Selling the deceased's used car...
Discussion
So I lost my father this week suddenly, and I have to say genuinely the worst day of my life. My week has been a blur but generally supporting my mum and trying to balance comfort/caring/pragmatism etc - it's been a tough one!
Under the pragmatic heading, we need to dispose of his car fairly swiftly as I understand that it effectively becomes no longer insured once the policy holder dies, and the DVLA even cancel the tax as soon as they get wind!
It's an immaculate, low mileage, always garaged 7 year old car worth around £10k, so think it it should be a fairly easy sale, but for the sake of my mum would rather sell private to get a few more quid for it. The v5 is in my dad's name, so how would we deal with that if selling privately as clearly it won't bear my dad's signature on the transfer part etc? What's the best means of dealing with this short of a quick drive to webuyanycar??!
Thanks!
Under the pragmatic heading, we need to dispose of his car fairly swiftly as I understand that it effectively becomes no longer insured once the policy holder dies, and the DVLA even cancel the tax as soon as they get wind!
It's an immaculate, low mileage, always garaged 7 year old car worth around £10k, so think it it should be a fairly easy sale, but for the sake of my mum would rather sell private to get a few more quid for it. The v5 is in my dad's name, so how would we deal with that if selling privately as clearly it won't bear my dad's signature on the transfer part etc? What's the best means of dealing with this short of a quick drive to webuyanycar??!
Thanks!
Sorry to hear your situation, my sympathies.
You can tell DVLA, there is also a link to the tell us once service that notifies lots of different services at once.
https://www.gov.uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement
You can tell DVLA, there is also a link to the tell us once service that notifies lots of different services at once.
https://www.gov.uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement
Been through this recently.
WBAC have a guide, the big chains wanted a lawyers letter, probate was a potential issue.
Ultimately a local dealer was happy with a quick look at the Will and a signature from the widow and he collected, so no insurance/ tax problems.
It was in a garage so I was able to SORN in good time.
Only buggeration was the tax refund in the name of the deceased, I’ve sent that back to and hope to have it renamed.
https://www.webuyanycar.com/guides/selling-and-buy...
WBAC have a guide, the big chains wanted a lawyers letter, probate was a potential issue.
Ultimately a local dealer was happy with a quick look at the Will and a signature from the widow and he collected, so no insurance/ tax problems.
It was in a garage so I was able to SORN in good time.
Only buggeration was the tax refund in the name of the deceased, I’ve sent that back to and hope to have it renamed.
https://www.webuyanycar.com/guides/selling-and-buy...
Sorry for your loss.
I'll probably get slated for this but considering the circumstances, I'd want to deal with it as painlessly and quickly as possible....as dealing with the DVLA is the complete opposite of this, I would simply advertise the vehicle and find a buyer and when it comes to transferring ownership, sign the logbook with your Father's signature. It's not as if they have his signature on file and compare it to every signature he has ever done during his life.
Job jobbed.
I'll probably get slated for this but considering the circumstances, I'd want to deal with it as painlessly and quickly as possible....as dealing with the DVLA is the complete opposite of this, I would simply advertise the vehicle and find a buyer and when it comes to transferring ownership, sign the logbook with your Father's signature. It's not as if they have his signature on file and compare it to every signature he has ever done during his life.
Job jobbed.
Sorry to hear it, lost someone recently,
We notified bank who also stopped money going in causing issues and need to pursue people paying debts back to the estate, but they told all DD recipients and insurer wrote a bereavement email giving a date (I think a month away) of cancelation.
If your not aware and going cremation path, can arrange direct with local crematorium who collects from morgue and cut out middle men for less.
We notified bank who also stopped money going in causing issues and need to pursue people paying debts back to the estate, but they told all DD recipients and insurer wrote a bereavement email giving a date (I think a month away) of cancelation.
If your not aware and going cremation path, can arrange direct with local crematorium who collects from morgue and cut out middle men for less.
My condolences, I had to go through something similar this earlier this year for my mum's car. However I was a named driver on her policy and was given 30 days grace by the insurance company to be fully insured on the car, by which time I had to transfer the V5 and road tax to my name.
Condolences, the easiest way would be a quick private sale, or alternatively get a WBAC valuation to work with and then approach small local motor traders with loads of photos and all the paperwork and keys you can find as they may be more flexible on proof of ownership etc, plus they’ll collect rather than you having to deliver it to a WBAC site for them to pick holes in it and knock the value down.
I dispose of deceaseds cars for probates and a local trader is by far the easiest option and it’s usually quick and painless if not the ultimate best price you could potentially get.
I dispose of deceaseds cars for probates and a local trader is by far the easiest option and it’s usually quick and painless if not the ultimate best price you could potentially get.
My condolences like others
I did the same a couple years back (dad died) leaving my mum.
We did the 'tell us once' route.
Dad left mum the car 'wordly chattels'
I tried selling it back to the dealer (PCP)- not interested- this was mid covid though
I tried selling it via WBAC - can't remember but it was too difficult
Sold it via Motorway but it fell through despite me being very open about the situation.
In the end I sold it back to the dealer network (who were brilliant tbh)
I did the same a couple years back (dad died) leaving my mum.
We did the 'tell us once' route.
Dad left mum the car 'wordly chattels'
I tried selling it back to the dealer (PCP)- not interested- this was mid covid though
I tried selling it via WBAC - can't remember but it was too difficult
Sold it via Motorway but it fell through despite me being very open about the situation.
In the end I sold it back to the dealer network (who were brilliant tbh)
Sorry for your loss.
Hopefully this may give some guidance.
https://www.gov.uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement/sel...
Hopefully this may give some guidance.
https://www.gov.uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement/sel...
Insurance should be able to change the policy to "Executors of the estate of..." and provided you or your mum are named drivers you can still carry on using the car until the estate is distributed per the terms of the will and has passed through probate. If you are not on the policy and need to be, the executors can then act to grant authorisation to the insurer for them to add you. Insurer will typically need a copy of the will and the request to make any changes will need to come from an Executor of course.
Done the same a few years ago and it went like this :
Phoned insurance company and told them of the death. They then put me on the insurance for a month to facilitate selling it. They suggested I could have more if needed.
Booked a slot at WBAC
Went down with mum and took ID proof , death certificate , log book etc etc
Price agreed , car sold and monies went into mum`s account that day
Informed insurance company car was sold so policy could be stood down.
I expected a battle but could not have been easier actually. Good luck
Phoned insurance company and told them of the death. They then put me on the insurance for a month to facilitate selling it. They suggested I could have more if needed.
Booked a slot at WBAC
Went down with mum and took ID proof , death certificate , log book etc etc
Price agreed , car sold and monies went into mum`s account that day
Informed insurance company car was sold so policy could be stood down.
I expected a battle but could not have been easier actually. Good luck
When my dad died I used the Tell Us Once service which is useful for informing many government agencies and this invoked DVLA by letter as follows
Dear Mr XXXXX
Vehicle Registration Numbers: AAA BBB, CCC DDD
Thank you for your recent Tell us once notification. Please accept my condolences on your
loss.
I have amended the vehicle records and can confirm that the late Mr XXXXX is no longer
shown as the current keeper of these vehicles.
Any vehicle tax for these vehicles has now ended and they are no longer taxed. If
applicable, we will automatically issue a refund of vehicle tax for any full remaining
months for AAA BBB. The vehicles should not be kept on a public road.
If you are keeping the vehicles, passing them to a relative or selling them, you must register
the new keeper details with DVLA. You can do this online at www.gov.uk/sold-boughtvehicle
using the vehicle registration certificate (V5C). Or, you can complete the new
keeper section on the V5C and post it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. If you do not have
the V5C, you will need to apply for a new one by sending us a completed 'Application for a
vehicle registration certificate' (V62) available from a post office branch, a fee is
applicable. You can download this form at www.gov.uk/dvlaforms
You can tax online at www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax or by phoning 0300 123 4321. You can tax
at a Post Office branch that deals with vehicle tax.
Visit www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder or ring 0845 722 3344 for more information.
If the vehicles are to be kept off road, the registered vehicle keeper must tell us by making a
Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). Only the registered keeper can make a SORN.
You can do this online at www.gov.uk/make-a-sorn by phoning 0300 123 4321 or by
sending us a completed V890 form available from a post office branch. For more
information on SORN go to www.gov.uk/sorn
Yours sincerely
Rhian Davies
Vehicle Casework Unit
So for an unspecified time the vehicle had no registered keeper and no tax and no SORN and this could have continued indefinitely for ever and ever.
Dear Mr XXXXX
Vehicle Registration Numbers: AAA BBB, CCC DDD
Thank you for your recent Tell us once notification. Please accept my condolences on your
loss.
I have amended the vehicle records and can confirm that the late Mr XXXXX is no longer
shown as the current keeper of these vehicles.
Any vehicle tax for these vehicles has now ended and they are no longer taxed. If
applicable, we will automatically issue a refund of vehicle tax for any full remaining
months for AAA BBB. The vehicles should not be kept on a public road.
If you are keeping the vehicles, passing them to a relative or selling them, you must register
the new keeper details with DVLA. You can do this online at www.gov.uk/sold-boughtvehicle
using the vehicle registration certificate (V5C). Or, you can complete the new
keeper section on the V5C and post it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. If you do not have
the V5C, you will need to apply for a new one by sending us a completed 'Application for a
vehicle registration certificate' (V62) available from a post office branch, a fee is
applicable. You can download this form at www.gov.uk/dvlaforms
You can tax online at www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax or by phoning 0300 123 4321. You can tax
at a Post Office branch that deals with vehicle tax.
Visit www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder or ring 0845 722 3344 for more information.
If the vehicles are to be kept off road, the registered vehicle keeper must tell us by making a
Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). Only the registered keeper can make a SORN.
You can do this online at www.gov.uk/make-a-sorn by phoning 0300 123 4321 or by
sending us a completed V890 form available from a post office branch. For more
information on SORN go to www.gov.uk/sorn
Yours sincerely
Rhian Davies
Vehicle Casework Unit
So for an unspecified time the vehicle had no registered keeper and no tax and no SORN and this could have continued indefinitely for ever and ever.
Never heard of the tell us once service, however when my son died 20 years ago and i had to handle things all relevant services banks etc could not have been more helpful and sympathetic.
Hope you have a similar experience.
Sorry to hear about your dad, a shattering time for your mother yourself and anyone else close.
Hope you have a similar experience.
Sorry to hear about your dad, a shattering time for your mother yourself and anyone else close.
My father passed away in February of this year and I feel your pain, a bit off topic but please, don't be afraid to ask for help, I didnt for 4 months and then when something else went wrong in my life I hit rock bottom, went to a really dark place and had to deal with 2 lots of grief but I'm glad that now I have reached out and got professional help, I just wish I'd have done it sooner.
In terms of selling a car, we sold dads car to WBAC, and as above we took Mum's ID, the log book, Dads death certificate and they sorted everything, they even notified DVLA of the change of ownership
Seeing their drive with only one car on was so hard, be prepared for it
In terms of selling a car, we sold dads car to WBAC, and as above we took Mum's ID, the log book, Dads death certificate and they sorted everything, they even notified DVLA of the change of ownership
Seeing their drive with only one car on was so hard, be prepared for it
Actual said:
So for an unspecified time the vehicle had no registered keeper and no tax and no SORN and this could have continued indefinitely for ever and ever.
Yes my late mum's car became like that after the tell us once notification. I sold it to a private buyer, explained it was a probate sale - i was the executor and i obtained probate within 6 weeks. All sold, no issues.This is cathartic - thanks for the reassurances!
It's a week tomorrow since the day. It was sudden - heart attack into cardiac arrest, and gone within an hour or so of the 999 call. I got to the hospital just after he passed, my mum there in shock and disbelief and all I could do was hug her and join her tears.
We saw him after he had gone, looking rested and as if asleep. It was an image that won't leave me but I'm glad I saw him, and strangely felt comforting. Spent the night at my mum's, my other half away in the US on business, and that was a tough first night... They had been to Tesco in the morning, a very ordinary start to the day, home by 11am and between then, the paramedics, the hospital, and back home, it was less than four hours. It seemed outer-worldly and a parallel universe I didn't want to be in...
Last week she spent most of her time with me, stayed at mine overnight, and fortunately my partner was able to get an early flight home to the UK. My mum and I were in trauma, deeply shocked and sad, but as the week went on, reality bit and somehow it has seemed easier each day. Funeral directors on Friday was hard, and my mum bravely spent her first night back at home on her own. She is disorientated, her short term memory not the best anyway, but this has heightened those symptoms to the point of my concern. So far that is settling a little better but undeniably she is still suffering from such a massive upset to routine, as well as huge sadness for her loss.
We are hugely fortunate she's got a decent circle of very supportive friends and that should ease the pressure on me too, coupled with my partner doing what she can to support me too and providing some respite. That's been a huge saviour and Ill be so grateful for those that have rallied round.
Unfortunately, we can't put a date on the funeral yet until it's gone through the coroner, and this has also prevented us from doing anything practical re notifying banks/gov/pensions etc etc. In the meanwhile, just getting some plans to put some affairs in order seems positive, and I hope has taken a small amount of anxiety away from everything that will at some point need addressing - the car being a small but significant part of this.
I'm sure there will be blips but I'm hugely proud of how we've pulled through this week and I'm almost feeling guilty that my tears have started to appear less often as the week has gone on.
There is a long long way to go but if we can stay on a generally upward trajectory then that's all I can hope for. Each day as it comes etc.
Not sure what the purpose of this post was but it does feel good getting it out there. If anyone else is going through the same, then mop up all the support, stay strong, and be the best version of yourself you can...
It's a week tomorrow since the day. It was sudden - heart attack into cardiac arrest, and gone within an hour or so of the 999 call. I got to the hospital just after he passed, my mum there in shock and disbelief and all I could do was hug her and join her tears.
We saw him after he had gone, looking rested and as if asleep. It was an image that won't leave me but I'm glad I saw him, and strangely felt comforting. Spent the night at my mum's, my other half away in the US on business, and that was a tough first night... They had been to Tesco in the morning, a very ordinary start to the day, home by 11am and between then, the paramedics, the hospital, and back home, it was less than four hours. It seemed outer-worldly and a parallel universe I didn't want to be in...
Last week she spent most of her time with me, stayed at mine overnight, and fortunately my partner was able to get an early flight home to the UK. My mum and I were in trauma, deeply shocked and sad, but as the week went on, reality bit and somehow it has seemed easier each day. Funeral directors on Friday was hard, and my mum bravely spent her first night back at home on her own. She is disorientated, her short term memory not the best anyway, but this has heightened those symptoms to the point of my concern. So far that is settling a little better but undeniably she is still suffering from such a massive upset to routine, as well as huge sadness for her loss.
We are hugely fortunate she's got a decent circle of very supportive friends and that should ease the pressure on me too, coupled with my partner doing what she can to support me too and providing some respite. That's been a huge saviour and Ill be so grateful for those that have rallied round.
Unfortunately, we can't put a date on the funeral yet until it's gone through the coroner, and this has also prevented us from doing anything practical re notifying banks/gov/pensions etc etc. In the meanwhile, just getting some plans to put some affairs in order seems positive, and I hope has taken a small amount of anxiety away from everything that will at some point need addressing - the car being a small but significant part of this.
I'm sure there will be blips but I'm hugely proud of how we've pulled through this week and I'm almost feeling guilty that my tears have started to appear less often as the week has gone on.
There is a long long way to go but if we can stay on a generally upward trajectory then that's all I can hope for. Each day as it comes etc.
Not sure what the purpose of this post was but it does feel good getting it out there. If anyone else is going through the same, then mop up all the support, stay strong, and be the best version of yourself you can...
Smint said:
Never heard of the tell us once service, however when my son died 20 years ago and i had to handle things all relevant services banks etc could not have been more helpful and sympathetic.
Hope you have a similar experience.
Sorry to hear about your dad, a shattering time for your mother yourself and anyone else close.
They tend to have specialist teams for deaths so that you're not just dealing with a general call centre. Like you we found them all to be very helpful which is what you need at a time like that.Hope you have a similar experience.
Sorry to hear about your dad, a shattering time for your mother yourself and anyone else close.
Same happened to my dad, my mum dealt with it, or tried to, by being busy. Cancelling sky sports, mobile phone, sorting my Dad's hobbies etc. Was after the funeral when it hit her most, when she was not busy.
7 years on she has done absolutely brilliantly
7 years on she has done absolutely brilliantly
Edited by SydneyBridge on Sunday 12th November 18:27
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