How does a vehicle TOD beneficiary work in Indiana?

A vehicle transfer-on-death designation in Indiana names a beneficiary who receives your vehicle directly at your death, without probate (IC 9-17-3-9 (Transfer on death conveyance; requirements — vehicle-specific); IC 32-17-14 (Transfer on Death Property Act), applied to vehicles by IC 32-17-14-2(e) "Subject to IC 9-17-3-9(g)"). You keep full ownership and control during your lifetime and can change or cancel the designation at any time.

How do I add a transfer on death beneficiary to my Indiana vehicle title?

In Indiana, you make the designation through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) using the standard certificate of title application. Notarization is not required. (IC 9-17-3-9 (Transfer on death conveyance; requirements — vehicle-specific); IC 32-17-14 (Transfer on Death Property Act), applied to vehicles by IC 32-17-14-2(e) "Subject to IC 9-17-3-9(g)")

Free Indiana Vehicle Transfer on Death

Free Indiana vehicle transfer on death form. Name a beneficiary to inherit your vehicle without probate. No notarization required. PDF download.

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Step 1 of 3

Owner Information

Enter your information as the registered owner. If the vehicle is jointly owned, you can add the second owner below.

How is the vehicle titled?*

Choose "Jointly owned" if two people are on the title. Joint owners means persons who hold property as joint tenants with a right of survivorship (IC 32-17-14-3(5)); tenants by the entirety are excluded from the term. On the death of one joint owner the property belongs to the surviving joint owner(s), and survivorship continues among survivors (IC 32-17-14-15(b)).

I am the sole ownerJointly owned with one other person

First Name*

Middle Name

Last Name*

Driver License / ID Number

Most state titling forms ask for the owner’s driver license or ID number.

Street Address*

City*

State*

ZIP Code*

State Where the Vehicle Is Titled*

Email Address*

Phone Number*

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Frequently Asked Questions About Indiana Vehicle Transfer on Death Designations

A vehicle transfer-on-death designation in Indiana names a beneficiary who receives your vehicle directly at your death, without probate. You keep full ownership and control during your lifetime, and can change or cancel the designation at any time.

In Indiana, you make the designation through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) using the standard certificate of title application. Notarization is not required. See all Indiana signing requirements.

You file the completed designation with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) by mail to Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Central Office Title Processing, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N411, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or in person. Adding a vehicle TOD beneficiary is a new-title transaction: apply in person at a BMV license branch (locator above) or mail the title application/packet to the BMV Central Office Title Processing unit in Indianapolis. There is no myBMV online path to add a TOD beneficiary to an existing title.

If no designated beneficiary survives you in Indiana, if no designated beneficiary survives the owner, the vehicle belongs to the owner's estate (IC 32-17-14-15(f)) unless the designation names a lineal-descendant-per-stirpes (LDPS) substitute under IC 32-17-14-22. A beneficiary must survive the owner to take (IC 32-17-14-20).

Yes. Indiana allows more than one beneficiary on a vehicle TOD designation. If more than one survives you, they take title as tenants in common.

Yes. A vehicle TOD designation in Indiana is revocable during your lifetime at any time. Indiana recognizes: Apply for a new certificate of title that changes or removes the TOD beneficiary designation (a subsequent beneficiary designation revokes a prior one under IC 32-17-14-16(e)).; Transfer the owner's interest in the vehicle during the owner's lifetime, which terminates the designation as to the property transferred (IC 32-17-14-16(h))..

No. A vehicle TOD designation only transfers the vehicle named on the title. Bank accounts, your home, and other property pass through whatever else you have in place — a will (probate) or a trust. A revocable living trust covers everything in one document. Set up a revocable trust if you want a single instrument for the whole estate.

Indiana Vehicle Transfer on Death

Indiana allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle title: Yes. It names someone to receive the vehicle directly at your death, without probate. You keep full ownership and control during your lifetime — you can sell the vehicle, or change or cancel the designation, at any time.

In Indiana, the designation is made through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) using the standard title application. Notarization is not required. A new certificate of title is issued showing the beneficiary.

Indiana extends the designation beyond cars: it covers motor vehicle and watercraft.

A vehicle TOD designation covers only the vehicle on the title — not your home, accounts, or other property. A revocable living trust covers all of your assets in a single document and avoids probate for everything it holds. Compare the approaches with the trust vs. will tool.