Anyone sold a dead relatives car before?

[simonas2702]

As the title says really.

My dad gave me his car the other week as his health was deteriorating. He wanted me to sell it then so I could tell him how much he should give my sister not that I was bothered about values etc. I felt wrong selling what was his pride and joy whilst he was alive.

Sadly my dad didn't make it to Christmas day Cancer is a c**t!

I will advertise his car in the next few weeks but will need to as I have 3 cars already and do not want to tax or insure another as much as I like this car for what it is and for sentimental reasons.

Its in my dads name on the logbook. Is it it a tricky process and do you transfer ownership first or can it be done using my dad as the existing owner and simply put the new owners details on the V5 as and when it sells/

Cheers guys for any feedback

[Jamescrs]

https://www.gov.uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement/kee...

You could probably get away with doing a transfer of owner online and using your fathers details assuming the DVLA haven't already been notified of his passing. I'm not sure if that's completely legal though so beware.

Sorry for your loss OP

(Post edited to add proper DVLA link)

Edited by Jamescrs on Friday 29th December 13:42

[Shaw Tarse]

Topic has been covered too many times
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Maybe try

https://contact.dvla.gov.uk/bereavement?locale=en
& yes cancer is a C

[KobayashiMaru86]

My Dad died in September and I wanted use of his Swift. I filled in the log book and transferred it over to me with a letter saying what had happened to the Bereavement team. Only slight hassle was taxing it as it was in the disabled class.

[Cads]

I sold My Mums car on her behalf when it was clear she wouldn't be driving again, she wasn't apply to consent and neither could she write a note to go with the sale explaining as much. Same rubbish Cancer story. I didn't want the car degrading just sitting there so sold it while it was still in good shape.
I didn't change the V5 and sold it without issue. I guess it helped we had the same surname should the buyer have queried why I was selling a car which wasn't in my name. I explained the situation and sold it no issues.
It was still taxed and insured in my Mothers name enabling me to at least test drive it legally.
Maybe not the correct way, but I had no issues.

[MitchT]

Firstly, sorry for your loss OP.

Secondly, if your dad has passed away with his name stil on the V5, does the car not become a part of his estate which will need to be distributed in the right and proper way by the executors of his will? Obviously I don't know how many beneficiaries are in his will but if one of them gets wind of the fact that a part of his estate was sold separately after his death, without being a part of the relevant calculations, they might take issue with it.

[Ramona]

Sorry for your loss.

Just to mention that the name on the V5C is the Registered Keeper and has nothing whatsoever to do with who owns the vehicle.

[Marcellus]

We recently sold a deceased uncles car, went to we buy any blah blah blah with the v5 in uncles name and the death certificate….. no questions/no issues

[Sporky]

As others have said, sorry for your loss. When my mum died I sold via an online platform (I'd dig out the name but they're gone now) to a trade buyer, he came on the train, knocked off £20 for a scratch/minor dent I'd genuinely not noticed, took a copy of the death certificate and was on his way.

[anonymous-user]

I had the same situation last year.
Just transfered them to my name on the dvla website.
X2 bikes that I forgot about I wrote the dvla a letter explaining and new log books arrived within days.

Very simple service to use

[Ffordd Ar Gau]

As others have covered the subject r.e DVLA, I will say little more. Only thing I’d be wary of, as someone has mentioned, is about the car being part of the estate. If you have a family that all get along and the car is of little value then there’s probably not going to be much fuss about it. Did the will include the car as an asset?
I would say that if you were a named executor in the will then you will be able to deal with this without issue. Although having never executed a will, I cannot comment with experience.

As a side note maybe add make/model/year of the car and you never know, someone here may see it and be interested… just a thought.

So sorry for you loss OP.

[Sporky]

Good point - I was a executor, and my mum's car was worth £5kish so very much oart of the estate.

[anonymous-user]

Just bang on a selling site and when any people ask, just explain situation, offer proof of ID's etc and it ill sell

Do the V5 online and crack on

But, more importantly mate. condolences of the loss of your father. Cancer is cruel

[aproctor1]

As the V5 isn't proof of ownership, I was under the impression the DVLA don't really care.

[croyde]

When my dad died, he didn't have much. Just his clapped out car.

It was surprisingly easy to sort selling, I think I rang the DVLA at the time but I see it's now online.

I talked about it on here at the time and a PHer got in touch and bought it

[simonas2702]

Thanks guys thats a big help.

No issues with estate, theres only my mum and my sister and he'd given it to me a couple of months back when thankfully he hung up his keys. sister fully aware etc Whatever I sell it for sister will get cash value from mum and rest distributed to our respective kids which is nice and easy

It is a 2006 Jag XK 4,2 coupe. I've been emjoying dailying it but I have other cars and the tax on this is that silly band of about £60 a month or whatever so it'll have to go

I'll put it up on here and see what happens

Once again thank you everyone youve been a great help

[catso]

Firstly my condolences.

My Father bought a new car 2 weeks before he died, it had done less than 200 miles and I contacted the dealership that he bought it from who were happy to buy it back at a reasonable price. As this saved the bother of dealing with tyre kickers etc. I took their offer.

I was named as executor of his estate and so signed the V5 accordingly, dealer was happy with this and there was no come back but I don't think DVLA are particularly bothered who signs?

Just a few months back I sold/scrapped my Son's car who has been travelling for the last 18 months and so was not here to sign anything, I did it online where there is no need for a signature anyway.