The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency requires private passenger vehicle owners within seven metropolitan counties to pass an eCheck inspection. This includes all cities within Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties. You need the inspection to obtain and renew the vehicle's license plates; the passed inspection certificate is good for one year. If the license plates and inspection certificate expire simultaneously, the vehicle owner must still obtain a passed inspection certificate in order to renew.
Determine how you will get your vehicle to the eCheck location. Choose a method that will prevent you from being cited for driving with expired plates, such as towing the vehicle to the location.
Select an inspection site as close as possible to the Ohio BMV location so you can walk or get a ride to renew your plates after the inspection is completed. Tell the inspector that you will leave your vehicle at the inspection site until you return with your valid sticker.
Present the expired registration and vehicle title or memorandum to the inspector so he can register the vehicle in the system and complete the inspection. Wait until the test is complete.
Take the passed inspection certificate, along with the vehicle title, to the BMV. Complete the registration and plate renewal process. Be sure to have the appropriate fees available.
Return to your vehicle. Your license plate must be clean, dry and moderately warm for you to secure the renewed sticker on it. This will ensure that the sticker does not crack or slip off.
