Transfer Vanguard to Robinhood in 2026
Moving Brokerage Accounts Between Robinhood and Vanguard
If you have a Vanguard account and want to move to Robinhood, or if you have a Robinhood account and want to switch to Vanguard, the process can usually be handled through the Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS). Follow the guide below to understand the main steps.
Transfer from Vanguard to Robinhood
Vanguard and Robinhood both participate in the ACATS network, so eligible assets in a brokerage account can
be transferred electronically from one firm to the other. Here are the steps:
Task #1: Open a Robinhood Account
If you don’t already have a securities account at Robinhood, you do need to get one open. And we do mean a “securities account.” Don’t open only a cryptocurrency account. This account type cannot receive ACATS transfers.
Be sure to use the same name on Robinhood’s application that appears on the Vanguard account. This is an ACATS requirement, and failing to match the account ownership can cause the transfer request to be rejected.
An existing Robinhood account can also work for an ACATS transfer as long as it has the same name and registration as the Vanguard account.
Robinhood Promotion
Free stock worth up to $200 and 3% match when you open an account.
Task #2: Prep Your Vanguard Account
Some investment products available at Vanguard are not supported for transfer into Robinhood. These include mutual funds, bonds, T-bills, futures, event contracts, CDs, and other unsupported assets.
There are three ways to deal with these investments. You can sell them and turn them into cash, because cash can be transferred. Second, you can complete a partial transfer and leave them in your Vanguard account. The final method is to move the positions internally to a second Vanguard account and complete the outside transfer from the first Vanguard account. Whichever method you choose, these positions cannot currently be transferred into Robinhood through ACATS.
Also, Robinhood will not accept option contracts that expire within 7 days. If you have any of these in your Vanguard account, refer back to the methods mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Fractional shares cannot be transferred into Robinhood. You can either transfer whole shares or sell fractional shares. Alternatively, Vanguard will convert partial shares into cash before sending positions over.
Open orders should be closed and all trades should settle before moving forward with a transfer.
If the Vanguard assets are in an account with the wrong registration, you may be able to open another Vanguard account and move assets from your existing Vanguard account into your individual account (this could have tax consequences, so be sure to consult with a tax pro before making this move).
Task #3: Prep Your Robinhood Account
With your Vanguard account ready to go, it’s time to handle a few items inside the Robinhood account.
If you’re going to transfer option contracts, then you need to add options trading to the Robinhood account first. If you did not apply for options trading during the initial application, you can add it to an existing account through the settings area on the mobile app and the Investing menu. The options level must match or exceed the level needed for the positions coming from Vanguard.
The same idea applies to margin. If you plan to move a margin debit with the transfer, you need to add margin trading to the Robinhood account first.
Task #4: Begin the Transfer
An ACATS transfer is always started with the incoming broker, which is Robinhood in this direction, so that’s where you need to submit the transfer request. Robinhood’s transfer workflow can be accessed through its account-transfer process.
On the app, click the person icon in the bottom-right, then tap the three horizontal
lines in the top-left portion, and then select Transfers. On the Transfers page, be sure to
select “Transfer accounts in.” This is the ACATS form. The other links are for bank
transfers.
On the ACATS form, scroll down and select Vanguard. Provide all requested information and choose either a full or partial transfer. Remember that a full transfer will close your Vanguard account. Submit the request when you’re finished.
Robinhood Promotion
Free stock worth up to $200 and 3% match when you open an account.
Task #5: Monitor the Transfer
Robinhood’s mobile app and website both will display the status of a requested transfer, so keep an eye on that.
Transfer from Robinhood to Vanguard
Moving an investment account in the other direction follows a similar process, although the steps are not exactly the same.
Task #1: Open a Vanguard Account
Remember that the name on the account must also match. If either of these conditions isn’t met, you can
always open a second account to get ready for the transfer.
Vanguard’s website has an application process that can include a transfer request with the regular
application. So it’s possible to submit an ACATS request when you open the Vanguard account. The
transfer form is the same you would use if you request a transfer later, so either method will work.
Task #2: Prep Your Robinhood Account
Robinhood will not move options contracts that expire within 7 business days, so if you have any, you need to
close them out. Alternatively, you could move them to a second Robinhood account and do the transfer with the first. A third option is to do a partial transfer and leave the contracts out of the transfer.
A note about cryptocurrencies: they cannot be moved through the ACATS system, so refer to the choices we mentioned above for option contracts.
Remember that open orders and unsettled trades should be eliminated in the case of a full transfer. For a partial transfer, you don’t need to worry about these issues.
Task #3: Prep Your Vanguard Account
Options and margin privileges must be added to the Vanguard account if you’re moving over the relevant positions. These features can be added to an existing account (click on Profile & Account Settings in the upper-right corner of the website and then look for options and margin links in the Trading services & agreements section).
Task #4: Begin the Transfer
Vanguard’s website isn’t the easiest to navigate, and the mobile app can’t be used to submit an ACATS
request, so this may take a little work (if you didn’t submit your transfer request during account
opening).
Click on the What We Offer tab in the top menu and then select the Transfers link underneath Move money.
On the next page, click on Learn how to transfer. On the page after this, click on Start your transfer.
On the next page, you can specify a transfer into your existing account or you can open a new account with the transfer. In either case, you’ll need to specify the Robinhood account coming over. In its list of outgoing brokerage firms, Vanguard has Robinhood’s name in a group of popular firms. Click on Robinhood’s name and proceed to the next page.
You can either enter your Robinhood account details manually or enter your Robinhood login credentials. Vanguard’s software will pull your Robinhood information. In either case, you’ll need to specify whether you want a full or partial transfer. For the latter, you’ll also need to specify the positions and share amounts to move.
Task #5: Monitor the Transfer
After submitting your ACATS request, you can monitor its progress on the Vanguard website (but not the mobile app). Click on Track Your Transfer on the Account Details page.
Cost and Timing
A transfer through the ACATS network often takes about 5 to 7 business days when it can be completed electronically, although some transfers can take longer. Delays can happen if online forms aren’t filled out correctly or if you attempt to transfer assets that can’t be moved.
Robinhood charges $100 for an outgoing ACATS transfer (full or partial). Vanguard does not reimburse this fee.
In the other direction, Vanguard may charge a $100 processing fee for each account closure and full transfer of account assets to another firm. This fee does not apply to electronic bank transfers or ACH transfers, and certain Vanguard clients are exempt.
Written by Alex Bost
Updated on 5/11/2026.
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