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

Notarization is not required for a vehicle tod to be valid in Connecticut.Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-16(b)Verified Jul 14, 2026

Connecticut has authorized Remote Online Notarization for many documents, but vehicle TOD designations are specifically excluded.Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-16(b)Verified Jul 14, 2026 In-person notarization is required.

To execute a vehicle tod in Connecticut: Complete Beneficiary Designation for a Motor Vehicle from the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Sign the designation before a witness (the beneficiary cannot serve as the witness). Submit the designation to the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Owner signs the titling form before a witness, 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 Connecticut-titled vehicle, it has to be on a title issued by Connecticut under Connecticut'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.