Yes, you can register a car in two names in every state, and the motor vehicle agency will issue a single title listing both people as co-owners. The word connecting the two names on that title — “and,” “or,” or “and/or” — decides whether either owner can sell the car alone or whether both signatures are always required. Before choosing, it helps to know that a title and a registration are separate documents: the title proves ownership, while the registration is the state’s authorization to drive the car on public roads. Two people can share the title, share the registration, or share only one of the two. When people talk about putting a car “in two names,” they almost always mean the title, because that is where ownership rights live.
And, Or, and And/Or on the Title
The conjunction between the two names is the most consequential word on the document. States generally recognize three options.
“And” (Jane Doe AND John Smith) means both owners must sign to sell, trade in, or transfer the vehicle. Neither person can act alone. This protects each co-owner from a unilateral sale, but it also means both parties must be available and willing whenever the car changes hands.
“Or” (Jane Doe OR John Smith) means either owner can sell or transfer the vehicle without the other’s signature. It is the most flexible arrangement and is common among married couples who want the surviving spouse to handle the car quickly after a death.
“And/Or” functions the same as “or” in most states. Some states do not recognize it as a separate category and treat it identically to “or.”
Choose carefully. If your title reads “and” and one co-owner refuses to sign or cannot be located, you may be unable to sell the car at all without a court order. An “or” title lets either owner sell the car without telling the other first. Trust and convenience pull in opposite directions here.
Who Can Share a Title
State motor vehicle agencies do not limit joint titling to married couples or blood relatives. Any two individuals with valid identification can be listed as co-owners: spouses, domestic partners, parents and children, siblings, business partners, or roommates who share a car. No proof of a personal or family relationship is required. Parents often add a young-adult child to help build an insurance history or a credit record tied to a financed vehicle. Business partners jointly title a vehicle to give both a recognized stake in a shared asset.
How to Add a Second Name
The forms and fees vary by state, but the process follows the same pattern.
- The original certificate of title showing the current owner.
- Government-issued ID for both people — a driver’s license, state ID, or passport.
- A title application or amendment form from your DMV or its website.
- A bill of sale, if the vehicle was recently purchased by both parties together.
- Lienholder consent, if the car has an outstanding loan. Most lenders must approve any title change before the DMV will process it, so call before making the trip.
Both parties generally must sign the application. Some states require notarized signatures; others accept a DMV clerk as witness. Notary fees for vehicle title signatures typically run $2 to $15 per signature. State title amendment fees generally fall between $10 and $50, though the total at the counter may be higher once registration fees, local taxes, or plate fees are added. Many DMV offices accept in-person visits, mailed applications, and in some states online submissions. The new title usually arrives by mail within a few weeks.
What Happens When One Owner Dies
One of the strongest reasons to put two names on a title is to control what happens to the car after a death. The outcome depends on how the title is structured.
Joint Tenancy With Right of Survivorship
If the title carries a right-of-survivorship designation, sometimes abbreviated JTWROS or noted with a “survivorship rights” remark, the surviving owner automatically inherits the deceased owner’s share. The survivor presents a death certificate to the DMV and applies for a new title in their name alone. The car skips probate, saving time and legal fees. Not every state adds this designation automatically. In many places you must request it specifically or file a separate survivorship agreement when you title the vehicle.
Transfer-on-Death Beneficiary
More than 20 states now let vehicle owners name a transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary directly on the title. The beneficiary has no ownership interest while the owner is alive and does not need to consent to the designation. After the owner’s death, the beneficiary presents a death certificate and applies for a new title, again bypassing probate. The owner can change or revoke the beneficiary at any time. If joint owners want to name a TOD beneficiary, they typically must first establish a survivorship agreement between themselves.
Titles Without Survivorship Language
When a title lists two owners joined by “and” and carries no survivorship designation, the deceased person’s share may have to pass through their estate. The surviving owner often must present a death certificate along with probate documents, such as letters testamentary or a small-estate affidavit, before the DMV will issue a new title. This can take months, during which the survivor may be unable to sell or trade the vehicle.
Gift Tax and State Sales Tax
Adding a co-owner without receiving payment equal to the car’s value can trigger tax consequences.
At the federal level, the IRS may treat the transfer as a gift. For 2026, the annual gift tax exclusion is $19,000 per recipient.1Internal Revenue Service. Whats New Estate and Gift Tax If the car’s fair market value exceeds $19,000 and you are giving away a full half-interest, the amount above the exclusion counts against your lifetime gift and estate tax exemption, and you would file IRS Form 709 for the year of the transfer. Most people owe no actual tax, but skipping the form is still a compliance issue.
At the state level, many states charge sales or use tax when a title changes hands, even between family members. A number of states exempt transfers that qualify as gifts or that occur between immediate family such as spouses, parents, children, and grandparents. The rules and qualifying relationships vary widely, so check with your DMV or state tax office before assuming an exemption applies. When tax is owed, it is usually calculated on the vehicle’s fair market value, not on any money that changed hands.
Liability That Comes With Co-Ownership
Adding your name to a vehicle title creates legal exposure that goes beyond insurance premiums. In many states, a registered owner can be held partly responsible for damages caused by the vehicle, even when someone else was driving.
Two doctrines drive this risk. Under permissive-use rules adopted in various forms around the country, an owner who allows another person to drive the car may share liability for that driver’s negligence. Under negligent entrustment, an owner who lends the car to someone they know or should know is an unsafe driver can face direct liability for the resulting harm. A co-owner listed on the title is generally presumed to have given consent for the other co-owner to drive.
Do not add your name to a title as a favor unless you are comfortable with the liability that comes with ownership. If your co-owner causes a serious accident, injured parties may pursue claims against both names on the title. Adequate insurance is the primary protection.
Insurance on a Jointly Titled Car
Most insurance companies require every person on the title to appear as a named insured on the policy. This protects each owner’s financial interest if the car is totaled, stolen, or involved in a covered loss. The names on the policy should match the names on the title exactly. Discrepancies can give an insurer grounds to deny a claim or delay payment.
Premiums are based on the driving records of every named insured. If one co-owner has a history of accidents or violations, expect the premium to reflect that risk. Get quotes before finalizing the title change so you know what the added cost will be. Some insurers also require every household member of driving age to be listed on the policy regardless of whether they appear on the title, so ask about that requirement too.
Taking a Name Off Later
Removing a name works much like a sale. The person leaving signs the back of the existing title as the seller, the person staying signs as the buyer, and the remaining owner takes the signed title to the DMV to apply for a new one. The same title fee applies, and some states require a bill of sale even when no money changes hands. If the current title reads “and,” both people must sign to release the vehicle. If it reads “or,” either can initiate the change alone. If a loan is still outstanding, the lender must approve the removal.
Jointly titled vehicles are a common sticking point in divorce. If spouses agree on who keeps the car, they sign the title over and process the change at the DMV. When they cannot agree, a court can order a buyout, a sale with the proceeds split, or an allocation of different vehicles between the spouses. A court order will override a reluctant co-owner’s refusal to sign.