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

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

No. Utah does not offer a vehicle transfer-on-death designation. Utah's Motor Vehicle Act (Utah Code Title 41, Chapter 1a) does not authorize a transfer-on-death or beneficiary designation on a vehicle certificate of title. The titling part (Part 5) runs sections 41-1a-501 through 41-1a-523 with no TOD/beneficiary provision. Utah's transfer-on-death regimes are limited to real property (Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, Utah Code 75-6-401 et seq.) and securities (Uniform TOD Security Registration Act, Utah Code 75-6-301 et seq.); neither covers motor vehicles. A deceased owner's vehicle is instead transferred by a small-estate / survivorship affidavit under Utah Code 75-3-1201.

Because Utah does not offer a vehicle TOD designation, the vehicle transfers through: Small-estate / survivorship affidavit under Utah Code 75-3-1201: the Motor Vehicle Division of the State Tax Commission retitles not more than four boats, motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers to the successor on Tax Commission form TC-569C ("Survivorship Affidavit"), 30 days after death, when no personal representative is appointed or pending and the estate (excluding those vehicles), less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $100,000., Joint ownership: a vehicle titled in two or more owners passes to the surviving owner outside probate., Probate administration: where the small-estate affidavit does not apply, the vehicle passes under the decedent's will or Utah intestacy rules through the personal representative.. To keep other assets out of probate, SimplyTrust sets up a revocable trust online.

Without a vehicle TOD option, a Utah 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.

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