Guide
What happens if the registered keeper of a car dies
In this guide we go through how to contact the DVLA to notify them when someone dies and if you inherit a car.
Words by: Nimisha Jain
Published on 9 June 2025 | 0 min read
When someone passes away, there are certain tasks that need to be handled, such as registering their death, arranging a funeral, and informing relevant organisations and government bodies like the HMRC and DVLA.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to contact the DVLA. We’ll also go through the different options you can consider when you inherit a car from the deceased person.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to contact the DVLA. We’ll also go through the different options you can consider when you inherit a car from the deceased person.
1. Gather the documents
Find the car’s V5C logbook and the deceased person’s driving licence.
These documents will make it easier to inform the DVLA about the situation. If you can’t find these documents, there are other ways to inform the DVLA, which we’ve outlined below.
These documents will make it easier to inform the DVLA about the situation. If you can’t find these documents, there are other ways to inform the DVLA, which we’ve outlined below.
2. Decide whether you want to sell or keep the car
If you’ve inherited a car from your deceased loved one, you can either keep it under your name or sell it.
If you decide to keep the car, you’ll need to register the car under your name. Since you can’t transfer tax and insurance to yourself, you’ll have to tax the car again and get a new insurance policy to drive the car. You can find more information on how to tax and insure the car in our dedicated guides: • How to tax my car • How to insure my car You can sell the car if you have the legal entitlement. An executor or an administrator will be responsible for dealing with the deceased’s assets, including their car. They can give you a legal document that demonstrates that you’ve inherited the car. Here are some handy guides on how to sell your car: • How to sell my car • How to create an advert for my car
If you decide to keep the car, you’ll need to register the car under your name. Since you can’t transfer tax and insurance to yourself, you’ll have to tax the car again and get a new insurance policy to drive the car. You can find more information on how to tax and insure the car in our dedicated guides: • How to tax my car • How to insure my car You can sell the car if you have the legal entitlement. An executor or an administrator will be responsible for dealing with the deceased’s assets, including their car. They can give you a legal document that demonstrates that you’ve inherited the car. Here are some handy guides on how to sell your car: • How to sell my car • How to create an advert for my car
3. Contact the DVLA
You may be able to use the free Tell Us Once government service to inform most government departments (including the DVLA) when someone has died at once, if the deceased person lived in England, Scotland or Wales.
You can use the Tell Us Once service to cancel the deceased person’s driving licence and remove them from up to five vehicles registered under their name. Some local councils don’t offer the Tell Us Once service, so you’ll need to contact each department yourself. You’ll also need to contact the DVLA if you’ve inherited a car, and you want to keep the car or sell it. To inform the DVLA that someone has passed away, you’ll need to write a letter explaining your relationship to the deceased, the date they died, and who should receive the car’s tax refund. If you have the deceased person’s driving licence, you should send it with the letter. If you have the car’s V5C logbook, fill in section 2 of the new-style logbook or section 6 of the old-style logbook to inform the DVLA about the change in ownership of the car. Keep the green ‘new keeper’ slip from the V5C if you’re keeping the car or give it to the buyer if you’re selling the car. The ‘new keeper’ slip acts as proof of registration until the new logbook arrives. If you don’t have the car’s V5C logbook, you or the car’s buyer will have to fill a V62 form to order a new logbook. If you’re selling the car, include the buyer’s name and address in your letter to the DVLA mentioned above so they know when the buyer contacts them for a new V5C logbook. If you don’t intend to drive the car and want to declare it as SORN, you should also send a V890 form to the DVLA. Once you have all the paperwork ready – the letter to the DVLA, V5C logbook or V62 form, and the V890 form if declaring the car as SORN – send these to: Sensitive Casework Team DVLA Swansea SA99 1ZZ
You can use the Tell Us Once service to cancel the deceased person’s driving licence and remove them from up to five vehicles registered under their name. Some local councils don’t offer the Tell Us Once service, so you’ll need to contact each department yourself. You’ll also need to contact the DVLA if you’ve inherited a car, and you want to keep the car or sell it. To inform the DVLA that someone has passed away, you’ll need to write a letter explaining your relationship to the deceased, the date they died, and who should receive the car’s tax refund. If you have the deceased person’s driving licence, you should send it with the letter. If you have the car’s V5C logbook, fill in section 2 of the new-style logbook or section 6 of the old-style logbook to inform the DVLA about the change in ownership of the car. Keep the green ‘new keeper’ slip from the V5C if you’re keeping the car or give it to the buyer if you’re selling the car. The ‘new keeper’ slip acts as proof of registration until the new logbook arrives. If you don’t have the car’s V5C logbook, you or the car’s buyer will have to fill a V62 form to order a new logbook. If you’re selling the car, include the buyer’s name and address in your letter to the DVLA mentioned above so they know when the buyer contacts them for a new V5C logbook. If you don’t intend to drive the car and want to declare it as SORN, you should also send a V890 form to the DVLA. Once you have all the paperwork ready – the letter to the DVLA, V5C logbook or V62 form, and the V890 form if declaring the car as SORN – send these to: Sensitive Casework Team DVLA Swansea SA99 1ZZ
4. Cancel or renew tax, insurance and MOT
Tax - Once the DVLA have been notified, they’ll cancel the car’s tax. If you intend to keep the car and drive it, you’ll need to re-tax it under your name. You can tax the car on online on Gov.uk or by post. Use the 16-digit reference number on the V5C or green ‘new keeper’ slip to tax the car.
Related: How to tax my car Insurance - Usually, car insurance becomes invalid immediately after the policyholder passes away. You should contact the insurance company as soon as possible and get a new cover if you plan to drive the car. Related: 10 ways to save on car insurance MOT - All cars older than three years old need an annual MOT check. If the car’s MOT has run out, you’ll need to get a new MOT certificate to keep driving the car. Related: Complete guide to MOT tests Once you’ve registered yourself as the new keeper of the car, and taxed, insured and got the MOT, you’ll be ready to drive the car whenever you want. In summary, you need to contact the DVLA when someone dies and to sell or keep the deceased person’s car. You must tax and insure the car if you intend to drive it or declare it as SORN. You can also choose to sell the car if you have the legal entitlement to do so.
Related: How to tax my car Insurance - Usually, car insurance becomes invalid immediately after the policyholder passes away. You should contact the insurance company as soon as possible and get a new cover if you plan to drive the car. Related: 10 ways to save on car insurance MOT - All cars older than three years old need an annual MOT check. If the car’s MOT has run out, you’ll need to get a new MOT certificate to keep driving the car. Related: Complete guide to MOT tests Once you’ve registered yourself as the new keeper of the car, and taxed, insured and got the MOT, you’ll be ready to drive the car whenever you want. In summary, you need to contact the DVLA when someone dies and to sell or keep the deceased person’s car. You must tax and insure the car if you intend to drive it or declare it as SORN. You can also choose to sell the car if you have the legal entitlement to do so.