Bereavement Cars and Probate
Bereavement cars and probate can be a confusing process, particularly after the death of a loved one. Selling a deceased person’s car is not the only way of disposing of a car responsibly. Read here to see how you can get Giveacar to arrange quick and free collection.
Raise money for a charity your loved one supported. Their old car can be auctioned or scrapped by Giveacar’s ATF and auction partners to help raise funds for your chosen charity.
Many of our donations come from family members following the death of a loved one. Some people want the vehicle gone as soon as possible and have no preference for its destination. The majority of our donors, though, have a real connection to these vehicles that have been a part of someone’s life – they ask that the proceeds go in support of a specific cause. Whatever the reason, Giveacar is here to help.
What to Do With a Legacy Car?
A motor vehicle is a mobile personal good, therefore making it a chattel. You do not have to wait until a grant of probate or letters of administration that have been issued in order to transfer a car to a new owner or seller.
Donate the deceased’s vehicle to a charity they cared for. With Giveacar, the car can be donated to any UK registered charity meaning there is always a cause it can help.
Informing the DVLA of Bereavement
England, Wales and Scotland
You should notify the DVLA as soon as possible. This can be done with the Tell US Once service. You will still have to tell DVLA separately when you donate the vehicle.
We suggest that you send them the owner’s driving licence along with Section 9 of the vehicle registration certificate filled out and with a cover letter detailing the following:
- Name, Address and Date of Birth
- Your relation to the person who died
- The date they died
Send this to the: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB. It’s important that Section 9 is completed otherwise legal responsibility for the vehicle won’t be transferred at the point of collection.
For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement
Northern Ireland
If you are in Northern Ireland, there is a different process which you can find out more here different process in Northern Ireland.
What Happens to the Car?
Giveacar are the car donation experts, therefore ensuring your bereavement vehicle’s value is maximised for the chosen charity.
Depending on the vehicle’s condition, age and millage we’ll either auction or recycle it. If recycled you can request a Certificate of Destruction provided to us by our partnered Authorised Treatment Facilities.
So as you can now see, selling a deceased person’s car isn’t the only means of appropriate disposal. Deciding what to do with the deceased car can be extremely difficult, however, this decision is made easier knowing their car is helping a charity they supported.