How long does a temporary registration permit last in Ohio?

Temporary motor vehicle license registration (45-day): valid for a period of forty-five days from date of issuance and not transferable or renewable. Hardship temporary motor vehicle license registration: valid for thirty days from the date of issuance and not transferable or renewable.

How much does a temporary registration permit cost in Ohio?

Temporary Tag: $23.00 (BMV fee schedule, Vehicle Registration Transactions, DR Fee Included; fee schedule last updated 1/5/2026). Statute components, stated separately and not tied together in words on any opened page: the fee for a temporary motor vehicle license registration is two dollars plus a service fee equal to the amount established under ORC 4503.038, and the registrar and each deputy registrar shall collect an additional fee of thirteen dollars for each temporary motor vehicle license registration issued.

Who qualifies for a temporary registration permit in Ohio?

45-day registration: a purchaser of a motor vehicle, upon application and proof of purchase. A purchaser who was previously issued a license plate during the current registration year that can legally transfer to that motor vehicle shall not be issued a temporary motor vehicle license registration.

How do I get a temporary registration permit in Ohio?

45-day registration: upon application and proof of purchase of the vehicle. The registrar may issue temporary motor vehicle license registrations to an Ohio motorized bicycle dealer or a licensed motor vehicle dealer to be issued to purchasers for use on motor vehicles sold by the dealer; a dealer shall issue them by electronic means via computer equipment purchased and maintained by the dealer unless otherwise authorized by the registrar.

Temporary Registration Permits in Ohio

The Ohio temporary permit in one table

Question	Ohio rule
Duration	Temporary motor vehicle license registration (45-day): valid for a period of forty-five days from date of issuance and not transferable or renewable. Hardship temporary motor vehicle license registration: valid for thirty days from the date of issuance and not transferable or renewable. Snowmobile/APV temporary tag: no duration stated on the opened fee page (fee entry only).
Fee	Temporary Tag: $23.00 (BMV fee schedule, Vehicle Registration Transactions, DR Fee Included; fee schedule last updated 1/5/2026). Statute components, stated separately and not tied together in words on any opened page: the fee for a temporary motor vehicle license registration is two dollars plus a service fee equal to the amount established under ORC 4503.038, and the registrar and each deputy registrar shall collect an additional fee of thirteen dollars for each temporary motor vehicle license registration issued. ORC 4503.038(A) (effective September 30, 2025) states: 'The service fee shall be eight dollars.' Arithmetic only: $2 + $8 + $13 = $23.00, matching the BMV fee-schedule entry; no opened page states this sum in words, and the BMV fee page does not explicitly tie the $23.00 entry to the 45-day registration. Snowmobile/APV (Temporary tag, Resident): $10.00 on the same fee page; a different instrument, not the 45-day registration. No other fee for the 45-day registration is stated in the opened pages.
Who qualifies	45-day registration: a purchaser of a motor vehicle, upon application and proof of purchase. A purchaser who was previously issued a license plate during the current registration year that can legally transfer to that motor vehicle shall not be issued a temporary motor vehicle license registration. It is issued only for the applicant's use of the vehicle to enable the applicant to legally operate the motor vehicle while proper title, license plates, and a certificate of registration are being obtained, and shall be displayed on no other motor vehicle. Hardship 30-day registration: at the registrar's discretion, in the case of extreme hardship encountered by a citizen from this state or another state who has attempted to comply with all registration laws but for extreme circumstances is unable to properly register the citizen's vehicle. BMV timing rule: a buyer who chooses to have a 45-day temporary tag issued must obtain it before transferring the vehicle title into the buyer's name; once an Ohio title is established, the buyer will only be able to purchase permanent Ohio license plates.
How to get it	45-day registration: upon application and proof of purchase of the vehicle. The registrar may issue temporary motor vehicle license registrations to an Ohio motorized bicycle dealer or a licensed motor vehicle dealer to be issued to purchasers for use on motor vehicles sold by the dealer; a dealer shall issue them by electronic means via computer equipment purchased and maintained by the dealer unless otherwise authorized by the registrar. The registrar, at the registrar's discretion, may issue the 30-day hardship registration. The registrar and each deputy registrar collect the $13 fee component for each registration issued. No opened page expressly names the walk-in office a private-sale buyer visits to obtain the 45-day registration, and no opened page states any form, identification, or other document beyond application and proof of purchase; no other office, form, or document is stated on the pages opened. Timing: the 45-day temporary tag must be obtained before the buyer transfers the vehicle title into the buyer's name (BMV titles page).

The permit types

Temporary motor vehicle license registration (45-day) - Issued only for the applicant's use of the motor vehicle to enable the applicant to legally operate the motor vehicle while proper title, license plates, and a certificate of registration are being obtained, and displayed on no other motor vehicle. On the BMV titles page it appears as the '45-day temporary tag' a buyer may choose to have issued before transferring the vehicle title into the buyer's name.
Temporary motor vehicle license registration - extreme hardship (30-day) - At the registrar's discretion, for a citizen from Ohio or another state who has attempted to comply with all registration laws but for extreme circumstances is unable to properly register the citizen's vehicle.
Temporary Tag (fee-schedule entry) - Listed as a vehicle registration transaction on the BMV Documents & Fees page at $23.00; no purpose is stated on that page beyond the name 'Temporary Tag,' and the page does not explicitly tie the entry to the 45-day registration.
Snowmobile/APV Temporary tag (Resident) - Fee-schedule entry only ($10.00) on the opened BMV fee page; no purpose, duration, or eligibility stated on the opened pages. A different instrument from the 45-day motor vehicle registration.

What this permit is, and what it is not

Ohio law draws a sharp line the buyer should know: the 45-day temporary registration and the 30-day hardship registration are both not transferable and not renewable. The current statute text, effective June 30, 2021, has no affidavit requirement; an older version required one, and that requirement must not be presented as current.

The process, step by step

Match the situation to the permit. The permit types below are not interchangeable; pick the one that fits the purchase and the paperwork gap.
Gather what the issuing office needs. 45-day registration: a purchaser of a motor vehicle, upon application and proof of purchase. A purchaser who was previously issued a license plate during the current registration year that can legally transfer to that motor vehicle shall not be issued a temporary motor vehicle license registration. It is issued only for the applicant's use of the vehicle to enable the applicant to legally operate the motor vehicle while proper title, license plates, and a certificate of registration are being obtained, and shall be displayed on no other motor vehicle. Hardship 30-day registration: at the registrar's discretion, in the case of extreme hardship encountered by a citizen from this state or another state who has attempted to comply with all registration laws but for extreme circumstances is unable to properly register the citizen's vehicle. BMV timing rule: a buyer who chooses to have a 45-day temporary tag issued must obtain it before transferring the vehicle title into the buyer's name; once an Ohio title is established, the buyer will only be able to purchase permanent Ohio license plates.
Apply through the stated channel. 45-day registration: upon application and proof of purchase of the vehicle. The registrar may issue temporary motor vehicle license registrations to an Ohio motorized bicycle dealer or a licensed motor vehicle dealer to be issued to purchasers for use on motor vehicles sold by the dealer; a dealer shall issue them by electronic means via computer equipment purchased and maintained by the dealer unless otherwise authorized by the registrar. The registrar, at the registrar's discretion, may issue the 30-day hardship registration. The registrar and each deputy registrar collect the $13 fee component for each registration issued. No opened page expressly names the walk-in office a private-sale buyer visits to obtain the 45-day registration, and no opened page states any form, identification, or other document beyond application and proof of purchase; no other office, form, or document is stated on the pages opened. Timing: the 45-day temporary tag must be obtained before the buyer transfers the vehicle title into the buyer's name (BMV titles page).
Mind the expiry. Temporary motor vehicle license registration (45-day): valid for a period of forty-five days from date of issuance and not transferable or renewable. Hardship temporary motor vehicle license registration: valid for thirty days from the date of issuance and not transferable or renewable. Snowmobile/APV temporary tag: no duration stated on the opened fee page (fee entry only).
Do not treat a temporary permit as a renewal extension unless the permit says so. For an already-registered vehicle, renewal runs through the normal renewal process.

Temporary registration permits somewhere else

See Temporary registration permits in North Carolina.

See Temporary registration permits in Oregon.

For all states side by side, see the Temporary Registration Permits by State directory.

Source

Facts verified 2026-10-29.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to your state motor vehicle agency. Not carried on this page: Any document beyond application and proof of purchase, any named walk-in issuing office for a private-sale buyer, and any dealer-vs-deputy-registrar issuance split...