Car Insurance after owner dies

[ianw19]

My father passed away this week and as a family we are trying to sort out his affairs. My surviving step-mother was never on the policy and it runs out next week.

Since the car is in his name and I'm assuming it is tied up in the estate, how can we keep the car insured if no one is yet the owner.

I'm going through his paperwork tomorrow to see if there is anything in the small print.

Suggestions?

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[st13phil]

Firstly, my condolences for your loss.

A couple of thoughts:

1) Contact the current insurer - they must have had this situation before, so should be able to offer advice;

2) Contact DVLA - again, they must have relevant knowledge.

Please post back with what you find as I’m sure it will help others at some time.

 

[Dippo]

Info here:

Bereavement Advice Centre | What To Do with a Car

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Any use of the car will need to be on your own, or whoever's, car insurance. Easily and quickly arranged with your own company.

Car can be immediately disposed of, with documents signed pro persona of your father. There is no need to wait for probate / estate processing, unless it's very valuable or you perceive that there is some family inheritance issue that might affect it: someone who might want the car, or have some issue about the value.

Condolences for your loss. This will be an immensely stressful time for everyone involved.

People have no idea how upsetting this process is until they've been through it. Personally, "being a bloke," I'd always counsel simply making lists and "getting on with it" in a structured way, and with some systematic consultation with those affected.

 

[Deleted member 55947]

Similar situation when my father died but my mother was on the policy as a driver. Insurance company was very sympathetic and transferred everything over into her name. As regards ownership the V5 was transferred into her name. Don’t forget the registered keeper is not legally the owner.

 

[RonFleet]

I presume the car tax will have to be renewed by the new owner, or does DVLA make allowance for bereavement?

 

[ianw19]

The car tax runs out at the end of this month, and MOT on 2nd March!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Can you put it on your policy?

 

[Petrol Pete]

^^^ Not really because it is not his car. When my father in law passed away some years ago his fairly new but by no means valuable car was on his name. We , as a family simply sent the form off to the DVLA with his widow as the new keeper.

The DVLA had no idea that he was no longer with us and to them it was just a routine paper job. Might have been a different story if the car was very valuable and there was contention in the family 'where there is a will there will be relatives etc..'

Not sure how legal that was but since then the car has had 3 different owners (I was one of them) and I know the present owner.

OP , sorry for your loss. At times like these all sorts of tasks/questions appear that we are not prepared for. I have been there.

 

[ianw19]

A quick update. The existing insurer will cover the car until the policy expires next week. We cannot add ourselves as named drivers though so it has to stay put in the garage. Now we need to find temporary insurance until the car is sold.

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[BTB 500]

We , as a family simply sent the form off to the DVLA with his widow as the new keeper.

Not sure how legal that was

The problem (legally) is that the current registered keeper has to sign the form. Practically, road tax now can't be transferred and any refund would go to the previous keeper.

Basically you just have to tell the DVLA that the keeper has died:

Telling DVLA after someone dies

 

[Petrol Pete]

As in my post, my father in law was dead but the DVLA (and may other institutions) did not know that yet. My mother in law simply forged his signature on the V5C and that was that. I did point out to her that this might be illegal, her response was something along the lines of 'my husband has just died just a year after retiring ,messing about with an old car is the last thing I need to be doing...'

 

[ianw19]

The DVLA have been informed but the tax runs out this month anyway

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[clk320x]

I’m sorry to hear about your father. My thoughts are with you.

 

[BTB 500]

My mother in law simply forged his signature

Sure, but it's good for people reading this thread now to know that it's not necessary to do this.

 

[ianw19]

It's all been sorted. With the executors permission, step-mother, and a death certificate, we were able to sell the car to the dealer that regularly serviced it.

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[Flyinspanner]

I think if you SORN the car you can get cheap SORN cover.

 

[219]

A quick update. The existing insurer will cover the car until the policy expires next week. We cannot add ourselves as named drivers though so it has to stay put in the garage. Now we need to find temporary insurance until the car is sold.

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I know it is now sold , but if the car is SORN'd and kept off the road , it doesn't legally need to be insured . Of course if of particularly high value you may want fire and theft cover .

 

[GeeJayW]

Firstly, my condolences for your loss.

If the policy holder has died, the policy (contract) is void. You should be able to claim the outstanding /balance of the premium back, as long as you are an executor of your Dad's estate.