Arizona lets you add a transfer-on-death (TOD) name to your car title. When you die, the car passes to that person without probate. It is one of the simplest estate planning tools around. Most people do not know about it.
How Transfer-on-Death Titles Work in Arizona
Under A.R.S. 28-2055, you can name someone on your Arizona car title. While you are alive, you stay the full owner. You can sell the car, trade it in, or change the name at any time. The TOD label has no effect until your death.
When the owner passes away, the named person takes the title to the Arizona MVD office. They bring a certified copy of the death certificate. The car is then retitled in their name. No probate filing. No court. No waiting months for an estate to close.
The process is simple. It usually takes just one visit.
Setting Up the TOD Name
To add a TOD name, visit an MVD office or approved third-party site. Ask for a new title with the TOD label. The title will show your name, then "TOD," then the person's name. There is a small fee. The process can often be done the same day.
You can name one or more people. If you name more than one, they share the car unless you say otherwise. You can also change or remove a name later by getting a new title.
What About a Joint Owner?
If the car already has a joint owner, the TOD label works in a different way. A joint owner with rights of survivorship already gets the car when the other owner dies. Adding a TOD name on top of that can cause confusion about who comes first.
If you are the sole owner and want a clean transfer, the TOD approach works well. If you share the title, review how it is set up before making changes.
How This Differs From Other States
TOD car title laws vary by state. Not every state offers this option. Arizona does. That gives residents a simple way to skip probate for this asset. In states without TOD titles, a car often goes through probate. Or extra forms are needed to transfer it.
In Arizona, no extra forms are needed for a TOD transfer. The death certificate and the title are enough.
When a TOD Title Makes Sense
A TOD title works best for simple cases. If you want your car to go to one person with no issues, it is a clean and fast fix. It avoids the cost and delay of probate for an asset that could otherwise hold up the estate.
If you have a full trust-based estate plan, it may make more sense to title the car in your trust. That keeps all your assets under one roof. The Arizona MVD allows both options. They work in different ways and should match the rest of your plan.
A TOD title takes one trip to the MVD. It costs very little. And it gives your family one less thing to worry about after you are gone. That is the smart play.