Can I name a beneficiary on my South Carolina vehicle title?

Yes. South Carolina allows a transfer on death (tod) designation on a vehicle title under S.C. Code Ann. 62-6-401. It passes the vehicle to a named beneficiary at death without probate.

Do I Need a Vehicle Transfer on Death Designation in South Carolina?

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

South Carolina allows a transfer on death (tod) designation on vehicle, mobile home, watercraft, outboard motor, and similar titled personal property. Watercraft and outboard motors are titled by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, not the SCDMV (S.C. Code Ann. 62-6-401(G)); the SCDMV TOD-1 process covers vehicles and mobile homes.

Add the designation through the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) using Application for Transfer on Death (Form TOD-1). Notarization is not required.

You file the completed designation with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) by mail to SCDMV, 10311 Wilson Blvd., Blythewood, SC 29016-0038 or in person. Adding a vehicle TOD beneficiary is a title transaction: submit the TOD-1 with a Form 400 and the existing certificate of title by mail or in person at an SCDMV branch. The SCDMV online services portal (renewals, duplicate titles, address changes) has no path to add a TOD beneficiary or issue a beneficiary-form title.

Yes. South Carolina allows more than one beneficiary on a vehicle transfer on death (tod) designation. Surviving beneficiaries take the vehicle as tenants in common.

Yes. The designation can be changed or cancelled at any time during your lifetime. In South Carolina: Submit a TOD-1 marking the "Remove Beneficiary" option, with a Form 400 and the existing title., A sole owner may revoke or modify at any time without beneficiary consent; multiple owners must act together to revoke or modify..

The beneficiary retitles the vehicle with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) by submitting: The existing South Carolina certificate of title, A certified death certificate of the vehicle owner(s) showing the beneficiary survived all owners, $15 title fee, A Title and/or Registration Application (Form 400). 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 South Carolina

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

In South Carolina, the designation is made through the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) using Application for Transfer on Death (Form TOD-1). Notarization is not required. A new certificate of title is issued showing the beneficiary.

South Carolina extends the designation beyond cars: it covers vehicle, mobile home, watercraft, outboard motor, and similar titled personal property. Watercraft and outboard motors are titled by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, not the SCDMV (S.C. Code Ann. 62-6-401(G)); the SCDMV TOD-1 process covers vehicles and mobile homes.

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

S.C. Code Ann. 62-6-401

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

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