Transfer a car title after a death in Texas

If no administration is needed, the heirs can transfer a Texas vehicle with the Affidavit of Heirship for a Motor Vehicle (VTR-262), signed by the heirs before a notary, plus the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration, filed at the county tax assessor-collector's office.

Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.

Car or vehicle title after a death in Texas

If no administration is needed, the heirs can transfer a Texas vehicle with the Affidavit of Heirship for a Motor Vehicle (VTR-262), signed by the heirs before a notary, plus the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration, filed at the county tax assessor-collector's office. If there is a surviving spouse, only the spouse signs, unless the person had children with someone else; then those children also sign. With no spouse, all the person's children sign. If an executor or administrator was appointed, they sign the title instead and attach letters or the probate order.

Law: Tex. Transp. Code secs. 501.031, 501.0315, 501.074, 501.138; Estates Code ch. 115

Source: Form 130-U

Agency
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), through the county tax assessor-collector
Form
VTR-262 Affidavit of Heirship for a Motor Vehicle
Fee

The county tax office charges the title application fee ($33 in some counties with air-quality programs, $28 in other counties) and any registration fees.

Transfer-on-death title

An owner can name one beneficiary on the title (Beneficiary Designation for a Motor Vehicle, VTR-121). After the death, the beneficiary applies for a new title within 180 days with proof of death. Two or more joint owners can also sign a rights of survivorship agreement (VTR-122); the survivor then transfers the vehicle with a copy of the death certificate.

Source: Official page

Do vehicles count toward the small estate limit?

Kind of propertyHow it is treatedDetails
Cars and other vehicles
Left out up to $100,000

If the person left a surviving spouse, a minor child, an unmarried adult child living with the family, or an incapacitated adult child, one car or other motor vehicle for each family member who holds a driver's license (or who relies on someone else to drive for them) is exempt property and is left out. The exempt personal property together cannot be worth more than $100,000 for a family ($50,000 for a single adult). If none of those family members survive, the vehicle counts. A vehicle can also be transferred with the DMV heirship affidavit.

Law: Estates Code 205.009, 353.051; Prop. Code 42.001(a), 42.002(a)(9)

Boats and mobile or manufactured homes
Not clear

Boats and motor vehicles used in a trade or profession are exempt property. A manufactured home that is the homestead is treated as the homestead. The law does not name other boats or mobile homes.

Law: Prop. Code 42.002(a)(4)

Related pages

Free help in Texas

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