Deal with a vehicle in Ohio

You need to continue regular car payments, maintain vehicle registration, and then transfer the car's ownership. You cannot drive the car unless you have proper registration, and penalties will be charged if this is not done on time.

Transfer on Death (TOD)

An individual with sole ownership of a motor vehicle, watercraft, or outboard motor may decide to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to an Ohio title with a signed and notarized Affidavit to Designate Beneficiaries form.

• The beneficiary may be an individual, organization corporation, trust, or other legal entity

Things the beneficiary must bring to the Title Office:

• The original Ohio title

• Certified copy of the death certificate

• An application for certificate of title form

• A government issued driver license or identification card

• Payment for title fees

Transfer with Rights of Survivorship (WROS)

A vehicle may be jointly owned with rights of survivorship. If one party is deceased, the living owner must apply for the certificate of the title. The title will be issued with the survivor’s name showing “acquired by right of survivorship.”

If the vehicle is jointly owned without rights of survivorship, the surviving party must acquire the signature of an executor or an administrator.

Things to bring to the Title Office:

• Original Ohio title

• Certified copy of death certificate

• A government-issued driver license or identification card

• Payment for title fees

Surviving Spouse 

The surviving spouse may transfer the title of unlimited number of vehicles valued up to $65,000, one boat, and one outboard motor.

• Vehicles transferred through this avenue may not be indicated by a will, TOD, or WROS

• The transfer does not affect liens held on the vehicle

Things to bring to the Title Office:

• Acceptable identification

• Certified copy of the death certificate

• Application(s) for Certificate of Title to a Motor Vehicle (Form BMV 3774)

• Original Ohio Certificate of Title number

• Clerk of Courts Surviving Spouse Affidavit (form BMV 3773) listing vehicle make, model, year, body type, and vehicle identification number (VIN) and the value of the vehicle

• Payment for title fees

• Copy of the security agreement (if applicable)

Probate Court

If the deceased individual was unmarried at the time of death, did not jointly own the vehicle, and did not complete a TOD, then the vehicle must be probated by a Probate Court. The Title Office will not transfer the title to anyone without an Order from Probate Court or the signature from an executor or administrator of the estate (even if the individual has a Last Will and Testament).

If you need additional assistance dealing with the driver’s license, license plates, or disabled person placards of the deceased, please click here.