House BillPassed first house
HB 258: Require notice before driver's license expires, instead of after
What HB 258 does, verified June 6, 2026
The bill aims to modify the law governing motor vehicle driver's license expiration notifications. The owner of every motor vehicle required to be registered must file an application for registration every year, by mail or electronically. The application must include the motor vehicle's year, make, model, and vehicle identification number, as well as the owner's name and residence address. The registrar will also require a fee for each application, which will increase to $16 in 2026. The application must be signed by the owner, and the registrar will retain the owner's social security number in its records. The bill also requires the registrar to include a reminder to check the expiration date of the applicant's driver's license or identification card.<br>Every driver's license issued to a resident of the state expires on the birthday of the applicant in the fourth or eighth year after…
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Last action: Referred to committee: Transportation (2025-11-05)Alert me
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| Nov. 05, 2025 | Referred to committee: Transportation |
| Nov. 04, 2025 | Introduced |
| Oct. 29, 2025 | Passed |
| Oct. 29, 2025 | Reported - Substitute: Transportation |
| May. 14, 2025 | Referred to committee: Transportation |
Latest bill textCommittee Substitute version, October 29, 2025 · 4,355 words
As Reported by the House Transportation Committee
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
2025-2026
Representatives Mathews, A., Deeter
Cosponsors: Representatives Willis, Daniels, Newman, Robb Blasdel
To amend sections 4503.10 and 4507.09 of the 1
Revised Code to modify the law governing motor 2
vehicle driver's license expiration 3
notifications.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 4503.10 and 4507.09 of the 5
Revised Code be amended to read as follows:
6 Sec. 4503.10. (A) The owner of every snowmobile, off-
7 highway motorcycle, and all-purpose vehicle required to be
8 registered under section 4519.02 of the Revised Code shall file
9 an application for registration under section 4519.03 of the
10 Revised Code. The owner of a motor vehicle, other than a
11 snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle, that
12 is not designed and constructed by the manufacturer for
13 operation on a street or highway may not register it under this
14 chapter except upon certification of inspection pursuant to
15 section 4513.02 of the Revised Code by the sheriff, or the chief
16 of police of the municipal corporation or township, with
17 jurisdiction over the political subdivision in which the owner
18 of the motor vehicle resides. Except as provided in sections
19 4503.103 and 4503.107 of the Revised Code, every owner of every
20 other motor vehicle not previously described in this section and
21 every person mentioned as owner in the last certificate of title
22 of a motor vehicle that is operated or driven upon the public
23 roads or highways shall cause to be filed each year, by mail or
24 otherwise, in the office of the registrar of motor vehicles or a
25 deputy registrar, a written or electronic application or a
26 preprinted registration renewal notice issued under section
27 4503.102 of the Revised Code, the form of which shall be
28 prescribed by the registrar, for registration for the following
29 registration year, which shall begin on the first day of January
30 of every calendar year and end on the thirty-first day of
31 December in the same year. Applications for registration and
32 registration renewal notices shall be filed at the times
33 established by the registrar pursuant to section 4503.101 of the
34 Revised Code. A motor vehicle owner also may elect to apply for
35 or renew a motor vehicle registration by electronic means using
36 electronic signature in accordance with rules adopted by the
37 registrar. Except as provided in division (J) of this section,
38 applications for registration shall be made on blanks furnished
39 by the registrar for that purpose, containing the following
40 information:
41
42 (1) A brief description of the motor vehicle to be
43 registered, including the year, make, model, and vehicle
44 identification number, and, in the case of commercial cars, the
45 gross weight of the vehicle fully equipped computed in the
46 manner prescribed in section 4503.08 of the Revised Code;
47 (2) The name and residence address of the owner, and the
48 township and municipal corporation in which the owner resides;
49 (3) The district of registration, which shall be
50 determined as follows:
51 (a) In case the motor vehicle to be registered is used for
52 hire or principally in connection with any established business
53 or branch business, conducted at a particular place, the
54 district of registration is the municipal corporation in which
55 that place is located or, if not located in any municipal
56 corporation, the county and township in which that place is
57 located. .....
58 (b) In case the vehicle is not so used, the district of .....
59 registration is the municipal corporation or county in which the .....
60 owner resides at the time of making the application. .....
61 (4) Whether the motor vehicle is a new or used motor .....
62 vehicle; .....
63 (5) The date of purchase of the motor vehicle; .....
64 (6) Whether the fees required to be paid for the .....
65 registration or transfer of the motor vehicle, during the .....
66 preceding registration year and during the preceding period of .....
67 the current registration year, have been paid. Each application .....
68 for registration shall be signed by the owner, either manually .....
69 or by electronic signature, or pursuant to obtaining a limited .....
70 power of attorney authorized by the registrar for registration, .....
71 or other document authorizing such signature. If the owner .....
72 elects to apply for or renew the motor vehicle registration with .....
73 the registrar by electronic means, the owner's manual signature .....
74 is not required. .....
75 (7) The owner's social security number, driver's license .....
76 number, or state identification number, or, where a motor .....
77 vehicle to be registered is used for hire or principally in .....
78 connection with any established business, the owner's federal .....
79 taxpayer identification number. The bureau of motor vehicles .....
80 shall retain in its records all social security numbers provided .....
81 under this section, but the bureau shall not place social .....
82 security numbers on motor vehicle certificates of registration. .....
83 (8) Whether the applicant wishes to certify willingness to .....
84 make an anatomical gift if an applicant has not so certified .....
85 under section 2108.05 of the Revised Code. The applicant's .....
86 response shall not be considered in the decision of whether to .....
87 approve the application for registration. .....
88 (9) A reminder that the applicant should check the .....
89 expiration date of the applicant's driver's license or .....
90 identification card. .....
91 (B) (1) When an applicant first registers a motor vehicle .....
92 in the applicant's name, the applicant shall provide proof of .....
93 ownership of that motor vehicle. Proof of ownership may include .....
94 any of the following: .....
95 (a) The applicant may present for inspection a physical .....
96 certificate of title or memorandum certificate showing title to .....
97 the motor vehicle to be registered in the name of the applicant. .....
98 (b) The applicant may present for inspection an electronic .....
99 certificate of title for the applicant's motor vehicle in a .....
100 manner prescribed by rules adopted by the registrar. .....
101 (c) The registrar or deputy registrar may electronically .....
102 confirm the applicant's ownership of the motor vehicle. .....
103 An applicant is not required to present a certificate of .....
104 title to an electronic motor vehicle dealer acting as a limited .....
105 authority deputy registrar in accordance with rules adopted by .....
106 the registrar. .....
107 (2) When a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance .....
108 program is in effect under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code .....
109 and rules adopted under it, each application for registration .....
110 for a vehicle required to be inspected under that section and .....
111 those rules shall be accompanied by an inspection certificate or .....
112 alternative emissions certificate for the motor vehicle issued .....
113 in accordance with that section. .....
114 (3) An application for registration shall be refused if .....
115 any of the following applies: .....
116 (a) The application is not in proper form. .....
117 (b) The application is prohibited from being accepted by .....
118 division (D) of section 2935.27, division (A) of section .....
119 4503.13, division (B) of section 4510.22, division (D) of .....
120 section 4503.234, division (B) (1) of section 4521.10, or .....
121 division (B) of section 5537.041 of the Revised Code. .....
122 (c) Proof of ownership is required but is not presented or .....
123 confirmed in accordance with division (B) (1) of this section. .....
124 (d) All registration and transfer fees for the motor .....
125 vehicle, for the preceding year or the preceding period of the .....
126 current registration year, have not been paid. .....
127 (e) The owner or lessee does not have an inspection .....
128 certificate or alternative emissions certificate for the motor .....
129 vehicle as provided in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code, and .....
130 rules adopted under it, if that section is applicable. .....
131 (4) This section does not require the payment of license .....
132 or registration taxes on a motor vehicle for any preceding year, .....
133 or for any preceding period of a year, if the motor vehicle was .....
134 not taxable for that preceding year or period under sections .....
135 4503.02, 4503.04, 4503.11, 4503.12, and 4503.16 or Chapter 4504. .....
136 of the Revised Code. .....
137
138 (5) When a certificate of registration is issued upon the first registration of a motor vehicle by or on behalf of the owner, the official issuing the certificate shall indicate the issuance with a stamp on the certificate of title or memorandum certificate or, in the case of an electronic certificate of title or electronic verification of ownership, an electronic stamp or other notation as specified in rules adopted by the registrar, and with a stamp on the inspection certificate for the motor vehicle, if any.
139 (6) The official also shall indicate, by a stamp or by other means the registrar prescribes, on the registration certificate issued upon the first registration of a motor vehicle by or on behalf of the owner the odometer reading of the motor vehicle as shown in the odometer statement included in or attached to the certificate of title. Upon each subsequent registration of the motor vehicle by or on behalf of the same owner, the official also shall so indicate the odometer reading of the motor vehicle as shown on the immediately preceding certificate of registration.
140 (7) The registrar shall include in the permanent registration record of any vehicle required to be inspected under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code the inspection certificate number from the inspection certificate or the alternative emissions certificate number from the alternative emissions certificate that is presented at the time of registration of the vehicle as required under this division.
141 (C) (1) The registrar and each deputy registrar shall collect the following additional fees for each application for registration and registration renewal received:
142 (a) Except as provided in division (C) (1) (b) of this
143 section, a fee of eleven dollars on or before December 31, 2025,
144 and a fee of sixteen dollars on and after January 1, 2026;
145 (b) For vehicles specified in divisions (A) (1) to (21) of
146 section 4503.042 of the Revised Code, a fee of thirty dollars on
147 or before December 31, 2025, and a fee of thirty-five dollars on
148 and after January 1, 2026.
149 No additional fee shall be charged for vehicles registered
150 under section 4503.65 of the Revised Code. Each additional fee
151 is for the purpose of defraying the department of public
152 safety's costs associated with the administration and
153 enforcement of the motor vehicle and traffic laws of Ohio. Each
154 deputy registrar shall transmit the fees collected under
155 divisions (C) (1) and (3) of this section in the time and manner
156 provided in this section. The registrar shall deposit all moneys
157 received under division (C) (1) of this section into the public
158 safety - highway purposes fund established in section 4501.06 of
159 the Revised Code.
160 (2) In addition, a charge of twenty-five cents shall be
161 made for each reflectorized safety license plate issued, and a
162 single charge of twenty-five cents shall be made for each county
163 identification sticker or each set of county identification
164 stickers issued, as the case may be, to cover the cost of
165 producing the license plates and stickers, including material,
166 manufacturing, and administrative costs. Those fees shall be in
167 addition to the license tax. If the total cost of producing the
168 plates is less than twenty-five cents per plate, or if the total
169 cost of producing the stickers is less than twenty-five cents
170 per sticker or per set issued, any excess moneys accruing from
171 the fees shall be distributed in the same manner as provided by
172 section 4501.04 of the Revised Code for the distribution of
173 license tax moneys. If the total cost of producing the plates
174 exceeds twenty-five cents per plate, or if the total cost of
175 producing the stickers exceeds twenty-five cents per sticker or
176 per set issued, the difference shall be paid from the license
177 tax moneys collected pursuant to section 4503.02 of the Revised
178 Code.
179 (3) The registrar and each deputy registrar shall collect
180 the following additional fee, as applicable, for each
181 application for registration or registration renewal received
182 for any hybrid motor vehicle, plug-in hybrid electric motor
183 vehicle, or battery electric motor vehicle:
184 (a) One hundred dollars for a hybrid motor vehicle;
185 (b) One hundred fifty dollars for a plug-in hybrid
186 electric motor vehicle;
187 (c) Two hundred dollars for a battery electric motor
188 vehicle.
189 Each fee imposed under this division shall be prorated
190 based on the number of months for which the vehicle is
191 registered. The registrar shall transmit all money arising from
192 each fee to the treasurer of state for distribution in
193 accordance with division (E) of section 5735.051 of the Revised
194 Code, subject to division (D) of section 5735.05 of the Revised
195 Code.
196 (D) Each deputy registrar shall be allowed a fee equal to
197 the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised
198 Code for each application for registration and registration
199 renewal notice the deputy registrar receives, which shall be for
200 the purpose of compensating the deputy registrar for the deputy
201 registrar's services, and such office and rental expenses, as
202 may be necessary for the proper discharge of the deputy
203 registrar's duties in the receiving of applications and renewal
204 notices and the issuing of registrations.
205 (E) Upon the certification of the registrar, the county
206 sheriff or local police officials shall recover license plates
207 erroneously or fraudulently issued.
208 (F) Each deputy registrar, upon receipt of any application
209 for registration or registration renewal notice, together with
210 the license fee and any local motor vehicle license tax levied
211 pursuant to Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, shall transmit
212 that fee and tax, if any, in the manner provided in this
213 section, together with the original and duplicate copy of the
214 application, to the registrar. The registrar, subject to the
215 approval of the director of public safety, may deposit the funds
216 collected by those deputies in a local bank or depository to the
217 credit of the "state of Ohio, bureau of motor vehicles." Where a
218 local bank or depository has been designated by the registrar,
219 each deputy registrar shall deposit all moneys collected by the
220 deputy registrar into that bank or depository not more than one
221 business day after their collection and shall make reports to
222 the registrar of the amounts so deposited, together with any
223 other information, some of which may be prescribed by the
224 treasurer of state, as the registrar may require and as
225 prescribed by the registrar by rule. The registrar, within three
226 days after receipt of notification of the deposit of funds by a
227 deputy registrar in a local bank or depository, shall draw on
228 that account in favor of the treasurer of state. The registrar,
229 subject to the approval of the director and the treasurer of
230 state, may make reasonable rules necessary for the prompt
231 transmittal of fees and for safeguarding the interests of the
232 state and of counties, townships, municipal corporations, and
233 transportation improvement districts levying local motor vehicle
234 license taxes. The registrar may pay service charges usually
235 collected by banks and depositories for such service. If deputy
236 registrars are located in communities where banking facilities
237 are not available, they shall transmit the fees forthwith, by
238 money order or otherwise, as the registrar, by rule approved by
239 the director and the treasurer of state, may prescribe. The
240 registrar may pay the usual and customary fees for such service.
241 (G) This section does not prevent any person from making
242 an application for a motor vehicle license directly to the
243 registrar by mail, by electronic means, or in person at any of
244 the registrar's offices, upon payment of a service fee equal to
245 the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised
246 Code for each application.
247 (H) No person shall make a false statement as to the
248 district of registration in an application required by division
249 (A) of this section. Violation of this division is falsification
250 under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code and punishable as
251 specified in that section.
252 (I) (1) Where applicable, the requirements of division (B)
253 of this section relating to the presentation of an inspection
254 certificate issued under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and
255 rules adopted under it for a motor vehicle, the refusal of a
256 license for failure to present an inspection certificate or
257 alternative emissions certificate, and the stamping of the
258 inspection certificate or alternative emissions certificate by
259 the official issuing the certificate of registration apply to
260 the registration of and issuance of license plates for a motor
261 vehicle under sections 4503.102, 4503.12, 4503.14, 4503.15,
262 4503.16, 4503.171, 4503.172, 4503.19, 4503.40, 4503.41, 4503.42,
263 4503.43, 4503.44, 4503.46, 4503.47, and 4503.51 of the Revised
264 Code.
265 (2) (a) The registrar shall adopt rules ensuring that each
266 owner registering a motor vehicle in a county where a motor
267 vehicle inspection and maintenance program is in effect under
268 section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it
269 receives information about the requirements established in that
270 section and those rules and about the need in those counties to
271 present an inspection certificate or an alternative emissions
272 certificate with an application for registration or
273 preregistration.
274 (b) Upon request, the registrar shall provide the director
275 of environmental protection, or any person that has been awarded
276 a contract under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code, an on-line
277 computer data link to registration information for all passenger
278 cars, noncommercial motor vehicles, and commercial cars that are
279 subject to that section. The registrar also shall provide to the
280 director of environmental protection a magnetic data tape
281 containing registration information regarding passenger cars,
282 noncommercial motor vehicles, and commercial cars for which a
283 multi-year registration is in effect under section 4503.103 of
284 the Revised Code or rules adopted under it, including, without
285 limitation, the date of issuance of the multi-year registration,
286 the registration deadline established under rules adopted under
287 section 4503.101 of the Revised Code that was applicable in the
288 year in which the multi-year registration was issued, and the
289 registration deadline for renewal of the multi-year
290 registration.
291 (J) Subject to division (K) of this section, application
292 for registration under the international registration plan, as
293 set forth in sections 4503.60 to 4503.66 of the Revised Code,
294 shall be made to the registrar on forms furnished by the
295 registrar. In accordance with international registration plan
296 guidelines and pursuant to rules adopted by the registrar, the
297 forms shall include the following:
298 (1) A uniform mileage schedule;
299 (2) The gross vehicle weight of the vehicle or combined
300 gross vehicle weight of the combination vehicle as declared by
301 the registrant;
302 (3) Any other information the registrar requires by rule.
303 (K) The registrar shall determine the feasibility of
304 implementing an electronic commercial fleet licensing and
305 management program that will enable the owners of commercial
306 tractors, commercial trailers, and commercial semitrailers to
307 conduct electronic transactions by July 1, 2010, or sooner. If
308 the registrar determines that implementing such a program is
309 feasible, the registrar shall adopt new rules under this
310 division or amend existing rules adopted under this division as
311 necessary in order to respond to advances in technology. If
312 international registration plan guidelines and provisions allow
313 member jurisdictions to permit applications for registrations
314 under the international registration plan to be made via the
315 internet, the rules the registrar adopts under this division
316 shall permit such action.
317 Sec. 4507.09. (A) (1) Except as provided in division (B) of
318 this section, every driver's license issued to a resident of
319 this state expires on the birthday of the applicant in the
320 fourth or eighth year after the date it is issued, based on the
321 period of renewal requested by the applicant. A resident who is
322 sixty-five years of age or older may only apply for a driver's
323 license that expires on the birthday of the applicant in the
324 fourth year after the date it is issued. In no event shall any
325 license be issued for a period longer than eight years and
326 ninety days.
327 Subject to the requirements of section 4507.12 of the
328 Revised Code, every driver's license issued to a resident is
329 renewable at any time prior to its expiration.
330 (2) A driver's license issued to a temporary resident
331 shall expire in accordance with rules adopted by the registrar
332 of motor vehicles. A driver's license issued to a temporary
333 resident is a limited term license, but may be renewed within
334 ninety days prior to its expiration in accordance with division
335 (E) of this section.
336 (3) No refund shall be made or credit given for the
337 unexpired portion of the driver's license that is renewed.
338 (a) If the records of the bureau of motor vehicles contain
339 a person's last known electronic mail address or cellular
340 telephone number, the registrar may send an electronic
341 notification to the person not less than fifteen days prior to
342 the date that the person's driver's license or identification
343 card is scheduled to expire informing the person of the pending
344 expiration. If a person does not renew the driver's license or
345 identification card by the expiration date, the registrar may
346 send an electronic notification of the expiration not more than
347 fourteen days after the driver's license or identification card
348 expired. The
349 (b) In addition to any notification sent under division
350 (A) (3) (a) of this section, the registrar shall notify send a
351 notification of expiration to each person whose driver's license
352 or identification card has expired within forty-five-sixty days
353 after the date of expiration. Notification shall be made by
354 regular mail sent to the person's last known address as shown in
355 the records of the bureau of motor vehicles. Failure-
356 (c) Failure to provide such-notification under division
357 (A) (3) (a) or (b) of this section shall not be construed as a
358 renewal or extension of any license.
359 (4) For the purposes of this section, the date of birth of
360 any applicant born on the twenty-ninth day of February shall be
361 deemed to be the first day of March in any year in which there
362 is no twenty-ninth day of February.
363 (B) Every driver's license or renewal of a driver's
364 license issued to a resident applicant who is sixteen years of
365 age or older, but less than twenty-one years of age, expires on
366 the twenty-first birthday of the applicant, except that an
367 applicant who applies no more than thirty days before the
368 applicant's twenty-first birthday shall be issued a license in
369 accordance with division (A) of this section.
370 (C) Each person licensed as a driver under this chapter
371 shall notify the registrar of any change in the person's address
372 within ten days following that change. The notification shall be
373 in writing on a form provided by the registrar and shall include
374 the full name, date of birth, license number, county of
375 residence, social security number, and new address of the
376 person. The registrar shall offer the person the opportunity to
377 submit a notice of change of address for voter registration
378 purposes by electronic means in conjunction with the person's
379 transaction with the registrar, in accordance with section
380 3503.11 of the Revised Code.
381 (D) No driver's license shall be renewed when renewal is prohibited by division (A) of section 4507.091 of the Revised Code.
382 (E) (1) Except as provided in division (E) (2) of this section, a limited term license shall not be issued to a temporary resident for a period longer than the expiration date of the temporary resident's authorized stay in the United States, or for four years from the date of issuance, whichever date is earliest.
383 (2) If there is no expiration date for a temporary resident's authorized stay in the United States, a limited term license shall not be issued to the temporary resident for a period longer than one year from the date of issuance.
384 (3) A limited term license may be renewed within ninety days prior to its expiration upon the applicant's presentation of documentation verifying the applicant's legal presence or continued temporary lawful status in the United States.
385 (4) In accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, the registrar shall adopt rules governing limited term licenses for temporary residents.
386 Section 2. That existing sections 4503.10 and 4507.09 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
As Reported by the House Transportation Committee
Text of HB 258 as committee substitute, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions