Ohio § 4503.102

§ 4503.102.

(A)(1) The registrar of motor vehicles may adopt rules to establish a centralized system

of motor vehicle registration for initial registration, registration renewal, and

transfer of registration, by mail or by electronic means. (2) Any person applying electronically for initial registration or for transfer of registration

may submit all associated documents electronically through the centralized system

of motor vehicle registration established under this section.  The registrar or a deputy registrar shall verify and authenticate such documents. (3) Any person owning a motor vehicle that was registered in the person's name during

the preceding registration year shall renew the registration of the motor vehicle

not more than ninety days prior to the expiration date of the registration through

one of the following: (a) By mail or by electronic means through the centralized system of registration established

under this section; (b) In person at any office of the registrar or at a deputy registrar's office. (B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, no less than forty-five days

prior to the expiration date of any motor vehicle registration, the registrar shall

mail a renewal notice to the person in whose name the motor vehicle is registered.  The renewal notice shall clearly state that the registration of the motor vehicle

may be renewed by mail or electronic means through the centralized system of registration

or in person at any office of the registrar or at a deputy registrar's office and

shall be preprinted with information including, but not limited to, the owner's name

and residence address as shown in the records of the bureau of motor vehicles, a brief

description of the motor vehicle to be registered, notice of the license taxes and

fees due on the motor vehicle, the toll-free telephone number of the registrar as

required under division (D)(1) of section 4503.031 of the Revised Code , and any additional information the registrar may require by rule.  The renewal notice shall not include the social security number of either the owner

of the motor vehicle or the person in whose name the motor vehicle is registered.  The renewal notice shall be sent by regular mail to the owner's last known address

as shown in the records of the bureau of motor vehicles. (2) The registrar is not required to mail a renewal notice if either of the following

applies: (a) The owner of the vehicle has consented to receiving the renewal notice by electronic

means only. (b) The application for renewal of the registration of a motor vehicle is prohibited

from being accepted by the registrar or a deputy registrar by division (D) of section 2935.27 , division (A) of section 4503.13 , division (B) of section 4510.22 , division (D) of section 4503.234 , division (B)(1) of section 4521.10 , or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the Revised Code . (3) If the owner of a motor vehicle has consented to receiving a renewal notice by electronic

means only, the registrar shall send an electronic renewal notice to the owner that

contains the information specified in division (B)(1) of this section at the time

specified under that division. (C) The owner of the motor vehicle shall verify the information contained in the notice,

sign it either manually or by electronic means, and return it, either by mail or electronic

means, or the owner may take it in person to any office of the registrar or of a deputy

registrar.  The owner shall include with the notice a financial transaction device number when

renewing in person or by electronic means but not by mail, check, or money order in

the amount of the registration taxes and fees payable on the motor vehicle and a service

fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code , plus postage as indicated on the notice if the registration is renewed or fulfilled

by mail, and an inspection certificate or alternative emissions certificate for the

motor vehicle as provided in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code .  If the motor vehicle owner chooses to renew the motor vehicle registration by electronic

means, the owner shall proceed in accordance with the rules the registrar adopts. (D) If all registration and transfer fees for the motor vehicle for the preceding year

or the preceding period of the current registration year have not been paid, if division (D) of section 2935.27 , division (A) of section 4503.13 , division (B) of section 4510.22 , division (D) of section 4503.234 , division (B)(1) of section 4521.10 , or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the Revised Code prohibits acceptance of the renewal notice, or if the owner or lessee does not have

an inspection certificate or alternative emissions certificate for the motor vehicle

as provided in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code , if that section is applicable, the license shall be refused, and the registrar or

deputy registrar shall so notify the owner.  This section does not require the payment of license or registration taxes on a

motor vehicle for any preceding year, or for any preceding period of a year, if the

motor vehicle was not taxable for that preceding year or period under section 4503.02,

4503.04, 4503.11, 4503.12, or 4503.16 or Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code. (E)(1) Failure to receive a renewal notice does not relieve a motor vehicle owner from the

responsibility to renew the registration for the motor vehicle.  Any person who has a motor vehicle registered in this state and who does not receive

a renewal notice as provided in division (B) of this section prior to the expiration

date of the registration shall request an application for registration from the registrar

or a deputy registrar and sign the application manually or by electronic means and

submit the application and pay any applicable license taxes and fees to the registrar

or deputy registrar. (2) If the owner of a motor vehicle submits an application for registration and the registrar

is prohibited by division (D) of section 2935.27 , division (A) of section 4503.13 , division (B) of section 4510.22 , division (D) of section 4503.234 , division (B)(1) of section 4521.10 , or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the Revised Code from accepting the application, the registrar shall return the application and the

payment to the owner.  If the owner of a motor vehicle submits a registration renewal application to the

registrar by electronic means and the registrar is prohibited from accepting the application

as provided in this division, the registrar shall notify the owner of this fact and

deny the application and return the payment or give a credit on the financial transaction

device account of the owner in the manner the registrar prescribes by rule adopted

pursuant to division (A) of this section. (F) Every deputy registrar shall post in a prominent place at the deputy's office a notice

informing the public of the mail registration system required by this section and

also shall post a notice that every owner of a motor vehicle and every chauffeur holding

a certificate of registration is required to notify the registrar in writing of any

change of residence within ten days after the change occurs.  The notice shall be in such form as the registrar prescribes by rule. (G)(1) The service fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code that is collected from a person who renews a motor vehicle registration by electronic

means or by mail, plus postage collected by the registrar and any financial transaction

device surcharge collected by the registrar, shall be paid to the credit of the public

safety - highway purposes fund established by section 4501.06 of the Revised Code . (2) A person who submits an initial registration or a transfer of registration by electronic

means under this section shall pay a service fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code , any necessary postage costs, and any financial transaction device surcharge, as

applicable.  The service fee collected shall be paid either to the registrar or to the deputy

registrar that verifies and authenticates the submitted documents in accordance with

division (A)(2) of this section.  If the registrar authorizes a deputy registrar to mail the certificate of registration

and any associated license plate to the applicant, the postage costs shall be paid

to that deputy registrar. (H)(1) Pursuant to section 113.40 of the Revised Code , the registrar shall implement a program permitting payment of motor vehicle registration

taxes and fees, driver's license and commercial driver's license fees, and any other

taxes, fees, penalties, or charges imposed or levied by the state by means of a financial

transaction device for transactions occurring online, at any office of the registrar,

and at all deputy registrar locations.  The program shall take effect not later than July 1, 2016.  The registrar shall adopt rules as necessary for this purpose, but all such rules

are subject to any action, policy, or procedure of the board of deposit or treasurer

of state taken or adopted under section 113.40 of the Revised Code . (2) The rules adopted under division (H)(1) of this section shall require a deputy registrar

to accept payments by means of a financial transaction device beginning on the effective

date of the rules unless the deputy registrar contract entered into by the deputy

registrar prohibits the acceptance of such payments by financial transaction device.  However, commencing with deputy registrar contract awards that have a start date

of July 1, 2016, and for all contract awards thereafter, the registrar shall require

that the proposer accept payment by means of a financial transaction device, including

credit cards and debit cards, for all department of public safety transactions conducted

at that deputy registrar location. The bureau and deputy registrars are not required to pay any costs that result from

accepting payment by means of a financial transaction device.  A deputy registrar may charge a person who tenders payment for a department transaction

by means of a financial transaction device any cost the deputy registrar incurs from

accepting payment by the financial transaction device, but the deputy registrar shall

not require the person to pay any additional fee of any kind in connection with the

use by the person of the financial transaction device. (3) In accordance with division (H)(1) of this section and rules adopted by the registrar

under that division, a county auditor or clerk of a court of common pleas that is

designated a deputy registrar shall accept payment by means of a financial transaction

device, including credit cards and debit cards, for all department transactions conducted

at the office of the county auditor or clerk in the county auditor's or clerk's capacity

as deputy registrar.  The bureau is not required to pay any costs incurred by a county auditor or clerk

that result from accepting payment by means of a financial transaction device for

any department transaction. (I) For persons who reside in counties where tailpipe emissions inspections are required

under the motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program, the notice required by

division (B) of this section shall also include the toll-free telephone number maintained

by the Ohio environmental protection agency to provide information concerning the

locations of emissions testing centers.  The registrar also shall include a statement in the notice that a battery electric

motor vehicle is not required to undergo emissions inspection under the motor vehicle

inspection and maintenance program established under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code .