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Notifying the DVLA of a bereavement

If you have suffered bereavement, you should notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) as soon as possible. Doing so will help prevent you receiving further correspondence relating to the deceased persons driving licence and or vehicle at a later date.

What you need to do

The information below will help advise you on how to notify DVLA and what to do with the deceased persons driving licence and vehicle registration document or certificate. If you need to return both documents to the DVLA, you can do so in the same envelope to either address stated below. You do not need to send them to the different addresses.

Driving licence

The driving licence should be returned to the DVLA with a covering letter explaining the circumstances, stating your relationship to the deceased. If you cannot find the driving licence,  you will need write stating the name, address and date of birth of the deceased, and your relationship (relative or executor) to the person. Please write to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB.

Vehicle registration document (V5) or certificate (V5C)

If the deceased person has a vehicle, how you notify DVLA will depend on whether you are keeping or selling the vehicle and the documentation available to you.

Keeping the vehicleregistration document or certificate available

You will need to complete the new keeper details in section B of the V5 or section six of the V5C. The new keeper should sign and date the new keeper declaration. Do not sign the registered keeper declaration. The V5 or V5C should be returned to DVLA with a covering letter explaining the circumstances and your relationship to the deceased person.  The new keeper should retain the green V5/2 or V5C/2 new keepers supplement. The letter and documents should be sent to CR Team, DVLA, Swansea SA6 7JL. The DVLA will aim to deliver a new registration certificate to the new keeper within four weeks of receipt.

Keeping the vehicle - registration document or certificate not available

You will need to send a letter to DVLA explaining the circumstances and your relationship to the deceased. Please send to CR Team, DVLA, Swansea SA6 7JL. The new keeper will need to complete form V62 Application for a registration certificate and send this to DVLA, Swansea SA99 1DD. Form V62 can is available from Post Office® branches, DVLA local offices or for download from the DVLA form ordering service. The DVLA aim to deliver a new registration certificate to the new keeper with four weeks. Please allow up to six weeks before contacting the DVLA.

Selling the vehicleregistration document or certificate available

Private sale

You will need to complete the new keeper details in section B of the V5 or section six of the V5C. The new keeper should sign and date the new keeper declaration. Do not sign the registered keeper declaration. The V5 or V5C should be returned to DVLA with a covering letter explaining the circumstances and your relationship to the deceased person.  The new keeper should retain the green V5/2 or V5C/2 new keepers supplement. The letter and documents should be sent to CR Team, DVLA, Swansea SA6 7JL. The DVLA will aim to deliver a new registration certificate to the new keeper within four weeks of receipt. Remember to keep a note of the buyers name and address details.

Selling to the motor trade

You will need to complete the sale/transfer to the motor trade section V5/3 on a V5 or section V5C/3(section nine) on a V5C. Do not sign the registered keeper declaration. The motor trader will also need to sign and date the slip. Return to DVLA with a covering letter explaining the circumstances and your relationship to the deceased. Give the motor trader the rest of the registration document or certificate. The letter and slip should be sent to CR Team, DVLA, Swansea SA6 7JL.

Selling the vehicleregistration document or certificate not available

You will need to write to the DVLA explaining the circumstances and relationship to the deceased. Include the exact date of sale and the name and address of the new keeper. The new keeper will need to complete form V62 Application for a registration certificate and send this to DVLA, Swansea SA99 1DD. Form V62 can is available from Post Office® branches, DVLA local offices or for download from the DVLA form ordering service. The DVLA aim to deliver a new registration certificate to the new keeper with four weeks. The new keeper should allow up to six weeks before contacting the DVLA.