What Do I Need to Sign My Vehicle TOD Designation in California?
Signature, notary, and titling-agency filing requirements for vehicle TOD designations in California.
Frequently Asked Questions
California does not require witnesses for a vehicle tod.Cal. Veh. Code §§ 4150.7, 5910.5 (vehicles); §§ 9852.7, 9916.5 (vessels)Verified Aug 25, 2026
Notarization is not required for a vehicle tod to be valid in California.Cal. Veh. Code §§ 4150.7, 5910.5 (vehicles); §§ 9852.7, 9916.5 (vessels)Verified Aug 25, 2026
California has authorized Remote Online Notarization for many documents, but vehicle TOD designations are specifically excluded.Cal. Veh. Code §§ 4150.7, 5910.5 (vehicles); §§ 9852.7, 9916.5 (vessels)Verified Aug 25, 2026 In-person notarization is required.
To execute a vehicle tod in California: Complete the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) transfer-on-death designation for your vehicle title. Sign and date the designation as the vehicle owner. Surrender the existing certificate of title so a new title can be issued in beneficiary form. Owner signs the titling form, then files it with the titling authority
A vehicle TOD designation lives on the vehicle's title, so it follows the state where the vehicle is titled, not where you signed anything. To make the designation effective for a California-titled vehicle, it has to be on a title issued by California under California's rules. If you move and retitle the vehicle in another state, you re-make the designation under that state's titling process. See the document portability tool for the full breakdown.
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