DPSMV 1696: How to Transfer a Car Title After Death in Louisiana

When someone dies in Louisiana and they owned a vehicle, transferring the title to the heirs is often one of the first practical steps families need to take — to insure the car, sell it, or simply get it legally into the right person's name. The good news: in many cases, you can do this without a court order or a formal succession proceeding.

The key document is Form DPSMV 1696, the Affidavit of Heirship, issued by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.

What Is DPSMV 1696?

Form DPSMV 1696 is a notarized affidavit that all heirs and legatees sign to declare their inheritance interest in a vehicle and authorize the title transfer. It's the OMV's mechanism for honoring estate transfers without requiring a formal court succession or Judgment of Possession.

The form is available for free on the Louisiana OMV website at expresslane.la.gov under Vehicle Title and Registration Forms.

When accepted by the OMV, the DPSMV 1696 functions the same way a Judgment of Possession would for vehicle title purposes — it's the legal document that says "these are the heirs, this is their vehicle."

When Can You Use DPSMV 1696?

You can use the Affidavit of Heirship to transfer a vehicle title when:

• No formal judicial succession has been opened (or is needed) for the estate
• The heirs are in agreement about who receives the vehicle
• The estate qualifies for the simplified affidavit pathway rather than full court succession

If a formal judicial succession was completed and a Judgment of Possession was issued, you would present that judgment to the OMV instead of the DPSMV 1696. You don't need both.

Full Document Checklist for Vehicle Title Transfer

To transfer a vehicle title after a death using the affidavit pathway, bring all of the following to the OMV:

Required documents:

Fees:

• Base title fee: $68.50
• Handling fee: $8.00
• Local parish fee: up to $6.00 (varies by parish)
• Lien recording fee (if applicable): $10.00–$15.00

Total for a standard title transfer without a lien: approximately $76.50–$82.50 before any parish fees.

Who Must Sign the DPSMV 1696?

All heirs and legatees must sign — not just the one who will receive the vehicle. If there are five children and the vehicle is going to one of them, all five must sign the affidavit confirming their inheritance interest and the transfer arrangement.

If an heir is a minor, their natural tutor — typically the surviving parent — can sign on their behalf.

All signatures must be notarized. You can use any licensed Louisiana notary public; the OMV does not require a specific notary.

What If the Vehicle Has a Lien?

If the vehicle had an outstanding loan at the time of death, the lender holds a lien on the title. You generally need to:

1. Contact the lender to notify them of the death
2. Either pay off the loan from estate funds, or arrange to transfer the loan obligation as part of the title transfer
3. Obtain a lien release if the loan is being paid off before presenting to the OMV

Do not ignore an outstanding lien — the OMV will not issue a clean title while a lien is recorded.

What If the Vehicle Was Community Property?

If the decedent was married, the vehicle may have been community property — owned equally by both spouses. In that case:

• The surviving spouse's half of the vehicle's value was never part of the succession estate
• The succession only covers the decedent's half
• For purposes of vehicle title transfer, the surviving spouse is often listed as the primary heir receiving the vehicle outright, particularly for community property vehicles where they wish to keep the car

Clarify community vs. separate property status before completing the affidavit.

What If the Vehicle Was in a Different State?

If the vehicle was registered in Louisiana but the decedent lived in another state, or vice versa, additional complexity arises. The Louisiana OMV handles vehicles registered in Louisiana. For vehicles registered elsewhere, contact that state's motor vehicle authority with equivalent documentation.

Does a Court Succession Change the Process?

If the estate required formal judicial succession and a Judgment of Possession was issued, bring that judgment to the OMV instead of the DPSMV 1696. The Judgment of Possession supersedes the affidavit pathway for all purposes, including vehicle transfers. You would still complete Form DPSMV 1799 (Vehicle Application) and pay the applicable fees.

Practical Tips

Call ahead: OMV offices have varied processing times and occasionally have specific local requirements. Call before your visit to confirm what's needed.

Bring extra copies: Bring multiple certified copies of the death certificate. If you're also handling bank accounts, real estate, or other assets the same week, you'll need originals at each location.

Bank teller problem: Front-line tellers at banks are often poorly trained on Louisiana succession affidavits. The same phenomenon applies at the OMV — if a counter agent seems confused or pushes back on the affidavit, ask for a supervisor. The DPSMV 1696 process is an established, statutory pathway.

Timing with the estate: Vehicle transfers don't have to wait for the full succession to close. If the estate qualifies for the affidavit pathway, vehicle titles can often be transferred in a matter of days or weeks, long before other estate matters are resolved.

Vehicles are usually one of the simpler assets to transfer in a Louisiana estate — but they're part of a larger succession picture. The Louisiana Estate Settlement Guide covers the full sequence: from death certificates and bank access in the first 48 hours through vehicle transfers, real estate, creditors, and final tax filings.

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