Letter to DVLA after a death: free driver and vehicle templates

Written by Settle Editorial Team · Last reviewed 3 Nov 2026

Checked on 3 Nov 2026 against the official sources listed at the end of this page, for England & Wales. This letter is free here and is not one of the nine in the Probate Starter Pack.

Quick answer: Two letters. Use the first to tell the DVLA that a driver has died if Tell Us Once wasn't available; GOV.UK says to include the person's driving licence if you have it, and that you don't need to send a death certificate. Use the second whenever you keep or sell the person's vehicle, even if you used Tell Us Once: GOV.UK says you must still tell the DVLA separately, and who should be paid any vehicle tax refund.

When to send it, and who to

Tell Us Once. Tell Us Once tells the DVLA to cancel a licence, remove the person as keeper of up to 5 vehicles and end the vehicle tax. If you used it, you don't need the first letter.
Driver letter: where it goes. GOV.UK gives DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AB. The letter must give your relationship to the person, the date they died, and their name, address and date of birth.
Vehicle letter: where it goes. GOV.UK gives Sensitive Casework Team, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1ZZ, for keeping or selling the vehicle. Vehicle tax can't be transferred: whoever keeps the car must tax it in their own name before using it on a public road.
Northern Ireland. There is a different process; these letters are for Great Britain.

DVLA: a driver has died

Copy it into an email or a document, replace every [bracket] with your own details, and delete what doesn't apply.

Free template · DVLA: a driver has died

[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1AB

Subject: Death of a driving licence holder: [full name]

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to tell you that [full name] of [address], date of birth [date of birth], died on [date of death]. I am [name]'s [relationship, for example son, daughter, spouse or executor].

[I enclose (name)'s driving licence. / I have not been able to find (name)'s driving licence.]

Yours faithfully, [name]

Probate Starter Pack · £4.99

This letter is free. The Probate Starter Pack has nine more executor letters

The pack has all nine letters ready to personalise, along with the 25-step checklist and the Excel estate accounts workbook. A 44-page printable toolkit, instant download.

See what’s inside →

This page and the letter are free to use.

DVLA: keeping or selling the vehicle

Copy it into an email or a document, replace every [bracket] with your own details, and delete what doesn't apply.

Free template · DVLA: keeping or selling the vehicle

[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]

Sensitive Casework Team
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1ZZ

Subject: Vehicle [registration number]: registered keeper [full name], deceased

Dear Sir or Madam,

The registered keeper of vehicle [registration number], [full name], died on [date of death]. I am [name]'s [relationship, for example son, daughter, spouse or executor].

[Keeping it: I am keeping the vehicle and enclose (the log book (V5C) with the new keeper section filled in / form V62 and the fee).] [Selling it: I sold the vehicle on (date of sale) to (buyer's name and address) and enclose (the V5C / the motor trade section of the V5C).] [I also enclose form V890 to register the vehicle as off the road (SORN).] (Delete what doesn't apply.)

Please pay any vehicle tax refund to [name of the person to be paid, for example the executor of (full name)'s estate].

Yours faithfully, [name]

What to enclose

Driver letter: the person's driving licence, if you have it. No death certificate is needed.
Keeping the vehicle: the log book (V5C) with the new keeper section filled in (section 2 on the new style, section 6 on the older style), keeping the green new keeper slip. Without a V5C, form V62 and the £25 fee.
Selling the vehicle: the V5C (to a private buyer, after giving them the green new keeper slip) or the yellow motor trade section (to a dealer). Without a V5C, give the date of sale and the buyer's name and address.
Form V890, if you want to register the vehicle as off the road (SORN) instead of taxing it.

Don't send original documents unless the organisation specifically asks for them. Keep a copy of the version you actually sent, the date, the reference number and the reply.

Common mistakes

Driving the car on the old tax. GOV.UK says you can be prosecuted for using it on a public road before taxing it in your own name and insuring it.
Waiting for the new V5C before taxing. GOV.UK says to use the new keeper slip to tax the vehicle straight away.
Selling before dealing with a personalised registration number. GOV.UK says you must do that before you sell the vehicle.
Leaving out who gets the refund. DVLA cancels the old tax and sends any refund to the person named in your letter.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to send a death certificate to the DVLA?

No. For the letter telling the DVLA that a driver has died, GOV.UK says you don't need to send a death certificate. Include the driving licence if you have it.

Does Tell Us Once tell the DVLA?

Yes. It cancels the licence, removes the person as keeper of up to 5 vehicles and ends the vehicle tax. You still tell the DVLA separately if you keep or sell a vehicle, or keep a personalised registration number.

Can I keep using the car on the person's tax?

No. Vehicle tax can't be transferred. Tax it in your own name, and insure it, before you use it on a public road.

What if I can't find the log book?

To keep the vehicle, apply for a V5C with form V62 and the £25 fee and send it with your letter. If you sell it, the buyer applies with form V62, and your letter gives the date of sale and the buyer's name and address.

Related guides

More free letter templates

Sources

General information for England and Wales, not legal advice. If the estate is complex, disputed or may not be able to pay its debts, take advice from a solicitor.