Classic car.

Since you mentioned gifting a car and mom having just enough $$$ for 5 years, it is not uncommon for elders needing MC and SNF. The grey area in the 5 year lookback is what if rent doubles or triples in those 5 years? She will not qualify.

If you have not yet applied for medicaid you might consider, if Mom is well enough and rational enough, going to get the car placed in your name and hers. In most states a child or spouse can be added to title. This care will then be yours and hers and will pass you on her death, rather, I THINK than be subjected to clawback. I would check with an attorney about that first as every state has its onw rules.

If your Mom has her faculties right now? If so, she gets to decide, until she no longer has capacity.

Does she have more than 1 adult child? If so, it could become problematic if she gifted this car to 1 child and didn't make a provision for equity in the inheritances (if there's anything left). If your Mom is healthy but needs to be in AL, and she may well live to need more than 5 years of money to pay for her care. A lot will depend on what kind of classic car and if it's value will go up "in the next few years". What about the cost of storage, upkeep and insurance? Maybe sell it for her now and put the funds in a money market savings account that is making decent interest and is liquid.

Others on this forum use bogleheads.org to ask questions like yours.

MANY classic car magazines out there with great info and access for you. My brother used to just live off reading these over and over again. Signing it over as a gift means it is an asset of mom's now. If you KNOW she has enough funds not to have to have a lookback for five years, even if she needs memory care, then giving it as a gift is an option, but unless mom has a GREAT DEAL of money, it's risky She has enough money NOW that you know of for five years. Is that with memory care costs also? I think I would sell this car and put the assets of sale in Mom's money investments. Whomever is POA can likely handle this. If you are triple AAA you needn't even undergo the lines at DMV likely, but can do this in office.

I would sell it now and use the money to help pay for mom’s care. A car just sitting isn’t good for it. When it was time to sell my dad’s car, there were several relatives who wanted it. I avoided all drama by selling it to a stranger