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Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is the UK government body responsible for vehicle registration, driving licences, and vehicle excise duty (road tax). After a death, the DVLA needs to be told so that the deceased's vehicles can be transferred to a new keeper or taken off the road, and so that any driving licence held by the deceased can be cancelled. [source: gov-uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement-2026-04-30.html]

The DVLA is not notified by Tell Us Once — the Tell Us Once service notifies the Passport Office and the licence-issuing arm of the DVLA but does not handle vehicle registrations. Vehicle ownership has to be reported separately through the bereavement service. [source: gov-uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement-2026-04-30.html]

Vehicle notification options. [source: gov-uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement-2026-04-30.html]

  • Online at gov.uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement, using the deceased's V5C registration number, name, date of death, and the contact details of the person handling the estate. The fastest route; processed in 5 to 7 working days. [source: gov-uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement-2026-04-30.html]
  • By post to DVLA, Sensitive Casework Team, Swansea SA99 1ZZ, with the V5C and a covering letter; processed in 3 to 4 weeks. [source: gov-uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement-2026-04-30.html]
  • By phone on 0300 790 6802 to open a case; documents follow by post. [source: gov-uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement-2026-04-30.html]

Once the DVLA has the notification, road tax payments stop, any direct debit is cancelled, and a refund is automatically issued for any unused full months of road tax. The vehicle is recorded as having no current keeper until a new V5C is issued to the buyer, recipient, or surviving co-owner.

Driving licences held by the deceased are cancelled automatically once Tell Us Once or the bereavement service has notified the DVLA. The licence does not need to be returned, although doing so is good practice.

Northern Ireland uses the DVLA for vehicle registration but a separate Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA NI) for driving licences. The vehicle bereavement process is the same; the licence side is handled by DVA NI on 0300 200 7861.

→ Cars when someone dies

Last verified: 30 April 2026 against gov.uk/tell-dvla-about-bereavement.