A manufacturer, dealer, or distributor shall apply for registration, for each place in this state at which the business of manufacturing, dealing, or distributing of motor vehicles is carried on. The application shall show the make of motor vehicles manufactured, dealt in, or distributed at such place and shall show the taxing district in which the place of business is located. Upon the filing of such application and the payment of the annual tax imposed by section 4503.09 of the Revised Code, the registrar of motor vehicles shall assign to the applicant a distinctive number that must be carried and displayed by each such motor vehicle in like manner as provided by law for other motor vehicles while it is operated on the public highway until it is sold or transferred. At the time the registrar assigns the distinctive number the registrar shall furnish one license plate with the number thereon. Such manufacturer, dealer, or distributor may procure a reasonable number of additional registration certificates upon the payment for each of an annual fee of five dollars and the appropriate postage as required by the registrar. With each additional registration certificate the registrar shall furnish one license plate with the same numbering provided in the original registration certificate, and shall add thereto such special designation as necessary to distinguish one license plate from another.

The registrar shall not assign any distinctive number and shall not furnish any license plates to any dealer or distributor unless the dealer or distributor, at the time of application for the license plates, produces evidence to show that the dealer or distributor is the holder either of a motor vehicle dealer’s license required by section 4517.04 or 4517.05 of the Revised Code or a distributor’s license required by section 4517.08 of the Revised Code. Such evidence shall be presented in the manner prescribed by the registrar.