Can I name a beneficiary on my New Jersey vehicle title?

Yes. New Jersey allows a transfer on death ("tod") beneficiary designation on a vehicle title under N.J.S.A. 39:3-30.1b. It passes the vehicle to a named beneficiary at death without probate.

Do I Need a Vehicle Transfer on Death Designation in New Jersey?

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. New Jersey allows a transfer on death ("tod") beneficiary designation on a vehicle title. It passes the vehicle to a named beneficiary at death without probate.

New Jersey allows a transfer on death ("tod") beneficiary designation on motor vehicle. The statute applies to a "motor vehicle" titled in New Jersey; watercraft and other property are not covered by N.J.S.A. 39:3-30.1b.

Add the designation through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) using Transfer on Death Beneficiary Designation. The designation must be notarized.

You file the completed designation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) in person. During the owner's lifetime the notarized TOD designation form is held by the owner and not filed with the MVC. The actual TOD title transaction occurs after death, in person at an MVC Vehicle Center; NJ MVC does not accept title transfers by mail and offers no consumer online path for it.

Yes. New Jersey allows more than one beneficiary on a vehicle transfer on death ("tod") beneficiary designation.

Yes. The designation can be changed or cancelled at any time during your lifetime. In New Jersey: File an application for a subsequent certificate of ownership to add, change, or remove the beneficiary designation., A will does not revoke or supersede a TOD beneficiary designation, regardless of when the will was made (C.39:3-30.1b(f))..

The beneficiary retitles the vehicle with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) by submitting: The completed Transfer on Death Beneficiary Designation form (held by the owner prior to death), The existing vehicle certificate of ownership (title), The owner's death certificate, A completed Universal Title Application (Application for Certificate of Ownership), Payment of applicable title fees; presented at an MVC Vehicle Center. 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 New Jersey

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

In New Jersey, the designation is made through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) using Transfer on Death Beneficiary Designation. It must be notarized before submission.

In New Jersey, the designation covers motor vehicle. The statute applies to a "motor vehicle" titled in New Jersey; watercraft and other property are not covered by N.J.S.A. 39:3-30.1b.

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

N.J.S.A. 39:3-30.1b

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

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