Among all the turmoil and chaos that comes with losing a loved one, there’s also the heartbreak of dealing with their remaining belongings. The decision is tough, but if you’re already here, that means you’ve set your mind to sell a dead person’s car. There are some legal steps you need to take, but it gets less confusing if you know what documents are needed. In this blog, we’ll go over the legal steps and the needed documents.
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What Documents Do You Need to Sell a Dead Person’s Car?
Before getting into the legal stuff, make sure you have the required documents ready. You’ll typically need:
- The deceased person’s death certificate
- The vehicle title or registration
- Your probate or administration documents showing you are authorized to sell
- Your personal ID
- Any loan release statement if the vehicle was financed
If the title is missing, you can apply for a replacement through your region’s motor vehicle registry.
The Legal Steps to Selling a Dead Person’s Car
The process has a specific procedure. You need to:
- Obtain Legal Authority: The first step is to obtain the car’s legal authority. A family member or a legal heir can go to court with a will and a death certificate from the local government to start the process of transferring car ownership after death. Afterwards, you can sell the car and make sure the buyer won’t have any problems with the car later on. Hold onto both copies. You’ll need them if anyone questions the documents’ legitimacy.
- Clear Loans: After the person who will inherit the car gets the legal papers, the next step is to check if there are any loans on the car that haven’t been paid yet. Before you can sell a deceased person’s car, you must clear any outstanding dues or auto loans. To do this, an inheritor can contact the bank or financing agency to get the NOC (Non-Objection Certificate) and other relevant documents.
- Check vehicle insurance: When a person dies, their vehicle insurance policy is transferred to the person who’s listed as the legal successor, assuming the policy is still valid. If the person who will receive the insurance is listed in the car insurance policy, but that person and the person who will inherit the policy aren’t the same, the policy will be transferred to the person listed in the policy. But if the nominee isn’t there, the policy will go to the legal heir.
It’s important to check if the vehicle insurance is still valid if you want to sell a car that belongs to a deceased person. If it’s valid, the heir has to apply for a car insurance policy transfer with a new RC to sell the vehicle.
Read Also: Selling a Car With Power of Attorney: A Clear Breakdown
Conclusion
Selling a deceased person’s vehicle can feel emotionally heavy and procedurally complex, but breaking it down into clear steps makes the process more manageable. With the right documents, proper legal authority, and an understanding of how loans and insurance transfer, you can navigate the sale with confidence. We believe taking care of these details not only protects the buyer but also brings closure to an important part of settling your loved one’s affairs.
If you want an easy solution to selling a car, contact Junk for Cash today. We understand the weight that comes with dealing with loss, and we’ll make sure the process is as smooth as possible.
