Transfer a vehicle licence from a deceased estate

• A Declaration of Deceased Estate (E172) form.
• The Death Certificate.
• The Will or Letters of Administration.
• Current licence papers (if available).

Note:

The executor(s) of the estate may be required to apply to the Supreme Court of Western Australia for a Grant of Probate and supply a certified copy when transferring the vehicle licence. 

If a person dies without a Will, the Supreme Court of Western Australia may grant Letters of Administration to an appropriate person(s). If Letters of Administration are granted, a certified copy must be supplied when transferring the vehicle licence. 

A Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration will not always be required. To check whether a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration are required, it is recommended that you seek independent legal advice.

• Complete the Declaration of Deceased Estate (E172) form.
• Gather all supporting documents.
• Visit a Driver and Vehicle Services centre, DoT regional office or agent OR post to: 
  
  Driver and Vehicle Services
  GPO Box R1290
  PERTH WA 6844

If submitting by post the application must include certified copies of the Will and Death Certificate. The Department of Transport does not return the Will or Death Certificate.

A transfer fee is payable on all transactions when a vehicle licence is transferred from a deceased estate to a new licence holder. 

If the vehicle licence is being transferred from the deceased estate to a person who is a beneficiary nominated in a Will or, where there is no Will, to an entitled person under the Administration Act 1903, nominal duty is payable.

If you acquire a vehicle from a deceased estate that has optional plates and you want to keep them, the executor or seller will need to complete Transfer of Right to Display Optional Plates (VL176) form. You (the new licence holder) will need to pay a transfer fee.

If you do not want to keep the optional plates, the executor or seller will need to return them to a Driver and Vehicle Services centre, DoT regional office or agent and purchase a set of ordinary plates.
 

If the deceased person does not have a Will, or a Will that does not include the vehicle, the vehicle licence may be transferred to an entitled person. 

The Administration Act 1903 defines an entitled person as a:

• husband
• wife
• child
• grandchild
• parent
• grandparent
• brother
• sister
• child of a deceased brother or sister
• uncle 
• aunt
• child of a deceased uncle or aunt.

Note: A de facto partner has the same entitlements as a husband or wife if the de facto partner and the deceased person lived together as de facto partners for at least 2 years immediately before the death of the deceased person.

When a person dies while overseas, an original overseas death certificate can be provided to amend their Department of Transport records as deceased.

If the death certificate is not entirely in English, it must be translated by:

• a NAATI certified translator
• the Department of Home Affairs Free Translating Service.

If you need help with the deceased person’s estate you may wish to contact:

• Citizens Advice Bureau
• a community legal centre
• Law Society of Western Australia (for legal assistance or help to find a lawyer)
• Supreme Court of Western Australia (for probate information)

Note: The Department of Transport and the Probate Office of the Supreme Court cannot provide you with legal advice regarding these matters.

If you have any questions about the vehicle licence transfer process you can call our Customer Contact Centre on 13 11 56.