Deal with a vehicle in Oklahoma
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 to Surviving Spouse
When a person dies intestate (without a will) leaving a vehicle, the vehicle becomes property of the surviving spouse. If the deceased individual held title to multiple vehicles, the spouse is entitled to choose one vehicle.
In the case of multiple vehicles, the vehicles may be distributed by the law of descent with submission of a completed No Administrator Affidavit (OTC Form 798) and the deceased owner’s death certificate
In the case of no surviving spouse, the vehicles may be distributed by the law of descent with submission of a completed No Administrator Affidavit (OTC Form 798) and the deceased owner’s death certificate
Forms should be sent to the Motor Vehicle Division of the Oklahoma Tax Commission
Testate
When the deceased completed a Last Will and Testament and the estate is valued at over $50,000, the will must be probated before action regarding vehicle distribution can occur. Upon probate of the will, the named administrator may assign vehicle ownership on behalf of the deceased individual
A certified copy of the letters of testamentary (which name the estate administrator) must be submitted by the title applicant
If a copy of the probated will is provided, no excise tax accompanies the title transfer
If the estate is valued at or below $50,000, vehicle ownership to the named successor may be transferred without a probated will. In this case, the following forms must be submitted:
Small Estate Affidavit (OTC form 405)
A copy of the deceased owner’s death certificate
A copy of the owner’s unprobated will, naming the vehicle inheritor
The title certificate or evidence that the title record exists
Transfer on Death (TOD)
A vehicle owner may designate a transferee before death by completing a TOD notice (OTC form 771). The notice guarantees the transfer of the vehicle to the transferee upon death of the transferor. The completed notice must be submitted to the Tax Commission by the owner. Transferee designation may be changed or revoked by the transferor.
To accept the title of the motor vehicle upon the death of the owner, the transferee must submit:
A copy of the death certificate
An affidavit verifying the death of the vehicle owner
The appropriate transfer fees