Transfer a car title after a death in Wyoming

The county clerk must transfer a vehicle's title from the person who died to the distributees when presented with the small estate affidavit (W.S. 2-1-201). If the title shows joint tenancy with right of survivorship, the surviving owner applies for a new title with a certified death certificate, and no sales or use tax is due.

Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.

Car or vehicle title after a death in Wyoming

The county clerk must transfer a vehicle's title from the person who died to the distributees when presented with the small estate affidavit (W.S. 2-1-201). If the title shows joint tenancy with right of survivorship, the surviving owner applies for a new title with a certified death certificate, and no sales or use tax is due. If the owner recorded a transfer on death beneficiary designation form, the beneficiary presents it with a certified death certificate and the title application fee.

Law: Wyo. Stat. secs. 2-1-201(d), 31-2-104(j), 31-2-104.1

Agency
County clerk of the county where the vehicle is registered (Wyoming titles are issued by county clerks)
Waiting period
30 days after the death
Fee

The county clerk charges the certificate of title application fee (W.S. 31-3-102(a)(vii)).

Transfer-on-death title

An owner can record a beneficiary designation form ('transfer on death to') with the county clerk where the vehicle is titled; it must be notarized. After the death, the beneficiary gets a new title on presenting the form, a certified death certificate and the title fee.

Source: Official page

Do vehicles count toward the small estate limit?

Kind of propertyHow it is treatedDetails
Cars and other vehicles
Counts

Vehicles in the person's name count. The county clerk transfers the title on the affidavit.

Law: W.S. 2-1-201(a)(i), (d)

Boats and mobile or manufactured homes
Counts

Other personal property in Wyoming subject to probate counts.

Law: W.S. 2-1-201(a)(i)

Related pages

Free help in Wyoming

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