Telling DVLA after someone dies

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1. What you need to do

You can use the Tell Us Once service to notify DVLA when someone dies if it’s available in your area.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You still have to tell DVLA separately when you:

If Tell Us Once is not available in your area

Write to DVLA to tell them a driver has died. Include the person’s driving licence with your letter, if you have it.

Your letter must include:

  • your relationship to the person who died
  • the date they died
  • their name, address and date of birth

Send the letter to:

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1AB

You do not need to send a death certificate.

If you need help

Contact DVLA if you need help.

Northern Ireland

There’s a different process in Northern Ireland.

2. Keeping a vehicle

Tell DVLA that you’re the new keeper of the vehicle and tax it in your own name straight away.

You cannot transfer vehicle tax from another person. You must tax the vehicle in your name even if you’re taking over ownership as a family member or looking after it for a short time.

You can be prosecuted if you use the vehicle on a public road before taxing it in your own name and insuring it.

What you do depends on whether you have the vehicle log book (V5C).

If you have the vehicle log book (V5C)

  1. Fill in section 2 if you have a new style log book with multi-coloured numbered blocks on the front cover. Fill in section 6 if you have the older style log book.

  2. Tear off and keep the green ‘new keeper’ slip.

  3. Write a letter explaining your relationship to the person who died, the date they died and who should be paid any vehicle tax refund.

  4. Send the V5C with your letter to the DVLA Sensitive Casework Team. Also include form V890 if you want to register the vehicle as off the road (SORN) instead of taxing it.

  5. DVLA will immediately cancel any existing vehicle tax and direct debits, and send a cheque for any refund and a new V5C.

  6. Use the new keeper slip to tax the vehicle in your name before you use it on a public road. Do not wait for the new V5C.

Sensitive Casework Team
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1ZZ

If you do not have the vehicle log book (V5C)

  1. Fill in form V62 to apply for a V5C. There’s a £25 fee.

  2. Write a letter explaining your relationship to the person who died, the date they died and who should be paid any vehicle tax refund.

  3. Send the V62 and fee with your letter to the DVLA Sensitive Casework Team. Also include form V890 if you want to register the vehicle as off the road (SORN) instead of taxing it.

  4. DVLA will immediately cancel any existing vehicle tax and direct debits, and send you a new V5C.

  5. Use your new V5C to tax the vehicle.

Sensitive Casework Team
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1ZZ

If you need help

Contact DVLA if you need help.

3. Selling a vehicle

What you do depends on whether you have the vehicle log book (V5C).

If you have the vehicle log book (V5C)

Write a letter explaining:

  • your relationship to the person who died
  • the date the person died
  • who should be paid any vehicle tax refund (vehicle tax cannot be transferred to a new owner)

Send the letter to the DVLA Sensitive Casework Team with the right part of the V5C. The part you send depends on whether you’re selling the vehicle to a private individual or a motor trader.

DVLA Sensitive Casework Team
Swansea
SA99 1ZZ

Selling to a private individual

  1. Fill in section 2 if you have a new style log book with multi-coloured numbered blocks on the front cover. Fill in section 6 if you have the older style log book.

  2. Give the green ‘new keeper’ slip to the buyer.

  3. Send the V5C with your letter to the DVLA Sensitive Casework Team.

Selling to a motor trader

  1. Get the motor trader to fill in the yellow ‘sell, transfer or part-exchange your vehicle to the motor trade’ section of the log book.

  2. Send the perforated section with your letter to the DVLA Sensitive Casework Team.

  3. Give the motor trader the rest of the V5C.

If you do not have the vehicle log book (V5C)

When you sell the car tell the buyer they’ll need to fill in form V62 to apply for a V5C. There’s a £25 fee.

You need to write a letter to the DVLA Sensitive Casework Team to tell them you’ve sold the vehicle. Your letter needs to say:

  • the date you sold the vehicle
  • your relationship to the person who died
  • the date they died
  • who should be paid any vehicle tax refund
  • the buyer’s name and address

DVLA Sensitive Casework Team
Swansea
SA99 1ZZ

If you need help

Contact DVLA if you need help.