Do I Need a Vehicle Transfer on Death Designation in Arizona?

Arizona allows a beneficiary designation (transfer on death provision) on motor vehicleA.R.S. 28-2055(B)Verified Aug 25, 2026View source. Designation is available only to a sole owner of a vehicle titled in Arizona. Vehicles held by joint owners or tenants in common are not eligible.

Add the designation through the Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD)A.R.S. 28-2055(B)View source using Beneficiary Designation - For Vehicle Title Transfer Upon Death (Form 96-0561)A.R.S. 28-2055(B)View source. Notarization is not requiredA.R.S. 28-2055(B)View source. You file the completed designation with the Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) by mail to Motor Vehicle Division, Title Production Unit, Mail Drop 555M, PO Box 2100, Phoenix, AZ 85001-2100 or in person. Adding a vehicle TOD beneficiary is a title transaction: under A.R.S. 28-2055(B) the provision is added "by attachment" to the certificate of title (form 96-0561). If the title is electronic, the form is submitted alone, by mail to MD 555M or in person at an MVD or Authorized Third Party office; if the title is paper, the form is stapled to it and the two are surrendered together at transfer. There is no online path.

Yes. The designation can be changed or cancelled at any time during the owner's life; in Arizona: Submit a new MVD Beneficiary Designation (form 96-0561) naming a different beneficiary; Transfer or retitle the vehicle, which removes the existing beneficiary designation. Arizona allows more than one beneficiaryA.R.S. 28-2055(B)Verified Aug 25, 2026View source.

The beneficiary retitles the vehicle with the Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD)A.R.S. 28-2055(B)View source by submitting: Certificate of title with the attached Beneficiary Designation (form 96-0561) — if the title is paper the form "must be stapled to it and surrendered together when transferring ownership"; if the title is electronic the form "may be submitted alone"; Completed, signed Title and Registration Application (form 96-0236); Lien release, if applicable; Required title and registration fees (ADOT publishes a $4.00 title processing fee plus variable registration fees for the deceased-owner non-probate path; it does not publish a separate fee schedule for a beneficiary retitle). The designation covers that vehicle alone; a revocable trust set up with SimplyTrust keeps the home, the accounts and everything else out of probate in one document.