UncategorizedUsing a Beneficiary Designation for a Motor Vehicle

You can provide for ownership of a Texas-titled vehicle to pass to someone else at your death, without probate and without an affidavit of heirship. The Beneficiary Designation must be filed with the State. Here are instructions for doing that, which are not clearly stated on the two (or three) forms required:

1. Fill out Beneficiary Designation for a Motor Vehicle (Form VTR-121).
2. If there are joint owners, fill out a Right of Survivorship (Form VTR-122) signed by both owners.
3. Fill out Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (Form 130-U). That is where you need to know the following, which is nowhere explained on the form:
   1. In the first line at the top, asking the purpose of the form, check “Title & Registration.”
   2. In the second line, asking the reason for the form, check “Other” and write in “Beneficiary Designation.”
4. Write a check for $33 to the tax assessor-collector of the county where the vehicle is normally located-for example, “Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector.” (If you have the time, you may be able to save $5 by calling them and asking what their fee is.)
5. Mail both original signed forms, with a copy of the certificate of title of the vehicle, to the office of that county tax assessor-collector. Each form must be signed by each vehicle owner. You can look up the address at txdmv.gov/tax-assessor-collectors/….

All of that must be done during the lifetime of the vehicle’s owner for it to pass under the beneficiary designation.

This may only be used if you have title to the vehicle. If there is a loan, this process may not be used.