Transfer a car title after a death in New Mexico
There are two ways to transfer a vehicle or vessel when there is no will or the will was not probated. (1) Claiming Successor: after 30 days, if the entire estate minus liens is worth no more than $50,000, bring the title, the Affidavit of Claiming Successor (MVD-10013, notarized), an original or certified death certificate, a lien release if any, and an odometer statement (MVD-10187).
Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.
Car or vehicle title after a death in New Mexico
There are two ways to transfer a vehicle or vessel when there is no will or the will was not probated. (1) Claiming Successor: after 30 days, if the entire estate minus liens is worth no more than $50,000, bring the title, the Affidavit of Claiming Successor (MVD-10013, notarized), an original or certified death certificate, a lien release if any, and an odometer statement (MVD-10187). (2) Transfer Without Probate: a legal heir or spouse can use the Certificate of Transfer Without Probate (MVD-10011) after 30 days if the vehicle was not left to someone else by will and no personal representative is appointed; it only works in the state where the vehicle was titled. No excise tax is due when a beneficiary receives the vehicle for no payment.
Law: NMSA 45-3-1201(A), 66-3-105(C)
- Agency
- New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD)
- Waiting period
- 30 days after the death
- Fee
Normal MVD title fees apply.
Source: Official page
Do vehicles count toward the small estate limit?
| Kind of property | How it is treated | Details |
|---|---|---|
Cars and other vehicles | Counts | Vehicles in the person's name count. The MVD also has a Transfer Without Probate process for heirs and spouses with no value limit. Law: NMSA 45-3-1201(A) |
Boats and mobile or manufactured homes | Counts | Boats (vessels) titled with the MVD count as personal property. Law: NMSA 45-3-1201(A); MVD-10013 |
Related pages
Free help in New Mexico
A court self-help center or a legal aid office can check whether the estate qualifies, free of charge or at low cost.
- LawHelpNewMexico (legal aid)
- State Bar of New Mexico: For the Public
- New Mexico Courts Self-Representation: Probate
- New Mexico Courts Self-Representation: Probate Forms
- NM District Court Self Help Guide: Probate
- LawHelp.org
- Legal Services Corporation (LSC) - Find legal aid
- Eldercare Locator · 1-800-677-1116
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (debt collection and mortgage complaints) · (855) 411-2372