On this page
- Who does what: Clerk of Courts vs. BMV
- The typical flow: dealer → Clerk → plate
- Choose your title task
- Where to go: Summit County Clerk of Courts Title Office
- Where to go: Akron BMV (registration, plates, VIN)
- Title fees (quick reference)
- Questions people ask at the counter
- Helpful next pages
- Before you come in
- Where this information comes from
If you need vehicle title help in Akron, Ohio, start here, because the single most common mistake is going to the wrong office. In Ohio, your vehicle title is issued by the County Clerk of Courts, not the BMV. In our area that’s the Summit County Clerk of Courts Title Office. The Akron BMV, Ohio Deputy Registrar Agency 7731, operated by the Northeast Ohio Automobile Dealers Association at 688 Wolf Ledges Parkway, handles your registration, license plates, and VIN inspections after the title is in your name. This hub explains the split in plain language, walks the typical flow, and links every title task to the right page.
The short version: title at the Clerk, register and plate at the BMV.
Who does what: Clerk of Courts vs. BMV
| Task | Where it happens |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Title (proof of ownership) | County Clerk of Courts (Summit County Title Office) |
| Title transfer, duplicate, memorandum, lien notation | County Clerk of Courts |
| Notarizing the title assignment | Clerk title office or another notary public |
| VIN inspection (for out-of-state vehicles) | Akron BMV (deputy registrar) |
| Registration & license plates | Akron BMV |
| Driver license / state ID | Akron BMV |
The title is where ownership legally changes hands; registration and plates are what let you legally drive and park the vehicle on the road. They’re two different transactions at two different offices, by design. For the full breakdown, read our explainer: BMV vs. Clerk of Courts in Ohio.
The typical flow: dealer → Clerk → plate
Picture the journey a title takes:
- Origin. You buy a vehicle, from a dealer (the dealer usually processes the title for you) or in a private sale (you and the seller handle the assignment).
- Clerk of Courts. The Summit County Clerk of Courts issues the Certificate of Title in your name. This is the legal change of ownership. Signatures on a private-sale title must be notarized, and the transfer is due within 30 days of sale or a $5 late fee applies.
- Akron BMV. With the title in hand, you come to us for registration and license plates, and, if the vehicle came from out of state, a VIN inspection first.
- On the road. Title in your name, plates on the car, registration in the glovebox.
Ohio also allows cross-county titling, so you can title at any Clerk of Courts office in the state, Summit County is simply closest to the Akron BMV.
Choose your title task
Pick the situation that matches yours:
- Buying or selling a car (private sale or dealer): Title transfer in Akron, Ohio
- Bought a vehicle out of state / moving to Ohio: Out-of-state title transfer (needs a VIN inspection first)
- Lost or damaged title: Duplicate title in Ohio
- There’s a loan/lien on the vehicle: Memorandum title in Ohio
- Need a signature notarized: Title notarization
Each page tells you what to bring, the fees, and which office handles your step.
Where to go: Summit County Clerk of Courts Title Office
For the title itself, visit the Summit County Clerk of Courts:
Summit County Clerk of Courts, Title Office (main) 1030 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron, OH 44310 · (330) 630-7200 Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m. (closed legal holidays).
Additional Summit County title locations:
- 10333 Northfield Road, Northfield, OH 44067 (all title services, including boat titles)
- 3333 Massillon Road, Suite 105, Green, OH 44685 (full title processing, lien updates, transfers)
Title services are typically walk-in. Confirm hours and services on the Clerk’s site before you go.
Where to go: Akron BMV (registration, plates, VIN)
For registration, plates, and out-of-state VIN inspections, visit us:
Akron BMV, Ohio Deputy Registrar Agency 7731 688 Wolf Ledges Parkway, Akron, OH 44311
- Phone: (330) 434-3134
- Hours: Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM; Saturday 8 AM-1 PM; Sunday closed
See hours, location & directions for the map, parking, and best times to visit.
Title fees (quick reference)
| Charge | Where you pay it | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Title | Clerk of Courts | $18.00 (Summit County) |
| Notation of Lien | Clerk of Courts | $18.00 |
| Late fee (transfer after 30 days) | Clerk of Courts | $5.00 |
| Notary (per signature) | Clerk / BMV | Up to $5.00 |
| Sales / use tax (Summit County) | Clerk of Courts | 6.75% of purchase price |
| Plate / registration transfer | Akron BMV | $9.00 |
Fees and figures change. Verify current amounts on bmv.ohio.gov before your visit.
Title fees rose to $18.00 statewide under HB 96 (some counties may charge more if approved; Summit County’s is $18.00). Fees change, verify on bmv.ohio.gov and with the Summit County Clerk of Courts.
Questions people ask at the counter
Does the Akron BMV issue vehicle titles? No. Ohio titles are issued by the County Clerk of Courts, in our area, the Summit County Clerk of Courts. The Akron BMV handles registration, plates, and VIN inspections after the title is in your name.
So I have to go to two places? Usually yes for a change of ownership: the Clerk for the title, then the Akron BMV for registration and plates. A dealer often handles the title step for you.
Can I title my car in Summit County if I live elsewhere? Yes. Ohio allows cross-county titling, you can title at any Clerk of Courts office statewide.
How long do I have to transfer a title? 30 days from the date of sale (the notarized assignment date), or a $5 late fee is added.
Do I need a VIN inspection? If the vehicle is coming from out of state, yes, and the Akron BMV performs it. See out-of-state title transfer and VIN inspection.
Where do I get a title notarized? At the Clerk’s title office or another notary public. Don’t sign the assignment until you’re in front of the notary.
Helpful next pages
Before you come in
Title in hand from the Clerk of Courts? Get in Line Online at the Akron BMV to finish your registration and plates with less waiting. Not sure what to bring? Start with our what-to-bring checklist.
Akron BMV, Northeast Ohio Automobile Dealers Association, Ohio Deputy Registrar Agency 7731, 688 Wolf Ledges Parkway, Akron, OH 44311. Nearest title office: Summit County Clerk of Courts, 1030 E. Tallmadge Ave., Akron, OH 44310, (330) 630-7200.
Where this information comes from
- Ohio BMV, Vehicle Titles: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/titles-new.aspx
- Ohio BMV, Documents & Fees: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/doc-fees.aspx
- Summit County Clerk of Courts, Title Locations: https://clerkweb.summitoh.net/title/locations
- Summit County Clerk of Courts, Title Forms & Fees: https://clerkweb.summitoh.net/title-forms-fees
- Ohio Revised Code 4505.06 (titling): https://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4505.06