Quote Originally Posted by Sirrahsim

I've already made phone calls and verified that my POA will be fine in Ohio.

Finding a notary to make the title transfer official is their "problem" ...


I drove a rented "company car" for about 15 years ... Pennsylvania Employer,
New Jersey Rental Company, Ohio Driver and Ohio Registration (Plates).
Buying Ohio License plates for the Company Limo was always a Phunn experience!

Year #1; Mistake #1: Rent-a-Wreck sent a PRE-notarized Power of Attorney form -
with MY Signature line *blank* ... And dumm me didn't *sign* in the privacy of my office ...
Noooo, i walked into the "Deputy Registrar's (read contractor for the State) Office" and
lay all my "stuff" out. I thought she was gonna call the Cops!
HEY!! - How's Come this POA isn't *SIGNED* yet!???
"YOU CAN'T **DO** that ... SHE should loose her Notary License!"

Oooopsie ... I'll come back tomorrow when you're less stressed!

Lucky for me, there are LOTS of Deputy Registrars in every Ohio County ...
I dropped in on another Deputy, after SIGNING my POA in the parking lot.

Of course every other year or so the usually always UN-happy Deputy Registrar Clerk would
spot the obvious inconsistency - a New Jersey Notary "witnessing" an Ohio resident's POA ...
they'd hold a minor inquisition hearing with the Manager, Head Junior Assistant Deputy, and my clerk/deputy person ... LOTS of >pointing< at my POA,
asking and re-asking what MY address was ... GOOD GRIEF - just gimmie the Plates!

I adopted a convenient "fib" that worked for years ... "Oh, I case you're wondering,
I get that POA stuff done Evey year while I'm at Corp HQ, in Jersey."

They'd all smear on their Faces and start processing my Plates.

Heck - In twenty years I think I set foot in MY Company's Harrisburg HQ ONE time ...
and I never laid eyes on Rent-a-Wreck's New Jersey HQ! (Me NAW-Tee!)

-----------------------------
Back to the Find an Ohio Notary ...

Whoever needs his/her signature Notarized - the first or "top" signature -
is the person who needs to have a relationship with the Notary to avoid "Fees" ...

"Free" places include: his BANK branch; his Insurance Salesperson; a friend who's a Notary;
sometimes your Local Government Offices (they may tend to charge),
and an Auto Dealer he's recently dealt with.

You'll PAY the State approved Fees places include: County Government Offices;
any level of Court House; some convenience stores; large Contractor's offices;
or places that you don't have a business relationship with.
Ohio has LOTS of Notary Publics!

Another Ohio TRAP you may run into *IF* the vehicle is now titled outside of Ohio ~
the required "Vehicle Inspection" - which involves finding an "Official Ohio Vehicle Inspector"
who has to make a tracing of the "foreign vehicle's" VIN plate and verify the mileage on the speedometer.
The "Inspector's Reports" HAVE to be turned in to transfer the Title.
Ohio has a LOTTA ways to charge FEES and guarantee employment for folks!