How to Transfer a Car Title After Death in Oregon

We could not find a transfer-on-death or beneficiary option for Oregon car titles. Oregon's vehicle title law (ORS chapter 803), the DMV titling page and the title application contain no such provision, and DMV's deceased owner instructions cover only survivorship titles and estate routes. If you think a title shows a beneficiary, call DMV Customer Assistance at 503-945-5000 to confirm.

The way an Oregon title passes automatically to another person is joint ownership with survivorship. See "The Car Was Co-Owned" below. Otherwise, see "No Probate (Small Estate or Heirs)" or "An Executor Has Been Appointed."

When it applies: two or more people are listed on the Oregon title. Oregon titles do not use "and" or "or" wording to decide this. They have a SURVIVORSHIP box, chosen when the title was applied for.

• Y/N or Y/Y in the box: the title has survivorship, and the surviving owner keeps the car.
• N/N or N/Y in the box: there is no survivorship. The deceased owner's share goes through the Inheritance Affidavit, a simple estate affidavit or probate (see the sections below).

Steps for a survivorship title

1. If at least one owner is still living, complete the Application for Title and Registration (Form 735-226) and include proof of death for each deceased owner.
2. If all owners have died, include proof of death for every owner except the one who died most recently, plus estate documents for the owner who died most recently (an Inheritance Affidavit, Simple Estate Certification, court letters or a final distribution decree).
3. Mail the original title, application, documents and title fee to DMV Services, 1905 Lana Ave NE, Salem, OR 97314, or take them to a DMV office.

Forms

• Application for Title and Registration, Form 735-226

Documents

• Original Oregon certificate of title
• Proof of death for each deceased owner (if all owners have died, every owner except the one who died most recently). DMV accepts an original, a certified copy or a regular photocopy of the death certificate, or court documents showing the death.
• Estate documents for the last owner to die, if all owners have died
• Title fee

When it applies: you were married to the owner. Oregon DMV has no separate surviving-spouse procedure.

• If you and your spouse were joint owners with survivorship on the title, you keep the car and send proof of death. See "The Car Was Co-Owned."
• If the car was in your spouse's name only, or the title has no survivorship, you use the same routes as any other family member: the Inheritance Affidavit, a simple estate affidavit or probate.

Who counts as an heir decides who must sign the Inheritance Affidavit. Under Oregon's inheritance law (ORS chapter 112), when there is no will the surviving spouse receives the entire net estate if there are no descendants, or if all of the deceased person's descendants are also the spouse's descendants. If the deceased had children from another relationship, the spouse receives one-half. DMV says it cannot determine the heirs for you.

Steps

1. Check the SURVIVORSHIP box on the title. If it shows survivorship, follow the co-owner steps.
2. If the estate will not be probated, all heirs sign the Inheritance Affidavit (Form 735-516) before a notary, or an affiant signs the Simple Estate Certification (Form 735-6797) if a simple estate affidavit was filed with the county court.
3. If the estate is being probated, the personal representative signs a release or bill of sale to you.
4. Submit the title, Form 735-226 in your name, the estate documents and the title fee to DMV by mail or at a DMV office.

Documents

• Original Oregon certificate of title, if available
• Proof of death
• Notarized Inheritance Affidavit, Simple Estate Certification, or court letters plus the personal representative's release, depending on the route
• Completed Form 735-226
• Title fee

When it applies: the title has no survivorship (N/N or N/Y) and no probate case has been or will be opened. Oregon has two routes.

Route 1: Inheritance Affidavit (Form 735-516)

All heirs sign one notarized affidavit naming the one person who will receive the car. No dollar limit is stated in the statute (ORS 803.094) or on the form, and no waiting period is stated.

• Heirs are determined under ORS chapter 112. DMV says it cannot determine the heirs for you.
• Every known heir signs before a notary. The notary does not have to be from Oregon.
• Heirs can sign one affidavit together or separate affidavits, but each must name the same person who receives the car.
• A parent or guardian signs for an heir who is a minor or incapacitated. A guardian attaches the court papers showing guardianship.
• Do not use white-out or make alterations on the form.

If there is a will that won't be probated: the statute says only that the estate is not being probated, but DMV's administrative rule describes this affidavit for owners who died without a will. Call DMV at 503-945-5000 to confirm which route to use.

Route 2: Simple estate affidavit (smaller estates)

• The estate qualifies only if it has no more than $75,000 in personal property and no more than $200,000 in real property and manufactured homes (ORS 114.510). Values are full fair market value with no reduction for liens or debts, so a car with a loan counts at its full value.
• It can't be filed until 30 days after the death.
• A claiming successor (such as an heir or someone named in the will), or the person named as personal representative in the will, files the affidavit with the county probate court. The car must be listed in it.
• An affiant then signs DMV's Simple Estate Certification (Form 735-6797), or you give DMV a copy of the court-filed affidavit.

Steps (either route)

1. Confirm the title has no survivorship and no probate case is open.
2. Complete the Inheritance Affidavit or the simple estate paperwork as described above.
3. The person receiving the car completes the Application for Title and Registration (Form 735-226).
4. Mail the original title (if available), the affidavit or certification, the application and the title fee to DMV Services, 1905 Lana Ave NE, Salem, OR 97314, or take them to a DMV office.

Forms

• Inheritance Affidavit, Form 735-516
• DMV Simple Estate Certification, Form 735-6797
• Application for Title and Registration, Form 735-226

Documents

• Original Oregon certificate of title, if available
• Notarized Inheritance Affidavit signed by every heir, or a copy of the court-filed simple estate affidavit or a Simple Estate Certification
• Court guardianship papers, if a guardian signs for an heir
• Completed Form 735-226
• Title fee

When it applies: the estate is in probate and the court has appointed a personal representative (executor or administrator).

Steps

1. Get a copy of the court document appointing the personal representative: Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, or similar.
2. The personal representative signs an original release or bill of sale to the new owner. If there is more than one personal representative, each must sign.
3. The new owner completes the Application for Title and Registration (Form 735-226).
4. Mail or take the original title, documents, application and title fee to DMV.

If probate has already closed: DMV needs a copy of the court's Decree of Final Distribution showing who was awarded the vehicle. If you are not the person awarded the car, you also need a release from the person who was.

Forms

• Application for Title and Registration, Form 735-226

Documents

• Original Oregon certificate of title
• Copy of the court letters or other appointment document
• Original release or bill of sale from each personal representative
• If probate is closed: copy of the Decree of Final Distribution, plus a release from the awardee if that is not you
• Completed Form 735-226
• Title fee

When it applies: a lender (security interest holder) is still listed on the title.

We found no separate death-related procedure from Oregon DMV for a car with a loan. DMV's general titling rules require original lien releases from any previous security interest holders before a new title is issued.

Steps

1. Contact the lender to find out whether it holds the title and what the payoff amount is.
2. If the loan is paid off, get an original lien release from the lender and include it with the title application.
3. If the lender is holding the title, DMV's instructions say to send the lender the completed documents, fees and the Security Interest Holder letter (Form 735-6603L), so the lender can forward everything to DMV.

Forms

• Security Interest Holder letter, Form 735-6603L

Documents

• Original lien release, if the loan is paid off
• Original title (sent by the lender, if it holds the title)

Title fee. Per DMV's vehicle fee page, the title fee for passenger vehicles and trucks (26,000 lbs or less) depends on the vehicle's combined MPG rating:

• $101 for 0 to 19 MPG
• $106 for 20 to 39 MPG
• $116 for 40 MPG or more
• $192 for all-electric

A 2025 bill (House Bill 3991) would raise the base title fee in state law, but DMV's fee page still shows the amounts above and the bill's status was not confirmed. Check the fee page before you apply.

Other fees

• Plates: you can transfer Oregon plates to a vehicle for $30. Registration fees also apply if you were not the listed owner of the vehicle the plates came from.
• Registration: two-year passenger registration ranges from $126 to $376, depending on MPG or electric, if the car needs new or renewed registration.
• Late title fee: DMV charges $25 when a title application is made 31 to 60 days after a sale and $50 after 60 days. DMV's rules say an inheritance is not treated as a sale when the heir becomes the owner, but no official source says directly whether an heir who applies later owes this fee. Contact DMV to confirm.
• VIN inspection: $9, only for out-of-state or foreign titles.

Vehicle taxes. Oregon's vehicle privilege and use taxes apply only to a vehicle bought from a dealer, driven 7,500 miles or less, and never titled or registered in Oregon. Those criteria describe a dealer purchase, not an inherited car, and no exemption form is used for an inheritance transfer.

• By mail: DMV Services, 1905 Lana Ave NE, Salem, OR 97314.
• In person: visit a DMV office. You can walk in at offices that offer drop-ins, or make an appointment.
• Online: we could not confirm that a death-related title transfer can be fully submitted online. Contact DMV to confirm.

DMV's posted wait time for Oregon titles is 3 to 4 weeks. For title questions, call DMV Customer Assistance at 503-945-5000. DMV's titling page has current details.

How a sale works depends on the route:

• Probate: the personal representative signs an original release or bill of sale to the buyer, and the buyer includes a copy of the court letters. If there is more than one personal representative, each must sign.
• Simple estate affidavit: state law (ORS 114.547) lets the affiant sell personal property that is not specifically left to someone in a will. Property left to a named person needs that person's consent. The affiant signs the Simple Estate Certification and follows DMV's requirements.
• Inheritance Affidavit: the heirs name one person to receive the car. Official sources do not say whether that person can be a buyer, so the usual path is for the named heir to title the car and then sell it.

An odometer disclosure may be required. In an Inheritance Affidavit transfer, one of the heirs completes it. The buyer has 30 days from the sale to apply for title or pays a late fee.

If probate is needed, our state probate guide walks through it.