So... we're in the process of moving to OH from CA. Her car and my motorcycle registration expires in March. She will be finally arriving out here mid February. Do we renew registration in CA before making the trip? Or wait until all the vehicles are out here and register them in OH?
I've lived in Ohio all my life so I have never registered an out of state vehicle. However registration in Ohio should be about $50 for a year, maybe a little more for new plates, and no there is no emission testing in central Ohio. My guess is CA is more hassle and $$$. Sounds like your timing is pretty good re: CA expiring in March. I would wait.
Oh, and welcome to the Ohio. Don't like the weather? Wait a minute it will change. 
Adrift wrote: I've lived in Ohio all my life so I have never registered an out of state vehicle. However registration in Ohio should be about $50 for a year, maybe a little more for new plates, and no there is no emission testing in central Ohio. My guess is CA is more hassle and $$$. Sounds like your timing is pretty good re: CA expiring in March. I would wait. Oh, and welcome to the Ohio. Don't like the weather? Wait a minute it will change.
Well, I've been out here two months, so I figured out about the weather. Like, "WTF do you mean it is colder at 3 in the afternoon than at 8 in the morning?!?"
The little town the vehicles are currently registered in is no smog check. I figure in state plates will just attract less attention than out-of-state.
I'll have to look into if there is any vehicle inspection to register a car from out of state.
Yeah, ain't great?
I just did a quick check on the Ohio BMV site. You do need to transfer the title. Sounds like if you don't have a lien it's pretty easy (and I'm sure a couple of $$). If you do have a lien it's a little more involved. You also need an "inspection" to verify that your car and title match. Says a car dealer can do that for you.
IIRC you're in central Ohio. If you are in Franklin county I recommend the office on W. Broad St.(hilltop). It has a county clerk and a BMV office in the same location. One stop shopping which is rare.
Good Luck
http://publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/bmv3741.pdf
Not sure about Ohio but most states require that you register the vehicle within 30 days of a change in residency. It is widely ignored and rarely enforced but it does give the cops another reason to have probably cause if that is a concern for you. Seems like the Calif fee would just be wasted under your scenario.
The "inspection" is completely painless, I've had it done a few times. They just make sure the VIN matches the title, no safety checks or equipment checks at all. Dealers and some other places can do it for you, usually for free.
Yea for the inspection you just have to go to any dealer and have them check the VIN against the title.
W Broad is a one stop shop but everytime I have been there it is packed with a 30-60 minute wait. If you are on the west side there is also a location on Hilliard-Rome Rd by the Walmart that will do title and registration and it is always empty, no waiting.
Is this a permanent/long term move? We moved to OH from AR, rented a house in the Columbus 'burbs for 3 years, before moving back to AR, never changed residency, kept AR tags. Never got harassed. Only issue I ever ran into was not car related, as a non-resident, and non-border state resident I wasn't allowed to purchase a handgun in OH, nor an AR variant lower receiver, but I could purchase all of the "long guns" and ammo I desired.
SWMBO got a speeding ticket somewhere between Wooster & Columbus, no harassment about out of state plates, just paid the ticket and went on with life.
YMMV
As far as the W Broad location BMV goes, I heard they're closing the registrar so all you'll be able to do there is title work I think. Not a big loss for me as it's always a pain and a huge wait when I go there. A 10 minute drive south of us is Great Southern where there's a title agency and a deputy registrar in the same shopping center. It's always been quick for me to go there.
Map it: 45 Great Southern Blvd, Columbus, OH 43207
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