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

Because Massachusetts does not offer a vehicle TOD designation, the vehicle transfers through: Surviving-spouse transfer under G.L. c. 90D s. 15A: a married resident owner's pleasure vehicle is presumed jointly held with right of survivorship and passes to the surviving spouse (unless a will provides otherwise). The spouse obtains a new certificate of title from the Registry of Motor Vehicles by filing an Affidavit of Surviving Spouse with a copy of the death certificate and the decedent's assigned title; the title-change fee is waived. The vehicle must have an active Massachusetts title with no active liens., Voluntary administration / collection of personal property by affidavit under G.L. c. 190B s. 3-1201: if a person domiciled in the commonwealth dies leaving an estate consisting entirely of personal property the value of which may include one motor vehicle the decedent owned, plus other personal property not exceeding $25,000 in value, and no petition for appointment of a personal representative has been filed, an interested person may file a verified statement with the probate court 30 days after death and act as voluntary personal representative to transfer the vehicle. The motor vehicle is in addition to (not counted within) the $25,000 cap on other personal property., Probate / formal estate administration (appointment of a personal representative) for estates that do not qualify for the surviving-spouse or voluntary-administration paths; the appointed personal representative transfers the vehicle title.. To keep other assets out of probate, SimplyTrust sets up a revocable trust online.

Without a vehicle TOD option, a Massachusetts vehicle typically passes through the estate unless it is jointly titled or held in a trust, or qualifies for a small-estate transfer. Compare your options with the trust vs. will comparison.