OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 96 Bill Analysis
134th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 96’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Passed by the House
Primary Sponsor: Rep. Merrin
Effective Date:
Margaret E. Marcy, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Requires the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to adopt rules that authorize an owner or a
lessee of a noncommercial trailer to register the trailer permanently.
 Specifies that the one-time cost of a permanent registration is:
 Eight times the annual registration tax for a noncommercial trailer (which is
determined by the weight of the trailer);
 Eight times the annual $11 Bureau of Motor Vehicles fee;
 Eight times the amount of any local motor vehicle taxes (if applicable); and
 The $5 deputy registrar/BMV service fee.
 Specifies that a permanent registration is not transferable to any other trailer and is
nonrefundable.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Noncommercial trailer registration
The bill requires the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to adopt rules that authorize an owner
or a lessee of a noncommercial trailer to register that trailer permanently. 1 Under current law,
the owner or lessee of a noncommercial trailer may only register the trailer annually or for up
to five years under the multi-year registration program available to most motor vehicles. The
1 R.C. 4503.10(A), 4503.103(A)(5), 4503.107(A), and 4503.11.
June 11, 2021
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
owner or lessee of a commercial trailer or semitrailer, however, has a permanent registration
option. The bill creates a similar process for noncommercial trailers.2
Permanent registration costs
The bill specifies that the one-time cost of a permanent noncommercial trailer
registration is:
1. Eight times the annual registration tax for a noncommercial trailer (the annual tax
ranges from $16 to $140, depending on the unladen weight of the trailer up to 10,000
pounds);3
2. Eight times the annual Bureau of Motor Vehicles fee (the annual fee is currently $11);
3. Eight times the amount of any local motor vehicle taxes (the annual taxes range from $0
to $30, depending on the taxes levied in the registrant’s jurisdiction);4
4. A single deputy registrar/BMV service fee ($5).5
Thus, for example a 5,000-pound trailer with a base annual registration cost of $70 ($59
for the annual registration tax plus $11 for the additional annual BMV fee), plus the maximum
amount of local motor vehicle taxes ($30), multiplied by eight, plus the $5 service fee, equals
$805 for a permanent registration. If the registrant registers in a jurisdiction without a local
motor vehicle tax, the cost for permanent registration would be $565.
The cost structure is similar to the current law permanent registration for a commercial
trailer or semitrailer. By registering the commercial trailer permanently, the owner or lessee of
the trailer pays in advance for eight years of registration, but then pays nothing in registration
taxes and fees for the rest of the lifetime of the trailer beyond the eight years.6
Permanent registration requirements
In addition to paying all required taxes and fees, an owner or lessee must submit a
completed application for registration and comply with all other motor vehicle registration
requirements. At that point, the Registrar or deputy registrar must issue the applicant a
permanent license plate and a permanent validation sticker.7 The noncommercial trailer
permanent registration is exclusive to the trailer that is registered, and is not transferable to
any other trailer. Additionally, the applicant is not entitled to any refund of any taxes or fees
that are paid for the permanent registration (e.g., if the noncommercial trailer only lasts for five
2 R.C. 4503.10 and 4503.103.
3 R.C. 4503.04(E). Website available here.
4 R.C. Chapter 4504. A local jurisdiction may exempt noncommercial trailers weighing 1,000 pounds or
less, at the discretion of the local jurisdiction. R.C. 4504.20.
5 R.C. 4503.038, 4503.04(E), 4503.10(C)(1), 4503.107(B), and Chapter 4504.
6 R.C. 4503.103(A)(2).
7 R.C. 4503.107(C) and 4503.191(A)(2)(b).
P a g e |2 H.B. 96
As Passed by the House
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
years, the applicant cannot get a refund for the additional three years of taxes and fees that
were paid on it).8
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 02-09-21
Reported, H. Transportation & Public Safety 05-18-21
Passed House (75-19) 06-10-21
H0096-PH-134/ar
8 R.C. 4503.107(D) and (E).
P a g e |3 H.B. 96
As Passed by the House


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4503.10, 4503.103, 4503.11, 4503.191
As Reported By House Committee: 4503.10, 4503.103, 4503.11, 4503.191
As Passed By House: 4503.10, 4503.103, 4503.11, 4503.191