Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications (e.g., vehicle to everything systems) are described relating to an adaptive design of demodulation reference signals (DMRS) density based on user equipment (UE) velocity. A UE may send assistance information to a transmitting UE to help identify a DMRS pattern based on the relative speed between the two UEs. Also, the transmitter may determine the adaptive DMRS pattern based on its speed without information of the receiver's speed. The transmitter may indicate the adaptive DMRS pattern in control information to the receiver. A base station may receive assistance information, and the base station may determine the adaptive DMRS pattern to be used by the transmitting UE based on the received assistance information and then indicate the adaptive DMRS pattern to the transmitting UE. A UE may determine an adaptive DMRS pattern to use based on feedback from the receiving UE.