COLUMBUS, OH (January 15, 2002) Now car and boat buyers, leasing companies, auto dealers, and financial institutions have a new tool. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has added the Online Title Inquiry to its web site to provide information pertaining to Ohio Titles.
The Online Title Inquiry allows Ohioans to search Ohio title records by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to determine if that particular vehicle, boat, or outboard motor carries a form of branding (such as rebuilt salvage or former police vehicle). The web site will also show the status of the title and the vehicle mileage that was recorded at the time each title was issued. There is no cost to use the web site. The web site will only produce information on Ohio titles from March 1993 to present.
"By providing this information on the Internet, we are giving Ohioans free access to title histories," said Lt. Governor Maureen O'Connor, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. "We feel all Ohioans will find this web site helpful and easy to use. Other than a home, motor vehicles are the most significant purchase most of us will make. It is important that the BMV share this information so consumers and businesses can make informed decisions when purchasing a motor vehicle."
The information contained on the web site will not include personal information. Personal information such as individual's name, address, city, Social Security number, and date of birth are protected from disclosure by the Driver Privacy Protection Act.
The Online Title Inquiry is one of the requirements of Senate Bill 59, which was sponsored by Senator Ron Amstutz. Senate Bill 59 charged the BMV and the Ohio county clerks of courts to make improvements to Ohios motor vehicle titling system.
"Im pleased to see this improved information for our customers. It provides another good example of how technology can help consumers," said Senator Amstutz. We all look forward to additional features planned for the near future as a result of our legislation, he concluded.
The new BMV service can be found by logging onto www.ohiobmv.com and then clicking on Online Title Inquiry.