How does a vehicle TOD beneficiary work in District of Columbia?

A vehicle transfer-on-death designation in District of Columbia names a beneficiary who receives your vehicle directly at your death, without probate (No codified statute or regulation; DC DMV administrative beneficiary-designation process). You keep full ownership and control during your lifetime and can change or cancel the designation at any time.

Free District of Columbia Vehicle Transfer on Death

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

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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. The vehicle must be owned by an individual (or co-owners); a vehicle owned by a Trust or business is not eligible to name a beneficiary.

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.

Date of Birth

Street Address*

City*

State*

ZIP Code*

State Where the Vehicle Is Titled*

Email Address*

Phone Number*

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Frequently Asked Questions About District of Columbia Vehicle Transfer on Death Designations

A vehicle transfer-on-death designation in District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia, you make the designation through the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) using Beneficiary Designation to Certificate of Title Application (Form DCDMV-ADD-BEN-001). Notarization is not required. See all District of Columbia signing requirements.

You file the completed designation with the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) in person. File the Beneficiary Designation to Certificate of Title Application (DCDMV-ADD-BEN-001) in person at a DC DMV service center with the required ID and beneficiary documents. The form bears the DMV mail-processing address (PO BOX 90120, Washington DC 20090) used for other title transactions, but the designation service page documents only the in-person path; there is no online filing for the designation.

If no designated beneficiary survives you in District of Columbia, only one beneficiary may be named, with no successor. If the beneficiary does not survive the owner, the vehicle is handled through the deceased owner's estate (assignment by the personal representative with letters testamentary/administration or a small-estate order).

District of Columbia allows a single beneficiary on a vehicle TOD designation. Consult the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) for any exceptions.

Yes. A vehicle TOD designation in District of Columbia is revocable during your lifetime at any time. District of Columbia recognizes: File the DMV Beneficiary Designation to Certificate of Title Application (DCDMV-ADD-BEN-001) marking "Remove Beneficiary from Vehicle Title".; The owner may add or change the beneficiary while alive; a will or probate decision cannot override a beneficiary because the owner must be alive to make or change the designation..

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.

District of Columbia Vehicle Transfer on Death

District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia, the designation is made through the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) using Beneficiary Designation to Certificate of Title Application (Form DCDMV-ADD-BEN-001). Notarization is not required.

In District of Columbia, the designation covers motor vehicle. Must be a non-leased vehicle owned by an individual; a vehicle titled to a Trust or business is not eligible. A lien on the vehicle must be satisfied or transferred before ownership passes to the beneficiary.

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.

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Legal Sources

No codified statute or regulation; DC DMV administrative beneficiary-designation process

Data sourced from District of Columbia statutes and official state code. How we research.

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Frequently Asked Questions About District of Columbia Vehicle Transfer on Death Designations

District of Columbia allows a single beneficiary on a vehicle TOD designation. Consult the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) for any exceptions.

District of Columbia Vehicle Transfer on Death

Free District of Columbia Vehicle Transfer on Death

Owner Information

Frequently Asked Questions About District of Columbia Vehicle Transfer on Death Designations