Minnesota Vehicle Transfer After Death
Transfer a car title after death in Minnesota by checking how the title was held first. Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) processes the transfer at a local authorized deputy registrar office because multiple documents and signatures are usually required. A surviving spouse or next heir uses Form PS2071, estates of $75,000 or less can use the Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (Form PRO202) once 30 days have passed since death, and Minnesota also recognizes a Transfer-on-Death (TOD) beneficiary named on the title.
- Transfer fee
- Processed at a deputy registrar office
- Title fee
- Verify the current Minnesota DVS title fee schedule before filing
- Registration
- Varies by vehicle and Minnesota registration tax
- Small estate limit
- $75,000 with a 30-day wait (Form PRO202); spouses use Form PS2071
How Was the Vehicle Titled?
The transfer process depends on ownership type. Pick your situation below.
Joint Owner: "OR" Appears on the TitleProbate may not be needed
The title lists two owners joined by "OR" next to the first owner’s name, and one owner survives.
Under Minn. Stat. ch. 168A, when "OR" appears next to the first owner’s name the surviving owner can transfer with minimal documentation. Present the documents at any authorized deputy registrar office and sign the title as the new owner.
- Proof of death (a copy of the death certificate, obituary notice, or memorial card)
- Vehicle title
- Payment of the applicable fees
- Lien release, if applicable
Joint Owner: "OR" Does Not Appear ("AND")Probate may not be needed
The title lists co-owners joined by "AND" (or no "OR"), and one owner survives.
When "OR" does not appear next to the first owner’s name, DVS also requires the notarized Surviving Spouse / Not Subject to Probate form (PS2071) OR the Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (Form PRO202). Present the documents at any authorized deputy registrar office. (Minn. Stat. ch. 168A; section 524.3-1201.)
- Proof of death (a copy of the death certificate, obituary notice, or memorial card)
- Vehicle title
- Completed and notarized Form PS2071, or Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (Form PRO202)
- Payment of the applicable fees
- Lien release, if applicable
Surviving Spouse (Sole-Owner Title)Probate may not be needed
The deceased was the sole owner and there is a surviving spouse.
The surviving spouse is treated as the heir and transfers the title with the notarized Assignment of a Vehicle to a Surviving Spouse / Not Subject to Probate (Form PS2071). If the title is lost, apply for a duplicate title first. Present at any authorized deputy registrar office. (Minn. Stat. ch. 168A.)
- Vehicle title (if lost, apply for a duplicate title first)
- Completed and notarized Form PS2071 (Surviving Spouse / Not Subject to Probate)
- Proof of death (a copy of the death certificate, obituary notice, or memorial card)
- Payment of the applicable fees
- Lien release, if applicable
Small Estate Affidavit ($75,000 / 30 Days)Probate may not be needed
There is no surviving spouse (or the vehicle is otherwise not subject to probate), and the estate qualifies for collection by affidavit.
When the net probate estate is $75,000 or less and 30 days have passed since death, a successor uses the Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (MN Courts Form PRO202) under Minn. Stat. section 524.3-1201. The affidavit must be completed and notarized. The motor vehicle registrar must issue a new certificate of title upon presentation of a compliant affidavit (section 524.3-1201(d)). No court case is required. (A next surviving heir with no spouse may instead use Form PS2071 per Minn. Stat. section 524.2-103.)
- Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property (Form PRO202), completed and notarized
- Vehicle title (if lost, apply for a duplicate title first)
- Proof of death (a copy of the death certificate, obituary notice, or memorial card)
- Payment of the applicable fees
- Lien release, if applicable
Transfer-on-Death (TOD) BeneficiaryProbate may not be needed
The title names a Transfer-on-Death beneficiary and there are no surviving owners.
Minnesota allows a TOD beneficiary designation on a vehicle title under Minn. Stat. section 168A.125. The named beneficiary transfers the vehicle by presenting the title and a certified death record at any authorized deputy registrar office. No probate or court order is required. (The beneficiary has no interest until the owner’s death; a spouse must have consented to a non-spouse designation.)
- Vehicle title (if lost, apply for a duplicate title first)
- Proof of death, including a certified death record
- Payment of the applicable fees
- Lien release, if applicable
Estate Subject to Probate (Sole Owner)Probate likely needed
The vehicle is titled only to the decedent and the estate is being probated.
The court-appointed personal representative (executor or administrator) signs the title as seller in place of the deceased and presents a certified copy of the appropriate Minnesota court document. If the title is lost, obtain a duplicate first. Open probate in the district court of the county where the decedent was domiciled. (Minn. Stat. chs. 524, 525 for probate; ch. 168A for titles.)
- Vehicle title (personal representative completes as seller)
- One of, certified by a Minnesota court: Letters of Administration; OR a Probate Court Order setting aside property to a surviving spouse; OR a Decree of Partial Distribution awarding the vehicle; OR the Final Decree of Distribution
- Payment of the applicable fees
- Lien release, if applicable
See the full step-by-step processThe forms, the order to do them, and what to bring
Read the Minnesota title before anyone signs
Confirm whether the title is sole or joint, whether "OR" or "AND" joins co-owners, whether a TOD beneficiary is named, and whether a lien appears. A deceased owner cannot sign, so you need the correct authority path.
Match your situation to a transfer path
Surviving spouse or next heir (Form PS2071); estate of $75,000 or less with 30 days elapsed (Affidavit for Collection of Personal Property, Form PRO202); TOD beneficiary on the title (Minn. Stat. section 168A.125); or a probated estate (court document plus the personal representative’s signature).
Gather proof of death and, if needed, a duplicate title
Minnesota accepts a copy of the death certificate, an obituary notice, or a memorial card as proof of death (the TOD path needs a certified death record). If the original title is lost, apply for a duplicate title (Form PS2067A) first; most deputy registrars print duplicates same day.
Complete and notarize the required form
Form PS2071 for a surviving spouse or next heir, or Form PRO202 for the small-estate affidavit. The recipient also completes the Application to Title and Register a Motor Vehicle (Form PS2000A).
File in person at an authorized deputy registrar office
Bring the title, proof of death, completed and notarized forms, and payment. A typical deputy-registrar title transfer runs about $37 minimum (title fee $8.25 + filing fee $12 + technology surcharge $2.25 + local office surcharge $1 + transfer tax $10 + public safety vehicle fee $3.50), before registration, plate, or any sales tax.
Keep insurance and registration current
Keep liability coverage active throughout the transfer and file within 20 calendar days of the transaction to avoid the $2 late transfer penalty.
Good to knowShort notes that save a second trip to the title office
- Proof of death is flexible in Minnesota. For most deceased-owner transfers, DVS accepts a copy of the death certificate, obituary notice, or memorial card. The TOD-beneficiary path is the one that specifically requires a certified death record.
- Vehicles held in a revocable living trust. If the vehicle was titled in the trust name (for example "Jones Trust, John Jones-Grantor"), the appointed trustee signs the title as seller and presents a copy of the trust document showing the appointment. Sales tax is not due when the vehicle passes to a legal heir. Trust documents cannot be used if the vehicle was not titled in the trust name.
- Transfer tax and sales-tax exemptions. The $10 transfer tax does not apply to transfers from joint to single ownership. Sales tax is not due when the vehicle is transferred to an heir or legal beneficiary as a gift. A will cannot transfer a title directly, but it can show inheritance to establish the sales-tax exemption.
- Twenty-day filing window. Minnesota assesses a $2 late transfer penalty if the transfer is not submitted within 20 calendar days of the transaction date; for a deceased-owner transfer the clock runs once the documents are complete and ready to submit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer a car title without probate in Minnesota?
What documents do I usually need to transfer a vehicle after death in Minnesota?
What if there is a loan on the vehicle?
Do I need to keep the car insured during the transfer?
What if several heirs inherit the car together?
What if the car is titled in another state, not Minnesota?
Does Minnesota allow a transfer-on-death beneficiary on a car title?
Not Sure Whether Probate Is Required?
Use the Minnesota probate assessment before you submit DMV paperwork if the vehicle was solely owned or the estate looks close to a small-estate threshold.
Still weighing whether to keep or sell the car? Read what to do with the car when someone dies for the keep-or-sell decision, or see how to sell the car if you cannot find the title in Minnesota.
Official Minnesota Sources
Information current as of July 8, 2026
Settled Estate is not a law firm, and this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Probate laws and procedures in Minnesota can change. Consult with a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation. Full disclaimer.
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