Vehicle Licensing Procedures

The Director of Purchasing manages University owned vehicle licensing, registration, and titling through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (OBMV) Gratis Section in Columbus.

University departments purchasing a vehicle should inform the dealer to send the title listing Bowling Green State University as the owner (not an individual or department) to the Director of Purchasing, 1851 N Research Dr.  Bowling Green, Ohio 43403.

Once the Director of Purchasing receives the title, he/she prepares a Gratis Registration Application for Public Owned Vehicles and forwards the title with the application to OBMV Gratis Section.  Once approved and entered into the database, OBMV issues a new gratis title, tax exempt registration, and free state license plates and mails them to the Director of Purchasing.

It normally takes 12 business days from time of mailing of application to receipt of the gratis title, registration, and license plates.  When these items are received, the Director of Purchasing notifies the department, which picks up the new license plates and a duplicate copy of the registration for placement in the vehicle.  The original registration and the title are stored in the Business Operations files.

If state license plates are lost, stolen, damaged, or no longer legible, notify Purchasing at 419-372-8411 to obtain replacement plates.  Also, notify the BGSU Police Department if the license plates are stolen.