Whether you have a Will or Trust, these vehicle title tips can save your heirs time and money.

Pre-Sign Your Vehicle Title

Basically, my advice is to pre-sign your vehicle title in the Seller section and lock it away somewhere safe until needed. When needed, your Personal Representative (a.k.a. Executor) or Agent can fill in the Buyer section to transfer your vehicle. It saves them a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) so it saves time and money.

Pre-Signing Works for Wills and Trusts

With a Will, your Personal Representative needs to initiate probate to receive court authority to deal with your vehicles. Once they receive that authority, they can sign over the title as needed without an extra trip to the DMV.

With a Trust, you need to title your vehicles as Trust property so your Successor Trustee has authority to deal with them. One of the main reasons to form a Trust is to avoid probate, so you don’t want to keep your vehicles in your personal name. Your Successor Trustee only has authority over vehicles that are included in the Trust.

Transfer a Vehicle Title at the Idaho DMV

If you don’t pre-sign your vehicle title before you pass away, your surviving spouse or Personal Representative needs to make a trip to the DMV. According to the Guide for Surviving Spouses and Family Members on the Idaho Transportation Department website, bring these items:

• Title for each vehicle
• Registration for each vehicle
• Certified copy of the probate court document

You may need to sign an affidavit at the County Assessor’s DMV office.

Plan Ahead with a Complete Estate Plan

Estate planning is more than just worrying about your vehicles when you are gone. It protects your family, assets, and life’s work. Your legacy matters, so let me help you plan with confidence.