenger vehicle registration | $36.00 base + deputy registrar fee + local permissive tax |
Fees and figures change. Verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov before your visit.
See our fees page and the new-to-Ohio vehicle registration checklist guide for the full breakdown.
Hours & location
Akron BMV, Ohio Deputy Registrar Agency 7731 688 Wolf Ledges Parkway, Akron, OH 44311
- Phone: (330) 434-3134
- Weekday hours: Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM
- Saturday: 8 AM-1 PM
The Summit County Clerk of Courts title office is a separate location, see our out-of-state title transfer page for its address and hours.
What causes return trips
- Trying to register before titling. You must title the vehicle in Ohio (at the Clerk) before the BMV can register it and issue plates.
- Missing the 30-day window. Transfer your license, title, and registration within 30 days of becoming an Ohio resident.
- Letting your out-of-state license expire first. An unexpired license transfers without testing; an expired one may trigger full testing.
- Bringing one proof of address. You need two, from different sources.
- Forgetting the VIN inspection. Out-of-state vehicles need one before the Clerk will title them.
- Photocopies. Identity documents must be originals or certified copies.
Questions people ask at the counter
How long do I have to transfer everything after moving to Ohio? Within 30 days of establishing Ohio residency, you should transfer your out-of-state driver license/ID, your vehicle title, and your vehicle registration.
Do I have to retake the driving test as a new resident? No, if your out-of-state license is unexpired, you surrender it, pass a vision screening, prove your identity, and receive an Ohio license. If it’s expired, testing may be required.
Why can’t I just register my car at the BMV? Because Ohio plates require an Ohio title first, and titles are issued by the County Clerk of Courts, not the BMV. Title at the Clerk, then register at the Akron BMV.
Where do I get the VIN inspection? The Akron BMV performs out-of-state VIN inspections, bring the vehicle and your out-of-state title. See our VIN inspection page.
Can I do the license transfer first, before the car? Yes, many people do, because the new Ohio license then serves as ID for titling and registration.
What if there’s a loan on my vehicle? If a lienholder holds your title, you’ll coordinate with them or use a memorandum title. See out-of-state title transfer.
Helpful next pages
Before you come in
New to Ohio? Start with your license transfer at the Akron BMV. Bring the right documents, then Get in Line Online if you want to hold your spot, or walk in during business hours.
Where this information comes from
- Ohio BMV, New Ohio Residents: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/new-to-ohio.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Title Processes (out-of-state): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/titles-out-state.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Acceptable Documents: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/dl-identity-documents.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Documents & Fees (updated 9/30/2025): https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/doc-fees.aspx