What Do I Need to Sign My Vehicle TOD Designation in District of Columbia?

Notarization is not required for a vehicle tod to be valid in District of Columbia.No codified statute or regulation; DC DMV administrative beneficiary-designation processVerified Jul 14, 2026

District of Columbia has authorized Remote Online Notarization for many documents, but vehicle TOD designations are specifically excluded.No codified statute or regulation; DC DMV administrative beneficiary-designation processVerified Jul 14, 2026 In-person notarization is required.

To execute a vehicle tod in District of Columbia: Complete Beneficiary Designation to Certificate of Title Application (DCDMV-ADD-BEN-001) from the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV). Sign and date the designation as the vehicle owner. Submit the designation to the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV). 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 District of Columbia-titled vehicle, it has to be on a title issued by District of Columbia under District of Columbia'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.