Sell a car following bereavement

    We’ll help you sell a car following a bereavement. It’s simple to sell for a verified dealer’s best price.

    How to sell a deceased person’s car

    When someone close to you passes away, it can be a very difficult time and there may be a lengthy period of mourning before you feel able to settle their financial affairs. However, when you’re ready, it’s worth understanding the legal steps involved.

    Before you can sell the car, here’s what you need to do:

    -Ensure the death has been registered, and that you have the death certificate.

    -Notify key organisations such vehicle finance providers, and insurance companies of the death. For government services, if you’re in England, Wales, or Scotland, you can notify all bodies simultaneously using the Tell us Once service.

    -Gather the relevant vehicle documentation and bereavement documentation.

    -Work out who’s legally entitled to handle the estate:

    -If they left a will, and Probate, Confirmation, or Administration hasn’t been granted yet: The will names an executor. This person is responsible for handling their estate, including selling the car.

    Preparing to sell a car on probate

    Selling a loved one’s car after they pass can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to guide you through the process with specialist support.

    If the deceased owned a car, Motorway can help you to sell it at any stage in the process of handling their estate; whether it’s in the early stages of processing a will, circumstances in which no will was left, or sales in which a grant of probate, confirmation, or administration has already been awarded – our team can support you.

    Ready to sell on probate?

    Selling a car with Motorway following a bereavement is quick and simple. We understand just how many things you’ll be juggling when dealing with the loss of a loved one, and we can help by taking on the sale of the vehicle for you.

    Simply create a vehicle profile and more than 7,500 verified dealers from across the UK will compete to give you their best price to buy your car.

    Approve your highest offer, and we’ll arrange a free collection of your car and fast payment.

    Please do let our teams know about the circumstances of your sale, and we’ll ensure you receive support throughout your time with us.

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    quick and easy way to sell a car on probate

    What are probate, confirmation, and administration?

    When someone passes away, their affairs need to be sorted out, like paying any outstanding debts and dividing up their estate (if they have one) to the people who are meant to inherit.

    This is called ‘Probate’ in England and Wales, and ‘Confirmation’ in Scotland. If no will was left and the person died intestate, this is known as ‘Administration’. They are all different names for very similar processes, and are handled by the person named as the executor in the deceased’s will (if they have one), or as Administrator under the rules of intestacy.

    Part of these processes involves working out if any Inheritance Tax is owed and reporting it to HMRC, as well as applying for a grant which allows you to deal with all of the deceased’s property, assets, and money.

    The executor or personal representative also has to value everything the deceased owned—including their car, if they had one.

    selling a car before probate is granted

    Can I sell a car before probate is granted?

    Yes, you can — but only if you’re the deceased’s named executor or administrator, or you are acting on their behalf.

    Legally, there are two types of property covered by probate:

    – Fixtures: These are immovable parts of the estate, such as kitchen fittings, radiators, built-in cupboards, and floor coverings.

    – Chattels: These are movable items, including white goods, furniture, and cars.

    As a chattel, you don’t have to wait for the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration to transfer or sell the car.

    car value price tag icons

    How to value a car for probate

    Valuing a car for probate means determining its market value at the time of the owner’s death. Several factors influence the value of used cars in the UK, including:

    – Make and model

    – Mileage

    – Condition

    – Special features or modifications

    – Location

    – Current market trends

    Motorway’s Car Value Tracker tool gives you an instant, real-time valuation for up to six vehicles at once, using live and historical sales data from across the UK.

    Before selling or transferring an inherited car or van, you’ll need to prove you have the legal right to do so. If you’re selling a deceased person’s car on Motorway:

    – Let us know when you list the vehicle

    You can also find a wealth of information in our Bereavement Help Centre.

    We’re here to support you every step of the way.

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    FAQs

    What do I do with the vehicle V5C?

    If a deceased individual’s car is owned outright, executors or personal representatives can simply sell the car on or retain it for personal use. Depending on what you decide to do, you may wish to take differing approaches with the V5C registration document.

    If you intend to keep or temporarily drive the vehicle: 

    You will need to transfer the V5C into the name of a living person in order to add a new registered keeper, and tax and insure the vehicle in their name. You can find out more about this process here.

    If you do not intend to drive the vehicle, and will be selling it imminently:

    You can notify the DVLA of the death using the Tell us Once service, or by writing a letter to the DVLA. You can find the details of this process here. You should keep hold of the original V5C however, and avoid adding yourself as a keeper, which can devalue the vehicle.

    The V5C will remain valid for onward sale, and once the vehicle has sold, you can hand over the original V5C in the name of the deceased to the dealer, and then notify the DVLA that the vehicle has been sold to a motor trader here. A new keeper will be added once the dealer sells the car on.

    If you don’t intend to drive, tax, or insure the vehicle, and won’t be selling imminently:

    As well as notifying the DVLA of the death, you should also make a SORN notification and store the vehicle on private property, off of public roads. Motorway are still able to help you sell the vehicle at a later stage, provided the vehicle has at least 30 days of valid MOT.

    What if there is outstanding finance on the deceased’s car?

    If there is outstanding finance on the deceased person’s car and the executors or personal representatives want to retain it, it is usually possible to take over the payments by getting in touch with the finance company. If you wish to sell the vehicle, the finance company may agree to pause payments for a period of time provided the agreement is to be settled in full.

    Motorway’s dealers can help to clear finance, and will pay the finance house directly as part of the purchase of the vehicle. All we need is an up to date settlement letter, outlining the amount due to clear the finance on the vehicle, and we’ll take care of the rest.

    If the price the car is sold at is lower than the amount still owed, the shortfall will need to be covered by the executors or personal representatives – or by the deceased’s estate. This will need to be done on or before the day of collection – it can’t be settled at a later date.

    Can I scrap a deceased person's car for money?

    If the deceased person’s car is of little commercial or sentimental value, then scrapping it might be the best option.  

    Most scrappage firms will collect the car for free and give you the car’s ‘scrap value’ – this will be based on the car’s make, model, age, and condition.

    If the deceased’s executors or personal representatives decide to go down this route, they must remember to inform the DVLA that they have taken it to an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) – or they can be fined up to £1,000.

    They will also need to ensure that they give the ATF the car’s logbook (V5C), whilst retaining the yellow section – the notification of sale or transfer of ownership.

    How do I sell a deceased person’s car with Motorway?

    When a loved one dies, it can be stressful if you’re named as executor or personal representative, simply because there are several legal hoops to jump through. If you do need to sell a deceased person’s car, Motorway can help make the process easier – whether the deceased person’s car was owned outright or on finance.  

    If you are selling a deceased person’s car, simply let Motorway know this when you are listing the car. We support executors or personal representatives as much as we possibly can.

    Why choose to sell with Motorway following a bereavement?

    As well as supporting executors or personal representatives through what can be a difficult process, Motorway can help you find a buyer for the car in as little as 24 hours. 

    After you have been directed through making a profile for the car – which usually takes a few minutes – they will then add the car to a daily sale at which car dealers compete to give their best prices. You will then be given the highest offer for the car.  

    If you choose to accept the highest offer, the winning dealer will then collect the car for free – and pay you via secure bank transfer.

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