After their driver's license photos, it's likely the second-largest shock for first-time visitors to Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices. "Cash and checks only," the signs behind the counters long have proclaimed. That apparently will change, as the bureau plans to shed the long-time inconvenience.

After their driver�s license photos, it�s likely the second-largest shock for first-time visitors to Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices.

�Cash and checks only,� the signs behind the counters long have proclaimed.

That apparently will change, as the bureau plans to shed the long-time inconvenience.

Credit and debit cards will be accepted as payment for driver�s license and vehicle-registration renewals and other transactions at the 192 BMV deputy registrar offices by the end of next year.

State Rep. Anthony DeVitis, R-Green, introduced a bill on Sept. 2 to require the state agency�s deputy registrars to accept credit and debit cards, but he is not pressing for its passage.

�I don�t know if we will need legislation. The general consensus is that we�re going to do it. The state is moving on this,� he said.

The small-business man said the use of plastic payments at his company has jumped from 10 percent to 65 percent over the past decade.

DeVitis billed his proposal as a consumer convenience. �People just don�t pay with cash anymore. Everything�s electronic,� he said.

BMV spokeswoman Lindsey Bohrer said the agency has been working for months with the office of Treasurer Josh Mandel to put the pieces in place to accept credit- and debit-card payments.

Before last year, government agencies were not permitted to pass along credit-card fees to consumers, making it cost-prohibitive to accept plastic for millions of transactions each year, she said.

While fees have not been set, those conducting BMV business with credit cards could be charged, for example, an extra $1.36 for a standard $54.50 vehicle registration and 60 cents on a $24.50 driver�s license charge.

Those fees are cheaper than the $2.50 to $3 fees charged for using so-called cashless ATMs in use at many deputy registrar offices. The machines directly deposit funds into the registrar�s account, and the customer then turns over the receipt for the transaction to obtain plate or license renewals.

Some offices also have cash-dispensing ATMs that are accompanied by similar, or higher, fees.

The agency also plans a �BMV in a Box� pilot project in which self-service terminals that dispense vehicle registrations and stickers will be placed at some retail locations in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati beginning early next year.

�Our goal is to let people choose when and where they receive BMV services,� said Public Safety Director John Born.

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow