Transfer registration of a vehicle or vessel from someone who has died
If any vehicles or vessels are registered to the person who has died, the registration will need to be transferred or cancelled.
Once you have established the authorised representative of the estate, you can transfer the registration of any vehicles or vessels that are registered to the person who has died.
You can do all of this in one trip to a VicRoads Customer Service Centre.
How to transfer the registration of a vehicle from someone who has died
You’ll need to fill out the Transfer of registration from a deceased estate form (PDF 195KB) for each vehicle that needs to be transferred. You’ll need to include details of the:
- person who has died
- authorised representative of the estate as disposer
- person who the vehicle will now be registered to as acquirer.
You should also make sure the:
- vehicle has a current registration and isn’t reported as stolen or written off
- person who the vehicle will now be registered to has a Victorian driver licence or VicRoads customer number, or that they can visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre with evidence of identity.
You will then need to visit a VicRoads Customer Service Centre with the completed transfer form.
You may need to bring some more documents based on whether the vehicle is being transferred to:
- the authorised representative of the estate
- a person with beneficial entitlement (not spouse)
- another person or company.
You don't need to have a certificate of roadworthiness or pay the transfer fee or motor vehicle duty.
If the vehicle is being transferred to the spouse or domestic partner of the person who has died
Choose which of the two options below applies to your situation.
1. If the vehicle is being transferred on a temporary basis pending settlement of the estate:
- Fill in the transfer form with the details of the authorised representative of the estate as both disposer and acquirer.
- You will need to pay the transfer fee. You will not need to provide a certificate of roadworthiness or pay the motor vehicle duty.
2. If the authorised representative will remain the registered operator of the vehicle and is not the
spouse or a person with a beneficial entitlement:
- Fill in the transfer form with the details of the authorised representative of the estate as both disposer and acquirer.
- You will need to pay transfer fees, motor vehicle duty and provide a current certificate of roadworthiness.
If the vehicle is being transferred to the authorised representative of the estate
You will need to provide:
You won't need to pay motor vehicle duty.
If the vehicle is being transferred to a person with beneficial entitlement
You will need to provide:
If the vehicle is being transferred to another person or company
How to transfer the registration of a vessel from someone who has died
To transfer a vessel’s registration, you’ll need to fill out the Application for transfer of vessel registration from deceased estate form (PDF 271KB) for each vessel with details of the:
- person who has died as disposer
- person who the vessel will now be registered to as acquirer
- authorised representative of the estate.
You will need to transfer the boat’s trailer separately as a vehicle using the Transfer of registration from a deceased estate form (PDF 195KB).