Selling a Deceased Relative's Car

Handling a lost loved one’s estate is a stressful time, and just a little help can go a long way. This guide is designed to help you navigate selling any vehicles attached to your relative’s estate and left in their name.

• You can sell a deceased relative's car to us
• Whether you have the V5C logbook or not, we can help
• Our expert team are here to assist

 

My vehicle is in my deceased relative’s name

If a vehicle has been left to you through a legal will or because you are the executor of an estate, it doesn’t mean you are the registered keeper of the V5C logbook. It will remain in the name of your deceased relative which can make it difficult when coming to sell it. At Bristol Street Motors, we can help.

By selling the vehicle to us, we can support you through this process. We need a few pieces of paperwork to get us started:

• A copy of the death certificate of the registered keeper of the vehicle.
• A copy of the grant of probate which confirms you as executor of the estate. If the grant of probate is not available, either a copy of the registered keeper’s will or a solicitor’s letter confirming you as executor would work.
• Your driving licence or passport for photo identification.

Below we have specified the paperwork needed depending on if you have the V5C logbook for the vehicle or not.

 

I have the vehicle’s V5C logbook

If you are selling the car to us with the V5C logbook, we need:

• A letter, signed by you, confirming your relationship with the deceased registered keeper and the date the registered keeper died.
• Section 4 of the V5C completed by you.

Once we have the above paperwork, we will then send it to the DVLA and keep you updated along the way.

 

I can’t find the vehicle’s V5C logbook

If you are selling the car to us without the V5C logbook, the process and paperwork needed is different:

• A letter, signed by you, confirming your relationship with the deceased registered keeper, the date the registered keeper died, the date you sold the vehicle to us and our dealership's name and address.

We also complete a V62 form before sending all paperwork to the DVLA. There is a £25 fee for us to complete this form and this will be deducted from the purchase price of the vehicle.

 

Who will receive the payment?

We must make the payment to an account of the deceased registered keeper or an account of the solicitors dealing with the estate. If this causes problems for you, you need to supply a letter from your solicitor confirming you are legally entitled to receive the money from the vehicle.

Should you need any further guidance, please get in touch, and a member of our team will be happy to assist you further.

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