Transfer on Death (TOD) Designation

🚗📋 BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES REMINDS CUSTOMERS ABOUT TRANSFER ON DEATH (TOD) VEHICLE TITLE DESIGNATIONS

What is a Transfer on Death (TOD) Designation?

A Transfer on Death (TOD) designation allows an eligible vehicle owner to name a beneficiary who may assume ownership of a vehicle upon the owner’s death, helping to streamline the vehicle ownership transfer and avoid lengthy probate proceedings.

A TOD designation may be added, changed, or removed while the owner is living and provides an important estate planning option for vehicle owners.

👤 Who Is Eligible?

✅ Individual vehicle owners

❌ Businesses

❌ Corporations

❌ Partnerships

❌ Other non-individual entities

Important: The TOD designation must be completed and approved by the BMV before the vehicle owner’s death.

📄 Documents Required to File a TOD Designation

Please submit:

✅ Completed Transfer on Death (TOD) Form

✅ Original Vehicle Title

✅ Current Vehicle Registration

✅ Valid Government-Issued Photo ID for all owner(s)

Note: Original title, registration, and identification must also be presented when adding or removing a beneficiary.

🔒 Lienholder Requirements

✔️ Vehicles with outstanding liens are eligible for a TOD designation.

✔️ All liens must be fully satisfied and released before ownership can transfer to the designated beneficiary.

✔️ The designated beneficiary cannot assume ownership until the lienholder’s interest has been released.

Note: The BMV cannot control how a lienholder exercises its rights upon the death of a vehicle owner, nor is the BMV involved in negotiating or creating a resolution between the lienholder and the designated beneficiary. If a TOD designation exists and the owner passes away, the lienholder’s secured interest in the vehicle remains in effect. Should the lienholder choose to exercise its rights under the loan agreement, including repossession of the vehicle, those rights would take precedence over the TOD designation until the lien has been satisfied, released, or otherwise resolved between the lienholder and the beneficiary.

🏛️ After the Owner’s Death

To transfer ownership, the beneficiary must provide:

✅ Certified Death Certificate(s) for all legal owners listed on the title

✅ Vehicle Title (if available)

✅ Valid Photo Identification

⚠️ Important Things Vehicle Owners Should Know

DO:

✅ Complete and submit the TOD application while all owners are living.

✅ Keep beneficiary information updated while you are alive.

✅ Contact the BMV if you have questions before filing.

DON’T:

❌ Wait until after the owner’s death to submit the TOD application.

❌ Write beneficiary names directly on the title.

❌ Submit incomplete applications.

❌ Assume TOD overrides joint ownership rights.

🚨 Special Reminder About Multiple Owners

If a vehicle has multiple owners:

➡️ All owners listed on the title must be deceased before the TOD beneficiary can take ownership.

➡️ If ownership is listed as “Owner A OR Owner B,” the surviving owner retains ownership rights regardless of any TOD designation.