Bereavement - father's car

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Squadrone Rosso

Original Poster:

2,740 posts

146 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Morning,

I'm looking for advice as my father passed away last Monday. He's was 87 and went from fit & healthy to gone in 5.5 days.

Anyway, his car (a brand new as of October Kia Venga 3 with just 500 miles on it) is with us & locked away securely. All the paperwork too.

In terms of insurance etc, we've told his insurers what's happened & used the "tell us once" service to inform all the authorities inc the DVLA.

We won't be driving it & despite it being a nice car with all the toys, keeping it.

We'll probably speak to the supplying dealer in a couple of weeks time to see if they want to buy it back but in the interim, what do we need to do around the legalities?

SORN? Any need to insure on our own policy?

Any advice welcomed.

Thank you,

Simon

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
If it's not insured it needs to be SORNed, so get that done ASAP if the insurers have ended the policy.

Is there a will?

POORCARDEALER

8,523 posts

240 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Squadrone Rosso said:
Morning,

I'm looking for advice as my father passed away last Monday. He's was 87 and went from fit & healthy to gone in 5.5 days.

Anyway, his car (a brand new as of October Kia Venga 3 with just 500 miles on it) is with us & locked away securely. All the paperwork too.

In terms of insurance etc, we've told his insurers what's happened & used the "tell us once" service to inform all the authorities inc the DVLA.

We won't be driving it & despite it being a nice car with all the toys, keeping it.

We'll probably speak to the supplying dealer in a couple of weeks time to see if they want to buy it back but in the interim, what do we need to do around the legalities?

SORN? Any need to insure on our own policy?

Any advice welcomed.

Thank you,

Simon
You need to insure it for theft and fire if its not going on the road and get the purchasing dealer to collect it

twokcc

815 posts

176 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
If there's a will and the cars not on finance shouldn't if be part of his estate and passed to whoever is beneficiary of his will.
Or even if on finance the residue leftafter paying off wil be part of his estate- if your the only beneficiary you can almost do what you wish with the car uncluding selling it if you so wished
Similar situation when dad passed away sister and myself were only beneficiary of will so agreed to buy her half of the car.
Car was already taxed and insured( with me and sisters husband as named drivers) so no need to sorn etc. If remember correctly DVLA had a special bereavement department and transfer of car easy- but we were both executors of his will so no complications with solicitors etc

I'm not a solicitor so the above is not legal advise but above ok with my solicitor when he did probate for dads estate.

Markbarry1977

4,027 posts

102 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
There's been another case of this on here recently involving an Audi a1, everybody thought the dealership would just take it back and cancel the finance.

It appears from last reading the thread Audi are being difficult about returning the car and insisting that the finance payments are to be carried on with and it's not there problem. I do believe it's on a lease deal though.

Hopefully Kia will act better about it.

Squadrone Rosso

Original Poster:

2,740 posts

146 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Thanks.

Yes, the will is clear as in I'm the executor & main beneficiary.

His car was paid outright too.

So, tell my insurance that I've got custody of his car until it's moved on, hopefully back to the supplying dealer?

The curve ball is keep it as our one sensible car. That role is currently fulfilled by my brilliant little Panda Cross.

The ownership package of the Kia is excellent. He even bought a service package frown

baldy1926

2,136 posts

199 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
I,d be inclined to keep it as it will take a big hit valuewise going back to the dealer.You can have several years if cheap motoring in memory of your father

BOF

991 posts

222 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Tough time Pal...

Best wishes and sympathy in your bereavement.

BOF

ruggedscotty

5,606 posts

208 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Markbarry1977 said:
There's been another case of this on here recently involving an Audi a1, everybody thought the dealership would just take it back and cancel the finance.

It appears from last reading the thread Audi are being difficult about returning the car and insisting that the finance payments are to be carried on with and it's not there problem. I do believe it's on a lease deal though.

Hopefully Kia will act better about it.
hes speaking to the wrong person at VAG - id be taking this to the top as they are generally good about situations like this. person I know her husband dropped dead at the gym a year ago and they were 4 months into a 48 month contract on an A6. called the dealer and it was sorted out within a matter of hours. Car was taken back monies sorted etc and a bunch of flowers arrived for her. top service.

Something is going wrong here and it needs to be escalated to the right departments.

rallycross

12,747 posts

236 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Sorry to hear about your loss.
As the car is owned not leased my advice would be give it back to the supplying dealer on a sale or return basis and them to add it to their insurance give them 6 weeks to sell it leave the road tax running and leave the v5 reg as it is in the current name, tax will cancel when the docs are sent off for the new keeper.
You will get a better price for it and it's an easy paper trail. Dealer will not want to buy for stock SOR easier for both sides.

Don

28,377 posts

283 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Squadrone Rosso said:
Morning,

I'm looking for advice as my father passed away last Monday. He's was 87 and went from fit & healthy to gone in 5.5 days.

Anyway, his car (a brand new as of October Kia Venga 3 with just 500 miles on it) is with us & locked away securely. All the paperwork too.

In terms of insurance etc, we've told his insurers what's happened & used the "tell us once" service to inform all the authorities inc the DVLA.

We won't be driving it & despite it being a nice car with all the toys, keeping it.

We'll probably speak to the supplying dealer in a couple of weeks time to see if they want to buy it back but in the interim, what do we need to do around the legalities?

SORN? Any need to insure on our own policy?

Any advice welcomed.

Thank you,

Simon
Firstly please accept my sincerest condolences. I am sorry to hear of your loss.

Secondly: DO NOT TRUST the "Tell Us Once" service. I was the executor of my mother's will, and a quarter beneficiary, my sister and did all the probate work and so on. Tell Us Once just did not work. In due course you will need to make sure that the various authorities are aware.

Finally: If the car is paid for outright and now belongs to you consider keeping it and running it as your sensible motor. The depreciation loss on a new to nearly new car is enough to make anyone weep. If the car suits at all you will be better off financially keeping it and running it. That service package just enforces the idea.

Being an executor for a loved one is a tough job emotionally. Remember you don't have to do it all at once, and that YOU can make better decisions for you and your family than the lawyers. Get advice, but do it yourself and it can all be done inexpensively. People will be amazingly nice to you - all firms (like utilities etc) have bereavement departments: this happens a lot and they CAN and WILL help you.

Good luck, chap. I've been there, and despite it being tough, it is all doable.


Squadrone Rosso

Original Poster:

2,740 posts

146 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Thanks again. Tell us once was a backup as I'd already made most of the calls before getting the DC & them registering us for the service.

Got a lot to think about aside from his car. His funeral is on the 28th & need to do him proud.

Work in the morning. This past week was booked annual leave so all that went South......

A brief interlude in proceedings.

jith

2,752 posts

214 months

Monday 20th February 2017
quotequote all
Squadrone Rosso said:
Thanks again. Tell us once was a backup as I'd already made most of the calls before getting the DC & them registering us for the service.

Got a lot to think about aside from his car. His funeral is on the 28th & need to do him proud.

Work in the morning. This past week was booked annual leave so all that went South......

A brief interlude in proceedings.
All the best SR, I've worn the T shirt and miss my dad like hell every day. I would keep the car, as it is nice to have something that was his that you can use. Sit on it for a few weeks until you get over the shock and think clearer.

J

Mill Wheel

6,149 posts

195 months

Monday 20th February 2017
quotequote all
OP, my condolences on your loss, and the situation you find yourself in through no fault of your own.
When my father died, he was living in France for 20 years, had no ties to the UK (property, investments etc.,) and owned his home in France.
His vehicle WAS RHD, but of no value in the UK.

All the rigmarole of dealing with his estate had to take place in the UK AND France, the latter of course in a foreign language, and foreign legal system.
To be fair, when you have just lost somebody for the first time, even the English procedures and systems seem like a foreign language, which you have to learn at a very trying time in your life.

We thought the foreign process was difficult - the UK probate process turned out to be a ball ache, as we had to satisfy the authorities that he had no property or investments in the UK, and no plans to return to the UK at any time (??!!) then they questioned the legal standing of the French Notaire!!

As to possessions... what do you choose to keep - you will have a home of your own and not too much spare space I imagine.
We gave away my father's car rather than bring it home to sell it - even that was not easy, it being RHD, and we had to give away many hundreds of pounds worth of tools, cookware, and gardening tools - rotavator, petrol strimmer etc.

In a years time, you may well regret parting with the car if it is the cherished item you describe, and it is unlikely that you would receive what it is worth, or cost your father.

Dr Mike Oxgreen

4,101 posts

164 months

Monday 20th February 2017
quotequote all
Sorry to hear of your loss.

My Dad died about six weeks ago, and for the moment I've decided to re-register his car to me and SORN it until I've decided what to do with it.

Useful page about the DVLA Sensitive Casework Team. There are instructions for the two cases depending on whether or not you've got the V5C.

I sent the V5C off to them with a V890 about a fortnight ago and not heard back yet, and the car is still showing as taxed (not SORNed), so don't expect an amazingly speedy response. Perhaps I confused them by telling them to donate any tax refund to the British Heart Foundation - they're probably scratching their heads trying to work out how to do that. hehe

Squadrone Rosso

Original Poster:

2,740 posts

146 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
Thanks again for the advice.

Kia gave me a price / insult for his Venga.

In just 110 days / 520 miles from new, it's lost a staggering £5255! I'm gobsmacked. I think he'd haunt me if I moved it on for that frown

Apparently, I can voluntarily terminate the PCP on my Panda for a smallish fee.

Even with a 4K mile @ £0.06 ppm excess mileage charge, this is by far the most sensible option (even though I'll have a v on my credit report.....but not as a negative......even though lenders may query it....??).

Trouble is, the Panda Cross genuinely appeals as our second car / daily driver whereas the Venga, despite the mega spec & ownership package, really doesn't.





As you say, need to sleep on it for a week or so & to bring me back down to earth with a kick in the nuts, I wrote his eulogy today frown

elanfan

5,516 posts

226 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
His insurer should offer you cover as a named driver whilst you move the car on. I'd have thought a month wasn't too unreasonable in the circumstances. A new car will take an obvious hit but wait a week and stick it on autotrader

catso

14,771 posts

266 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
Firstly condolences.

We had the same thing happen, my Father died a couple of weeks after having bought a new car (Citroen C3) he'd done less than 100 miles in it.

Rather than leave it to depreciate and for an easy sale (also it was about to become an 'old' reg plate as he died in mid-Feb) I sold it back to the supplying dealer, lost about £1,500 which I didn't think was too bad as it would likely have sat around for a year or so and ended up selling for even less if I hadn't acted immediately.

JumboBeef

3,772 posts

176 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
Sorry for your loss.

I had a similar but different issue when my father passed in 2009. He had a Focus which he'd had since new in 2001. I wanted my brother to have it (long story) which he did. 8 years on its still going strong and my brother will no doubt keep it forever.

Bunfighter

37,010 posts

210 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
Squadrone Rosso said:
Thanks again for the advice.

Kia gave me a price / insult for his Venga.

In just 110 days / 520 miles from new, it's lost a staggering £5255! I'm gobsmacked. I think he'd haunt me if I moved it on for that frown

Apparently, I can voluntarily terminate the PCP on my Panda for a smallish fee.

Even with a 4K mile @ £0.06 ppm excess mileage charge, this is by far the most sensible option (even though I'll have a v on my credit report.....but not as a negative......even though lenders may query it....??).

Trouble is, the Panda Cross genuinely appeals as our second car / daily driver whereas the Venga, despite the mega spec & ownership package, really doesn't.





As you say, need to sleep on it for a week or so & to bring me back down to earth with a kick in the nuts, I wrote his eulogy today frown
Call round a few dealers. Some places use bereavement/injury to get a cheap deal due to 'just want rid'/out of sight. Would wbac be interested in it? For the sake of a few calls it might be worth it. It's literally a ex demo.

My condolences are with you.