Transfer of ownership following death of RK

k3lvc

RK recently died and spouse is unable to find V5 in amongst masses of papers. Despite being insured on car and insurance agreeing to sort new policy DVLA state the car cannot be driven until new V5 is issued as car isn't taxed (and therefore insured according to them) - wording on the website is "You can be prosecuted if you use the vehicle on a public road before taxing it in your own name and insuring it"

They're suggesting 4-6 weeks for this to happen leaving spouse without a car.

Any real-life examples of how this has been expedited more quickly or whether DVLA are scaremongering (insurance company suggest there's no issue from their perspective but obviously won't put this in writing and they don't control the tax element)

AdrianC

As far as the insurance is concerned, does the registration show as insured on https://ownvehicle.askmid.com/ ?


How does the tax show at https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/ ?


If it shows as insured, and the insurer is happy that the driver is covered, then there's no issue - and I suspect there's some Chinese Whispers with DVLA.


Taxing a currently unlicenced or SORNed vehicle does require either the reference number from a V11 tax reminder letter or a V5C.



4-6 weeks is the quoted leadtime for a V5C, but it's usually a lot less if it's a straight replacement. Changing keeper with a lost V5C requires DVLA to write to the old keeper and ask if this is legit, however.

DVLA have a "sensitive casework" team who specialise in bereavements etc. I'd suggest it's worth talking to them.
https://www.gov.uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement/keeping-the-vehicle

DUTR

You cannot have a policy if one is deceased, spouse will have to start a policy in their own name.

neilmcl

k3lvc wrote: »

RK recently died and spouse is unable to find V5 in amongst masses of papers. Despite being insured on car and insurance agreeing to sort new policy DVLA state the car cannot be driven until new V5 is issued as car isn't taxed (and therefore insured according to them) - wording on the website is "You can be prosecuted if you use the vehicle on a public road before taxing it in your own name and insuring it"

They're suggesting 4-6 weeks for this to happen leaving spouse without a car.

Any real-life examples of how this has been expedited more quickly or whether DVLA are scaremongering (insurance company suggest there's no issue from their perspective but obviously won't put this in writing and they don't control the tax element)

It's fairly straightforward and relatively quick to get the V5 transferred over once the RK dies.

Contact the DVLA's Sensitive Casework Team and they will able to advise.

https://www.gov.uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement/keeping-the-vehicle

Begsey

Just a guess, but could you not go to the post office with a V62 and tax the vehicle? Pay the £25 fee for a new V5C, which would take the 4-6 weeks to come through.

k3lvc

DUTR wrote: »

You cannot have a policy if one is deceased, spouse will have to start a policy in their own name.

They've done it - new policy created in spouses name

k3lvc

AdrianC wrote: »

DVLA have a "sensitive casework" team who specialise in bereavements etc. I'd suggest it's worth talking to them.
https://www.gov.uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement/keeping-the-vehicle

If only you could 'talk' to them - instead you write to them and they'll try and expedite it but still 4-6 weeks. In the meantime if we find the V5 then it doesn't matter as they'll already have started the process :mad::mad::mad:

neilmcl

k3lvc wrote: »

If only you could 'talk' to them - instead you write to them and they'll try and expedite it but still 4-6 weeks. In the meantime if we find the V5 then it doesn't matter as they'll already have started the process :mad::mad::mad:

My late mum's transfer over to my dad only took a couple of weeks at most.

k3lvc

neilmcl wrote: »

My late mum's transfer over to my dad only took a couple of weeks at most.

That's what I'm hoping - it's just DVLA's scaremongering that !!!!es me off. Tomorrows job now seems to be to turn the house upside down before pandering to their fees/timescales

konark

Begsey wrote: »

Just a guess, but could you not go to the post office with a V62 and tax the vehicle? Pay the £25 fee for a new V5C, which would take the 4-6 weeks to come through.

No because you're changing the Registered Keeper

EdGasketTheSecond

This happened with father-in-law but the car was taxed so we just kept using it while transfer of ownership was going through; no issues. The executor signed the V5 to transfer ownership about a month after death. You can't get bogged down in so many petty regulations; if it is showing as taxed and insured on askMID etc then its fine to drive.