Do I Need a Vehicle Transfer on Death Designation in Oregon?
Oregon does not offer a transfer-on-death designation on a vehicle title; a vehicle passes by will, trust, joint title, or probate.
No. Oregon does not offer a vehicle transfer-on-death designation. The vehicle title statute, ORS Chapter 803, contains no TOD beneficiary provision; ORS 803.094 covers release and assignment of a title interest, including transfer at death by inheritance affidavit. The Oregon DMV Title and Registration Handbook, Chapter G, lists the at-death paths: survivorship shown on the title, an Inheritance Affidavit (Form 516) when the estate is not probated, or probate or Simple Estate Certification (Form 6797).
Without a vehicle TOD designation, an Oregon vehicle transfers through: Joint ownership with right of survivorship: an owner requests survivorship by checking the box in the survivorship section of the title application, or by written request with a title application or with the current title; Inheritance Affidavit (DMV Form 516) under ORS 803.094: when the estate is not probated, all heirs (determined under ORS Chapter 112) sign a notarized affidavit naming the person the vehicle is assigned to, submitted with the title if available, an application for title and the title transfer fee. A revocable trust set up with SimplyTrust keeps the other assets out of probate as well.
An Oregon vehicle passes through the estate unless it is titled jointly, held in a trust, or small enough for the state's small-estate transfer. The Oregon trust vs. will comparison sets the routes side by side.
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New Baby or Adoption
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Marriage
What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.
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New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
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Retirement
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Learn moreForms for Planning Your Estate in Oregon
Free forms for planning your estate in Oregon: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Oregon allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2ORS 127.527 (HCR appointment), ORS 127.529 (comprehensive advance directive; form text set by 2021 c.328 §2 / SB 199 2021)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
Financial Power of Attorney
Oregon treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultORS 127.002 (defs; 2023 c.9 §8); ORS 127.005–127.045 (2009 c.46; 2018 c.36; 2021 c.272); ORS 93.670Verified Sep 20, 2026View source, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirementORS 127.002 (defs; 2023 c.9 §8); ORS 127.005–127.045 (2009 c.46; 2018 c.36; 2021 c.272); ORS 93.670Verified Sep 20, 2026View source.
Transfer on Death Deed
In Oregon, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryORS 93.948 to 93.979Verified Oct 19, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathORS 93.948 to 93.979Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Last Will and Testament
In Oregon, a will is signed before 2ORS 112.235Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and the witnesses sign an affidavit at probate instead of a self-proving affidavitORS 112.235Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Tools for Planning Your Estate in Oregon
Free tools for planning your estate in Oregon: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
Do I Need a TOD Deed?
Oregon authorizes transfer on death deedsORS 93.948 to 93.979Verified Oct 17, 2026View source: a recorded, revocable deed that passes real property at death outside probate.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable trust in Oregon runs $3,550Estimate: 10 hours at $355, Clio's Oregon Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $5,325Estimate: 15 hours at $355, Clio's Oregon Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source and a simple will $1,071Estimate: 3 hours at $357, Clio's Oregon Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,142Estimate: 6 hours at $357, Clio's Oregon Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
In Oregon, four years at a public university cost about $107,240NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 17, 2026View source and the cost of living is near the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; the state levies an estate taxORS 118.010Verified Sep 15, 2026View source above $1,000,000ORS 118.010Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Oregon does not revoke an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceORS 112.315; ORS 93.981; ORS 107.115(1); ORS 107.118 to 107.131Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
Find witness, notary, and remote signing requirements for all 50 states.
Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
Check if estate planning documents signed in one state are valid in another.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Oregon costs an estimated $24,214ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 2%ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.2%ORS 116.183 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Without a will in Oregon, a surviving spouse takes the entire estateORS § 112.025Verified Sep 10, 2026View source when every child of either spouse is a child of both, and descendants divide what passes to them per capita with representationORS § 112.065Verified Sep 10, 2026View source.
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Oregon Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Oregon probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.