Transfer a car title after a death in Vermont
If the title shows survivorship (spouses as tenants by the entirety, or joint tenants), the survivor needs a copy of the death certificate. If the title names a transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary, the beneficiary needs the death certificate and the title.
Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.
Car or vehicle title after a death in Vermont
If the title shows survivorship (spouses as tenants by the entirety, or joint tenants), the survivor needs a copy of the death certificate. If the title names a transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary, the beneficiary needs the death certificate and the title. If the vehicle was titled to the person alone and there is no probate, the DMV needs the death certificate, the title properly assigned, and a letter from an officer of the court (an attorney or court official such as a court clerk or probate judge) stating that the person died without a will or with an unprobated will, that the estate need not be probated, and who has the right to the vehicle. A surviving spouse can transfer up to two vehicles with no fees if there is no will or the will does not address vehicles, using the Registration, Tax and Title Application and the surviving spouse statement.
Law: 23 V.S.A. 2023, 3816; DMV forms VT-021, VT-007
- Agency
- Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Fee
No fees for a surviving spouse for up to two vehicles under 23 V.S.A. 2023; otherwise title, registration and purchase and use tax may apply.
- Transfer-on-death title
A single owner can name a transfer-on-death transferee on the title with form VT-007. At the owner's death the transferee becomes the owner, subject to any lien; registration, tax and title fees apply to the transfer.
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 are personal property and count. A surviving spouse can often retitle up to two vehicles at the DMV without opening an estate. Law: 14 V.S.A. 1901(a); 23 V.S.A. 2023 |
Boats and mobile or manufactured homes | Counts | Boats and other personal property count. Law: 14 V.S.A. 1901(a) |
Related pages
Free help in Vermont
A court self-help center or a legal aid office can check whether the estate qualifies, free of charge or at low cost.