Can I name a beneficiary on my Nevada vehicle title?

Yes. Nevada allows a certificate of title in beneficiary form on a vehicle title under Nev. Rev. Stat. 482.247. It passes the vehicle to a named beneficiary at death without probate.

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

Answer a few questions about how your vehicle is titled to see whether a transfer-on-death designation applies for avoiding probate on a vehicle.

State where the vehicle is titled

Find out if a vehicle TOD fits your situation

Select your state to see whether you can name a beneficiary on your vehicle title and what vehicles qualify.

This tool provides general information about vehicle transfer-on-death designations and is not legal advice. Availability and requirements vary by state. Consult your state titling agency or a licensed attorney for guidance specific to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Nevada allows a certificate of title in beneficiary form on a vehicle title. It passes the vehicle to a named beneficiary at death without probate.

Nevada allows a certificate of title in beneficiary form on motor vehicle, trailer, and semitrailer. A certificate of title in beneficiary form may not be issued to an owner who holds the interest as a tenant in common (NRS 482.247(3)). VP 239 adds that a beneficiary cannot be added when there is a lienholder or ownership is designated as "Tenants in Common," and that "The vehicle owner must be an individual, not a business." Off-highway vehicles use the parallel forms VP/OHV 022 ("Transfer on Death Application for an Off-Highway Vehicle") and OHV 023 ("Beneficiary's Affidavit") processed by the DMV Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Section under NAC 490.435 (OHV transactions are mailed to the OHV Section or handled by a licensed OHV dealer, not at DMV offices); VP 239 itself also carries an "Off-Highway Vehicle Only" checkbox. Leased vehicles are likewise ineligible.

Add the designation through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) using Transfer on Death Application (Form VP 239). Notarization is not required.

You file the completed designation with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by mail to Nevada DMV, Title Processing, 555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711 or in person. Adding a vehicle TOD beneficiary is a title transaction filed either in person at any Nevada DMV office or by mail to DMV Title Processing in Carson City; submit the completed VP 239 with the original certificate of title (or duplicate-title application VP 012 if lost) and the $20 title fee. There is no online TOD path. The DMV states the new title arrives in approximately 8 weeks.

Yes. Nevada allows more than one beneficiary on a vehicle certificate of title in beneficiary form.

Yes. The designation can be changed or cancelled at any time during your lifetime. In Nevada: Sell the vehicle with proper assignment and delivery of the certificate of title to another person., File an application (VP 239) with, and pay a fee to, the DMV to reissue the certificate of title with no beneficiary or a different beneficiary (mark "Removing beneficiary" or "Change beneficiary" on VP 239)..

The beneficiary retitles the vehicle with the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by submitting: Certified copy of the death certificate for each owner listed on the title, Surrender of the outstanding certificate of title in beneficiary form (if the title cannot be located, submit the notarized Beneficiary's Affidavit VP 241 instead), Application and payment of the title fee. A vehicle designation covers only that vehicle — to keep a home, accounts, and everything else out of probate in one document, SimplyTrust sets up a revocable trust online.

Vehicle TOD in Nevada

A vehicle transfer-on-death designation in Nevada lets you name a beneficiary who receives your vehicle at death, bypassing probate for that vehicle (available in Nevada: Yes). The designation has no effect during your lifetime: you remain the sole owner and can revoke it whenever you choose.

In Nevada, the designation is made through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) using Transfer on Death Application (Form VP 239). Notarization is not required. A new certificate of title is issued showing the beneficiary.

Nevada extends the designation beyond cars: it covers motor vehicle, trailer, and semitrailer. A certificate of title in beneficiary form may not be issued to an owner who holds the interest as a tenant in common (NRS 482.247(3)). VP 239 adds that a beneficiary cannot be added when there is a lienholder or ownership is designated as "Tenants in Common," and that "The vehicle owner must be an individual, not a business." Off-highway vehicles use the parallel forms VP/OHV 022 ("Transfer on Death Application for an Off-Highway Vehicle") and OHV 023 ("Beneficiary's Affidavit") processed by the DMV Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Section under NAC 490.435 (OHV transactions are mailed to the OHV Section or handled by a licensed OHV dealer, not at DMV offices); VP 239 itself also carries an "Off-Highway Vehicle Only" checkbox. Leased vehicles are likewise ineligible.

This designation is a focused tool — one vehicle at a time. For families with assets beyond a vehicle, a revocable living trust handles everything in one place and adds incapacity planning. The trust vs. will comparison shows the trade-offs.

SimplyTrust Editorial

Legal Sources

Nev. Rev. Stat. 482.247

Data sourced from Nevada statutes and official state code. How we research.

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