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  4. Case of bereavement

What you need to sell a car when the owner has passed away

One of the hardest tasks for a person who has lost someone is to decide what to do with their personal effects. The decision on what to do with sentimental and cherished items can be difficult but selling a car can also be difficult logistically.

If you are considering selling the car of a deceased person then please use the flowchart below to help you identify if we can help and what documentation we will require. We hope that this will help to make the process as simple as possible for you at what we know and appreciate is going to be a difficult time.

 

 

Bereavement car selling matrix

 

Are you able to provide a copy of the Death Certificate?

(We can also accept a copy of an Interim Death Certificate or Coroners Certificate if the Death Certificate has not yet been issued)

Is the value of the deceased's estate less than £10k? 1

  We're sorry, we won’t be able to proceed without a copy of the Death Certificate.

We can buy the car and pay the next of kin. Documents required:

  • Death certificate
  • Photo ID (Passport/Driver’s License) for Next of Kin
  • Proof of Next of Kin account details (Bank statement/Bank card)
  • We will also require the Next of Kin to complete a declaration form at the point of sale

Has Probate2 / Confirmation3 been granted?

We can buy the car from Executor named on the Grant/ Confirmation document. Documents required:

  • Death certificate
  • Photo ID and proof of address for the executor
  • Grant of Probate/Confirmation document
  • Payment is to be paid into the account used to manage the deceased’s estate so proof of the account details will be required

Is a Solicitor managing the Estate?

We will require a letter or email from the Estate’s Solicitor granting permission for the vehicle to be sold and confirming who payment should be released to. Documents required:

  • Death certificate
  • Photo ID (passport/driving licence) for the person bringing the car to branch for sale
  • Written authority from the solicitor (letter/e-mail) advising that the vehicle can be sold. The letter should also include instructions on where the payment should be made to (full account details)

Sometimes, a family prefers to manage the estate themselves, instead of instructing a solicitor to act on their behalf.

We can still buy the car however to aid the company, if you can provide a copy of the last Will and Testament, with written confirmation from the solicitors that drafted the will that the copy is the last known version, we can proceed with a payment to the Executor named on the Will. Documents required:

  • Death certificate
  • Photo ID (passport/driving licence) for the person bringing the car to branch for sale
  • Copy of the last known Will/Testament
  • Written confirmation from the solicitors that drafted the will, that the copy is the last known version.

This information together with the notes below are for guidance only. Please ensure you consult with professional advisors who will help you understand the steps required in order to be able to sell a deceased person's car or van. You must have the right to sell the car.

  1. The estate is the total amount in £s which has been left by the deceased car owner before it is distributed.
  2. 'Probate' is the English law court process by which a Will is proved valid or invalid. It also describes the legal process wherein the estate of a deceased is administered.
  3. In Scotland the 'Confirmation' is a legal document from the court giving the executor(s) authority to uplift any money or other property belonging to a deceased person from the holder (such as the bank), and to administer and distribute it according to law. An application is lodged with the sheriff court.

For further information issued by the Government click here

 

30 second car valuation

 

How we can help

Benefits of selling a car to us in the event of the death of its owner.

 

  • Fair price

    Our valuation engine which can be used online to value cars will give exactly the same price to someone no matter what your circumstances.

  • Convenient

    We can buy cars all over the UK and we’re open 7 days a week so you’ll be safe in the knowledge that you can sell the car when it suits you.

  • Easy documentation

    The amount you receive cannot be disputed and we can provide full documentation. This might be useful to you where proceeds of the sale may need to be distributed to more than one person or given to a solicitor who is acting on behalf of the estate.

  • We do buy any car!

    We can buy any car you have so whether it’s worth £100,000+ or just a few hundred pounds we can buy it.

 

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