What Do I Need to Sign My Vehicle TOD Designation in California?

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 Jul 14, 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 Jul 14, 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.