Transfer a car title after a death in Ohio

A surviving spouse can take the person's cars, up to a combined value of $65,000, by giving the clerk of courts title office the title and a sworn Surviving Spouse Affidavit (BMV 3773). This does not apply to a car left to someone else by will, or one that passes to a joint survivorship owner or a transfer-on-death beneficiary.

Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.

Car or vehicle title after a death in Ohio

A surviving spouse can take the person's cars, up to a combined value of $65,000, by giving the clerk of courts title office the title and a sworn Surviving Spouse Affidavit (BMV 3773). This does not apply to a car left to someone else by will, or one that passes to a joint survivorship owner or a transfer-on-death beneficiary. 'Automobile' includes a motorcycle and a family truck. A transfer-on-death beneficiary or surviving joint owner gets the title by presenting the title and the death certificate. Other heirs need a probate court order (such as a release from administration entry or a summary release) or a transfer by the executor or administrator.

Law: Ohio Rev. Code 2106.18, 4505.09, 4505.10, 2131.13

Agency
County clerk of courts title office (Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles title system)
Form
BMV 3773 Surviving Spouse Affidavit (R.C. 2106.18 and 4505.10)
Value limit
Up to $65,000
Fee

The clerk charges $18 for each certificate of title, or $23 in counties that adopted the higher fee.

Transfer-on-death title

A sole owner, or joint survivorship owners, can name one or more transfer-on-death beneficiaries on the certificate of title for a motor vehicle, all-purpose vehicle, off-highway motorcycle, watercraft or outboard motor. After the death, the beneficiary applies for a title with the old title and the death certificate.

Source: Official page

Do vehicles count toward the small estate limit?

Kind of propertyHow it is treatedDetails
Cars and other vehicles
Own procedure, up to $65,000

Cars the surviving spouse selects, up to $65,000 total, pass by affidavit at the title office and are not estate assets. Cars with a transfer-on-death beneficiary or a surviving joint owner also pass outside the estate. Other vehicles count.

Law: R.C. 2106.18(A), 4505.10, 2131.13

Boats and mobile or manufactured homes
Has its own procedure

The surviving spouse may take one watercraft, one watercraft trailer and one outboard motor by affidavit; these are not estate assets. Other boats and manufactured homes count.

Law: R.C. 2106.19(A)

Related pages

Free help in Ohio

A court self-help center or a legal aid office can check whether the estate qualifies, free of charge or at low cost.