If Santa brings you a new car or boat on Christmas, keep in mind that auto-title offices across Ohio will be closed Monday and Jan. 2 in observance of the holidays and on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 for a statewide software update.

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is implementing new Automated Title Processing System software that is expected to speed the titling process for customers as well as auto dealers.

With the software, clerks can swipe a customer’s driver’s license rather than type in all his or her personal information. Clerks also will have automatic access to the system that verifies whether a vehicle is stolen.

Auto dealers can submit electronically a customer’s title application and supporting documents, which also is expected to expedite the processing of titles.

“It will be faster,” Lucas County Clerk of Courts Bernie Quilter said.

Wood County Clerk of Courts Cindy Hofner said the software has been in development since 2013 and was created with input from the clerks’ offices.

“They went to end-users who use the system every single day and asked for ways to improve it,” Ms. Hofner said. “That’s where the deputy clerks were able to give their input. They sat right beside the developers.”

Lucas County’s title offices do not have Saturday hours, but other counties, including Wood and Williams counties, routinely are open on Saturday.

Ms. Hofner said the auto title office on East Wooster Street in Bowling Green also will be closed Saturday for Christmas Eve but will offer extended hours Dec. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The title office in Bryan will remain open until 6 p.m. Dec. 29 and Jan. 3.

Also, because of the holiday weekend, Lucas County’s four title offices — on Madison Avenue, Heatherdowns Boulevard, Navarre Avenue, and North McCord Road — only will be open from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Friday.

Regular business hours will resume Jan. 3.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.

First Published December 22, 2016, 5:00 a.m.