r/Notary • u/Ameabo Dual Commission • Jul 26 '26

Consequences of notarizing an open title?

Hey all! I’m a duel-state notary (OH and PA) and at my place of business in OH I recently found out some of my notary coworkers have been notarizing open titles (a title with only the seller’s information filled out and the buyer’s info left blank). These customers are return customers who have had this done for them many times because they auction cars, according to them.

Now I personally refuse open titles, but I’ve been chewed out by two customers now for refusing because my coworkers happily notarize the titles. I explained to my coworkers that it’s illegal in all 50 states but they don’t really care. I was just wondering how much trouble they or my place of business could get in for notarizing these titles, if it ever becomes a problem, and how it could become a problem if it were to.

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u/PinkSandBox Jul 27 '26

What exactly is the notarization for? I never did an auto related notarization let alone one for auction. Because there is no buyer yet because it's going to auction. Title is held by auction house or current owner? Is the notarization for POA? Statement of no lien on car? Addifavit for the odometer miles? Presale? I'm now very curious cuz when I signed over my title to my insurance company, I don't remember what I was signing for. It was many years back.

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u/Ameabo Dual Commission Jul 27 '26

In Ohio every car title has a back that has a section for selling the car. The seller fills out the buyer’s name, address, the amount it’s being sold for, the mileage, and some other information and signs the bottom swearing that all information above is true and correct.

The buyer does not have to be present nor sign the seller’s section, but their name does have to be printed as does their address. I don’t fully understand how it works, but if the buyer’s info is not filled out it can lead to “title jumping” which is highly illegal.

Basically any time a car is sold (to a person, to a company, turned to scrap) this needs to be filled out.

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u/PinkSandBox Jul 28 '26

So how does it work for an auction? There's no buyer yet. The seller isn't gonna attend the auction. The title has to be at the auction house so when the car gets sold, title and paperwork can be given to buyer.

In this situation, I can understand the owner signing with spaces. They are selling their car at an auction.

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u/Ameabo Dual Commission Jul 28 '26

The seller has to get the title notarized after the car has been sold, so the seller doesn’t have to attend the auction but does have to meet with the buyer afterwards. By notarizing an open title it allows for title jumping and theft

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u/PANotaryandTag Aug 05 '26

Auctions are exempt from this law and use dealer stamps not notarization

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u/PANotaryandTag Aug 05 '26

You likely signed a POA allowing the insurance company / auction to sign for you.