This bill amends Section 31-3.1-37 of the General Laws regarding the transfer of motor vehicle titles upon the death of the owner. It establishes that, on and after September 1, 2026, a motor vehicle may be titled in a transfer-on-death form by including a designation of a beneficiary or beneficiaries on the certificate of title. This allows ownership to transfer automatically upon the death of the owner or the last surviving owner with the right of survivorship, subject to the rights of any lien holder.

The bill outlines the process for designating beneficiaries, which includes specific language that must be used on the title. If the title does not contain transfer-on-death language, the owner may execute a document during their lifetime to transfer the vehicle to a designated beneficiary. In the absence of such a document, the surviving spouse or heirs may transfer the title by providing a copy of the owner's death certificate and an affidavit to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which cannot deny the request unless there is evidence of fraud or collusion.

The bill specifies that beneficiaries have no interest in the vehicle until the owner's death, and the designation can be revoked or changed at any time by the owner without the beneficiary's consent. If no beneficiary survives the owner, the vehicle will belong to the deceased owner's estate. The Department of Motor Vehicles is tasked with prescribing any associated fees for the transfer of title and registration, which cannot exceed the annual registration fee for the vehicle. Additionally, a certificate of title in transfer-on-death form is not considered a testamentary disposition, and the Department of Motor Vehicles is required to provide amended title forms to implement these changes.

Statutes affected:
2329: 31-3.1-37