Division of Property
The nine community property states are Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. If you live in a community property state, the value of the vehicle, and any underlying debt, will be split 50/50 between both spouses. Practically speaking, however, courts in all states are more likely to award a vehicle to the spouse who primarily used it, assigning the underlying debt to that spouse as well. If the spouse cannot afford the car payment after the divorce, the judge may order the vehicle sold and the proceeds used to pay off the car loan. If the vehicle was bought before the marriage, it will not be included in the division of marital property and ownership will remain with the spouse who made the original purchase.
Value of the Vehicle
In equitable distribution states, the division of assets must be fair to both sides. If one party retains ownership of a vehicle that is worth far less than another family vehicle kept by the other spouse, the judge may award additional property to that spouse to offset the difference. The assignment of debts between spouses must also be fair based on factors evaluated by the court, such as each party's earning potential and post-divorce employability. If an unbalance arises in a community property jurisdiction and the judge cannot make a 50/50 split of vehicles, he may order the sale of the cars and an even division of the proceeds. The same is true regarding the underlying debt.
Refinancing an Auto Loan
If spouses entered into an auto loan together during the marriage, one spouse will likely request to be removed from liability on the loan after the divorce. This will require the parties to refinance the loan to only name one spouse responsible. A post-divorce refinance could present a problem if the receiving spouse's credit is imperfect or the lender refuses to remove the other spouse's name. While a creditor can still technically commence legal action against both spouses named on the loan for the outstanding balance, many marital settlement agreements contain an indemnification clause releasing the other spouse from liability or costs incurred in the event of a default.
Retitling the Vehicle
Every vehicle comes with a title proving ownership. If the settlement names only one spouse as the owner of the vehicle post-divorce, it will be necessary to obtain a new title from the department of motor vehicles. Many states require proof of divorce before the retitling process is permitted, which will include an application for new registration as well. You will need the original title for this process as well as proof of the vehicle passing any and all state-required inspections. Fees associated with retitling generally include an excise or transfer tax, filing fee and registration fee.
