A Guide To Selling A Car During Probate
Probate is the legal process of dealing with the assets of a deceased estate. Those assets can include a vehicle, and this guide focuses on selling a car from a deceased estate.
What This Guide Covers:
1. Can You Sell An Inherited Car Before Probate?
A car is usually considered part of the estate but may not need to go through probate.
However, it still means its sale or transfer must follow specific rules. Your solicitor will need to guide you with this, but once you’re named as the executor or administrator, you’ll have the authority to deal with the car as you see fit.
Key Points to Know:
You must always consult a solicitor. This guide is only intended to help you ask the right questions of your legal counsel, not replace or supersede them. You can find a list of recommended solicitors here 1st For Probate Help & Advice On Inherited Vehicles
- Jointly Owned Cars: These bypass probate and transfer directly to the surviving owner.
- Sole Ownership: These cars require probate to determine who can sell or keep them.
- Do You Always Need Probate? Not always. Check with a solicitor if the estate is small or straightforward.
Want more details about probate? Visit the UK Government probate guide.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Sell An Inherited Car
Step 1: Confirm Ownership and Authority
- Check the car’s registration (V5C logbook) to see who the registered keeper is.
- Look for paperwork that can prove who paid for the car.
- Speak to the finance company and find out how to obtain a settlement quotation so that you know how much is owed.
- Review the will or obtain Letters of Administration if there’s no will. This proves you have the legal right to manage the estate.
In all cases, seek the help of a qualified solicitor to ensure you have the legal right to sell it and benefit from the full sales price.
Step 2: Notifying The DVLA
You may not need to notify the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) if you’re selling the car and not going to drive it. Get advice from us BEFORE doing this.
If you intend to use the car on a public highway, you must first inform the DVLA about the change of ownership on the V5 registration document.
- You can use the Tell Us Once service, but if there’s a private number, this can be more complicated. read this first How To Keep Your Private Number Plate: Deceased Estate
- If you’re selling, we will transfer the vehicle into the trade account with the DVLA to ensure you are not contacted.
Notify the DVLA here: Notify DVLA about a death.
Step 3: Get A Quick Valuation
The quickest way to get a rough idea without too much effort is to use the webuyanycars online valuation tool.
Bear in mind that their figure won’t be 100% accurate, as it’s designed to encourage you to take the car to them for a final appraisal. But it will give you some idea of where the market is.
But the best way of getting an accurate valuation for either your records or if you have decided to sell is to use a company like ours that can physically inspect the car where it is stored.
Unlike big corporate car-buying companies like Carwow and Motorway, the key is that our company won’t leave you to deal with the dealer.
Dealers can impose their inspection or collection terms on you, but they can’t do that with our managed sales process.
FAQ For Inherited Vehicles
6. Find A Probate Solicitor In North Yorkshire
Selling a car during probate doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Following this step-by-step guide, you can handle the process efficiently, respectfully, and without unnecessary stress. For the best results, work with trusted professionals and specialist car-buying companies to make the experience as smooth as possible.
If you’re dealing with this situation, remember: you don’t have to go through it alone. Use the resources and tips in this guide to simplify your journey.
Legal Disclaimer
📌 Need help? Visit Gov.uk or speak to a probate solicitor for legal advice. 🚗
Disclaimer: The information on this website does not constitute professional legal advice. It is intended to guide you in handling a deceased person’s vehicle within the legal framework. Our expertise lies in vehicle valuation and assisting with the necessary processes, but we are not solicitors. For legal matters, we recommend consulting a probate specialist. Visit our Directory of Recommended Probate Solicitors for expert legal support.