Register as a Donor

In Ohio: 

In Person at the BMV: Tell the BMV clerk you do not want to remain in the Ohio Donor Registry when you renew your driver’s license, permit, identification card, or motor vehicle registration.  

Online: You can remove yourself, check your donor status or edit your donation decision during your online transaction or by going online to the BMV website (see instructions below). Please note: If you update your donation registration status online through the Ohio Donor Registry, your record will be updated, but the indicator on your physical license, permit or identification card will not be added or removed until a new physical card is issued.  

Step-by-step Online Instructions: 

• Click on the following link and login as a “Guest”: Ohio BMV – Online Services 

• Once you complete the login information, a disclaimer will pop up.  Click “Agree.”

• On the next page at the bottom of the screen, you can either “Print” (a copy of your record) or “Change My Donor Status” (to change your option).  

• If you change your status, you must make a selection and hit “Submit” at the bottom of the page for your change to be updated. 

• If you change your status, you can “Print” a copy of your record after your change has been made (button is located on the lower left side of the screen). 

• After changing your selection, hit “Continue” to close the process. 

• Changes made online directly through the Ohio Donor Registry are effective immediately. 

Fill out and mail in an enrollment form: You can use this link to access the BMV form which must be filled out completely and mailed to the BMV for processing.  Normal processing time is about 5-7 business days from the date the BMV receives the form.  No confirmation document will sent, but you may visit the BMV website to check your donor status at any time. 

Need Help?  Contact the Ohio BMV at Ohio BMV for chat and email, or by phone at 844-644-6268 (844-OHIOBMV) if you have issues with the BMV website or accessing your donor record.   

In West Virginia: 

• In Person at the DMV: Tell the DMV clerk you do not want to remain in the West Virginia Registry and update the paperwork provided when you renew your driver’s license, permit or identification card 

• Online: You can remove yourself, check your donor status or edit your donation decision during your online transaction or by going to the WV DMV website. Please note: If you update your donation registration status online through the West Virginia Donor Registry, your record will be updated, but the indicator on your physical license, permit or identification card will not be added or removed until a new physical card is issued.  
• Hunting and Fishing License: Please visit the National Donate Life Registry to remove yourself. Then, a person must notify the WV DNR to get a new hunting and fishing license without the symbol on their license. Call 304-558-6200 (select option 1) between 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday or email WVDNRCustomerService@wv.gov.

In the National Donate Life Registry:

You can update or remove your registration, or specify more detailed donation preferences, at any time by logging in to your donor registration record in the National Donate Life Registry at RegisterMe.org.  

Your state donor registry and the National Donate Life Registry will be checked online by donation professionals if the opportunity for donation exists. Your most recent donor registration is what will be honored at the time of your death.

Step-by-step Online Instructions: 

• You can access your donor record by tapping/clicking on the “Edit Registration” button at RegisterMe.org.  

• You will be asked to enter a few key data fields (e.g., name, address) to log in to your donor record.  

• When in your donor record, you can update your address, add research as a donation option, and list out any donation preferences you want to add.  

Other States

• Go to this link for guidance on how to remove yourself from a state’s registry.

No. Lifeline of Ohio cannot add or remove people from the Ohio Donor Registry, other state registries or the National Donate Life Registry.

Yes. Registering as a donor in a state registry or the National Donate Life Registry is an individual’s first-person authorization for the gift of their organs tissues and corneas upon their death, for any purposes authorized by law. 

If someone is listed as a registered donor, that is considered their legally binding decision and will be honored if:    

• The opportunity for donation exists  and

• The person is 18 years of age or older.  If the person is under the age of 18, a parent or guardian can amend or revoke the donation decision.  

If a person is not registered as a donor, but the donation opportunity exists, their family will be asked about donation as directed by law. We always ask people to share their donation decision with their family – it’s a very important conversation.

You are a registered donor until you remove yourself from a registry. Revocation, suspension, expiration, or cancellation of a driver’s license, permit or identification card does not invalidate the donation decision.  

Yes. A person, or another individual acting at the direction of the person if the person is physically unable to sign, can sign a record of a refusal to donate.  They can also communicate their refusal by any form of communication during their terminal illness or injury.  In both cases, a minimum of two adults must witness the person signing the refusal or observe the refusal.  The two adults must then sign the record that they have witnessed the refusal.

If the person later wants to amend or revoke their refusal, they can destroy or cancel the record or register as a donor using any registration method available in their state or in the National Donate Life Registry.

If a person is under 18, a parent may revoke a refusal to donate.