Do I Need a Vehicle Transfer on Death Designation in District of Columbia?
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. District of Columbia allows a beneficiary designation to certificate of title on a vehicle title.18 DCMR § 402.2(b)Verified Aug 25, 2026View source It passes the vehicle to a named beneficiary at death without probate.
District of Columbia allows a beneficiary designation to certificate of title on motor vehicle. Must be a non-leased vehicle owned by an individual; a vehicle titled to a Trust or business is not eligible. A lien on the vehicle must be satisfied or transferred before ownership passes to the beneficiary.18 DCMR § 402.2(b)Verified Aug 25, 2026View source
Add the designation through the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) using Beneficiary Designation to Certificate of Title Application (Form DCDMV-ADD-BEN-001). Notarization is not required.18 DCMR § 402.2(b)Verified Aug 25, 2026View source
You file the completed designation with the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) in person.District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) filing processVerified Aug 25, 2026View source File the Beneficiary Designation to Certificate of Title Application (DCDMV-ADD-BEN-001) in person at a DC DMV service center with the required ID and beneficiary documents. The form bears the DMV mail-processing address (PO BOX 90120, Washington DC 20090) used for other title transactions, but the designation service page documents only the in-person path; there is no online filing for the designation.
Yes. The designation can be changed or cancelled at any time during your lifetime. In District of Columbia: File the DMV Beneficiary Designation to Certificate of Title Application (DCDMV-ADD-BEN-001) marking "Remove Beneficiary from Vehicle Title"., The owner may add or change the beneficiary while alive; a will or probate decision cannot override a beneficiary because the owner must be alive to make or change the designation..18 DCMR § 402.2(b)Verified Aug 25, 2026View source
The beneficiary retitles the vehicle with the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) by submitting: Death certificate of the vehicle owner, Beneficiary's valid driver license or identification card, Payment of the appropriate 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.
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