Can a Notary Notarize a Title Without Both Parties?

If you are selling or buying a vehicle in Ohio and only one of you can make the appointment, here is the short version: the person whose signature is being notarized has to be there in person, but the other party usually does not. On a standard sale I notarize the seller's signature on the title, and the buyer does not need to be present for that. I am Terry May, a mobile Ohio notary who comes to you anywhere in Southwest Ohio.

Can a notary notarize a car title when only one party can be there?

Yes, for the signature that is actually being notarized. The seller signs the title in front of me, so the seller must appear in person with a current government-issued photo ID whose name matches the name on the title. The buyer does not need to be present for that part. No notary, whether mobile or sitting at a counter, can notarize a signature for someone who is not physically there, so the person doing the signing is the one who has to attend. If you have seen the phrase "notarize without the buyer or seller present," what that really means in a normal sale is that the absent party is the buyer, and their signature is not what gets notarized.

What has to be ready before you sign

The title must be complete before the seller signs. The buyer's name and address should already be filled in, so if the buyer is not at the appointment, the seller gets that information from them beforehand. Do not sign ahead of time. A title that is already signed cannot be notarized, because the signature has to be made in front of me. The seller's section of an Ohio title also includes a sworn statement, which the Ohio BMV requires the seller to swear is true and correct at signing.

Have these ready for the appointment:

• The original title, with the buyer's information filled in
• The seller's current government-issued photo ID
• A written lien release if a lender ever held the title
• The agreed price
• The odometer reading and the date

A short walkthrough of the full set of Ohio rules is in my guide to Ohio car title transfer requirements.

What if the person who needs to sign truly cannot appear?

If the person whose signature is required cannot appear at all, that signature cannot be notarized for them. The Ohio BMV allows a power of attorney for a certificate of title in that situation, and the original BMV power of attorney form is required, not a copy. That form has to be set up in advance, and I do not choose it for you or advise on its use. Document selection belongs with the county title office, the BMV, or an attorney.

There is one more thing to know if you are trying to notarize the whole title at once. If both the seller's assignment and the buyer's application for a new certificate need notarizing, both the seller and the buyer have to appear, because each is signing a separate section. Many sales only need the seller's signature notarized, which is why the buyer can usually stay home.

Notarizing a bill of sale when the buyer isn't there

A bill of sale is a separate document from the title. Ohio does not require one for a typical vehicle sale, but it records the price and protects both sides. I can notarize the seller's signature on a bill of sale when the buyer is not present, as long as the seller appears in person. If that is your situation, the details are in notarizing a bill of sale without the buyer.

After the notarization, what happens next

I notarize the seller's signature and keep the required record. I do not file the title, choose your documents, or give legal advice, and I cannot promise the county will accept a document. After the appointment the buyer files the title at the County Clerk of Courts Title Office within thirty days of the sale, pays the sales tax and title fee, then registers the vehicle with the BMV. Filing after thirty days can mean a late fee, so the buyer should plan around that deadline. You can see the full list of mobile vehicle title notary services I handle.

What it costs and how to book

Ohio law permits a notary to charge up to $5 per notarial act, and that limit is per act, not per signature. A travel fee applies to every mobile appointment and is quoted before you book. The total depends on the service, location, travel required, timing, urgency, and assignment details, and I confirm it before the appointment. Payment is accepted by cash, Venmo, or Zelle.

Same-day, evening, and weekend appointments are available, subject to current schedule, travel distance, and timing. Regular hours are 7 AM to 10 PM, seven days a week. Need something outside those hours? Call (513) 226-9052 and I will accommodate the request whenever I can. For a quote or to set a time, call that number or use book a mobile notary appointment.

Where I come to you

I am mobile and travel to the client, based in Waynesville, Ohio 45068. I serve Hamilton, Warren, Montgomery, Butler, Greene, and Clinton counties in Southwest Ohio, between Cincinnati and Dayton. We have lived, worked, and shopped in this area for 32 years, and many of the communities here are rural where it can be hard to find a notary who will travel. I will meet you at home, at a workplace, at a title office, or another agreed location that works for the signer.

Why work with Signed On Time

As a mobile loan signing agent working across Southwest Ohio, I'm NNA Certified, carry a 2 million dollar errors and omissions policy, complete a yearly background screening, and have been commissioned as an Ohio Notary Public since July 28, 2017. I also bring 25+ years of commercial and residential lending experience, and Signed On Time is a veteran-owned business. My role on a title is to be an impartial witness to the signer's signature. I do not give legal advice, decide which document you need, or determine whether a signature will be accepted by any office.

Frequently asked questions

Does the buyer have to be at the title notarization?

No, not for the seller's signature. The seller appears in person and signs the title in front of me, and the buyer's information just needs to be filled in on the title first. The buyer later files the title and registers the vehicle at the county title office.

Can you notarize a title that is already signed?

No. The signature has to be made in front of me, so a title signed ahead of time cannot be notarized. Bring the title unsigned and sign it at the appointment.

What ID does the person signing need?

A current government-issued photo ID, and the name on it needs to match the name on the title. If your ID is expired, from another state, or shows a different name, call (513) 226-9052 before the appointment so we can sort that out first.

What if neither the buyer nor the seller can appear in person?

Then the signature cannot be notarized as it stands, because the person signing has to be present. The absent signer can set up a power of attorney through the Ohio BMV in advance, or you can schedule once that signer is available. Because I am mobile, I travel to the signer at home, work, a care facility, or another agreed spot, which often solves the appearance problem on its own.

Do you offer online or remote title notarization?

No. All of my service is in person and mobile, so I come to the signer rather than meeting by video. If you are weighing the two approaches, I explain the difference between in-person and remote online notarization in a separate guide.