How to Title an Inherited Vehicle in Texas
When a family member or friend leaves someone a vehicle in Texas, ownership of the vehicle must be transferred out of the deceased person's name into the name of the new owner. A Texas car title shows the names and addresses of all the owners and lien holders against the vehicle. The Texas car title also gives a detailed description of the vehicle, including the production year, make, model, color, mileage, engine information and date of purchase.
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Things You'll Need
- Will
- Texas certificate of title
- Texas affidavit of heirship for a motor vehicle
- Texas certificate of title application
- Pen
Instructions
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Contact the will's executor, the person who is in charge of administering the property mentioned in it, to get a copy of the will and the vehicle's Texas certificate of title.
If there is no will involved, and the deceased person's estate is being administered through the probate court in the county where he died, complete a Texas affidavit of heirship for a motor vehicle. The form can be downloaded from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicle's website at txdmv.gov.
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Sign the vehicle title. Enter your name, signature, complete address, county of residence and date of transfer in the appropriate fields on the back of the title. Enter the odometer reading and vehicle identification number. Have the will executor enter his name, complete address and phone number on the back of the Texas certificate of title.
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Obtain an application for title. Visit the Texas Department of Transportation to download an application for Texas certificate of title. Fill out the form completely.
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Submit your forms. Visit the office of the tax assessor-collector where the vehicle will be registered to submit in person the Texas certificate of title, application for Texas certificate of title and, if necessary, Texas affidavit of heirship for a motor vehicle and passed emission and safety inspection records. Pay all fees to register the inherited vehicle.
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Tips & Warnings
Register to vote at the same time you register the inherited vehicle. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and county voter registration offices share information.
The person who inherits the vehicle has 20 days after signing the title to register it in her county of residence. Failure to register the vehicle within 20 days will result in fines.
Entering false vehicle odometer information is consider a crime and could result in fines and jail time.
Alterations that are made to the back of the title when completing it, such as erasing mistakes, will render it void.
Your vehicle must pass required emissions and safety tests to be registered in Texas.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Headlight on new car image by steven Husk from Fotolia.com
