Form VTR-34 and Form VTR-262 serve different functions within the Texas vehicle title system and are not interchangeable. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles evaluates certified copy requests and ownership transfers under separate legal paths. Understanding the boundary between record confirmation and authority to transfer ownership is essential to determining which form the system permits in a given situation.
Record confirmation versus ownership authority
Form VTR-34 is used to request a certified copy of an existing title record. It confirms what the DMV has on file but does not establish or transfer ownership. By contrast, Form VTR-262 is used to establish heir authority for purposes of transferring ownership when no probate administration is required. The DMV does not treat a certified copy as evidence of authority to change ownership.
Sequential use in post-death scenarios
After the death of a titled owner, a certified copy may be requested only when the system already recognizes authority to access the record. In many estate scenarios, authority must first be established through affidavit-based or court-authorized mechanisms before a certified copy has any practical function. How the DMV evaluates certified copy requests after death is explained in how Texas DMV handles certified title copy requests after an owner’s death.
When VTR-34 cannot substitute for VTR-262
The DMV does not allow Form VTR-34 to be used to bypass ownership transfer requirements. Requests that imply an intent to transfer ownership without legally recognized authority are denied under the certified copy path. In such cases, the system routes the matter to ownership transfer mechanisms, including affidavit-based transfers under Form VTR-262 or court proceedings where required.
System routing based on purpose of submission
The DMV evaluates submissions based on the legal effect sought rather than the form selected by the requester. When the purpose is to confirm an existing record, the certified copy path may be available. When the purpose is to change ownership, the system requires compliance with transfer rules. How the DMV handles ownership transfers after death is explained in how Texas DMV handles vehicle title transfer after an owner’s death.
Outcome when the wrong path is used
When a request is submitted under the wrong mechanism, the DMV does not convert it into the correct process automatically. The submission is evaluated and denied if it does not meet the criteria of the selected path. The title record remains unchanged until the appropriate legally authorized process is followed.
The certified copy process and its limitations are outlined in