can you use plates from another car in ohio

[AmirFitz]

Yes, you can use license plates from another car in Ohio, but only under a very specific condition: the vehicle must be sold to an immediate family member. This transfer is permitted by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) when both the seller and the buyer are on the same title, streamlining the process for families.

Key Condition: Immediate Family Transfer The rule applies to transfers between spouses, parents, children, and grandparents/grandchildren. If you sell your car to your brother, cousin, or a friend, the plates must stay with the seller or be surrendered. The new owner is required to get new plates.

The Process for a Legal Transfer When you sell the car to a qualifying family member, you complete the title transfer as usual. The key difference is that you indicate on the title that the plates are being transferred with the vehicle. The family member does not need to visit the BMV immediately for new plates, but they must update the registration in their name within 30 days.

When You Absolutely Cannot Transfer Plates In all other situations, license plates are non-transferable. If you trade in a car, sell it to a stranger, or junk it, the plates must be removed. You have two options:

• Retain the plates: You can keep them for a future vehicle you purchase. You'll need to pay a small transfer fee at the BMV.
• Surrender the plates: If you don't plan to use them, you can surrender them to a BMV deputy registrar office to officially cancel the registration.

Scenario	Can Plates Be Transferred?	Required Action
Sale to Spouse	Yes	Indicate plate transfer on title; new owner registers within 30 days.
Sale to Parent/Child	Yes	Indicate plate transfer on title; new owner registers within 30 days.
Sale to Sibling/Cousin/Friend	No	Seller removes plates; buyer must obtain new plates.
Trade-in to Dealer	No	Plates are removed; you can retain or surrender them.
Junking/Scrapping a Car	No	Plates must be removed and surrendered or destroyed.

Using plates incorrectly can result in fines for driving with improper registration. The safest approach is to follow the BMV guidelines precisely.

[OEvangeline]

Nope, not really. I learned this the hard way when I sold my old sedan to a coworker. I figured I’d be nice and let him have the plates to get it home. Big mistake. The BMV told me those plates are tied to me and that specific car. If he got a ticket or, worse, was in an accident, it could have come back to me. Now I always take the plates off before handing over the keys. The buyer has to get their own.

[OElizabeth]

As a rule, license plates stay with the vehicle's owner, not the vehicle itself, upon sale in Ohio. The primary exception is a direct transfer to an immediate family member, which is clearly defined by law. For all other private sales, the seller must remove the plates. The new owner cannot legally drive the car until they have obtained their own registration and plates from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. This prevents liability issues and ensures proper tax collection.