How can I transfer ownership of a car after a death?

How does the transfer process work?

Transferring ownership of a car after a death works essentially the same way as usual. You can follow these steps:

1. Go to a vehicle registration office, an RDW inspection station, or an RDW service counter
2. Please bring all required documents and a valid form of identification
3. Pay the fee of €10.75
4. The employee will register the vehicle in your name. You will then receive a registration report containing the first 4 digits of the registration code and a certificate of indemnification.
5. Once the license plate has been transferred, you must comply with all vehicle-related obligations, such as purchasing auto insurance, paying motor vehicle tax, and ensuring that the car has passed its APK inspection
6. The next business day, the RDW will send you the new vehicle registration certificate and the^second part of the registration code.

How soon do I need to transfer ownership of the car after a death?

If the car’s owner has passed away, the license plate must be transferred to a new owner within 5 weeks. If you inherit the car but do not (yet) plan to use it yourself, you can also choose to suspend the license plate. Once the car is suspended, you are not required to comply with vehicle obligations. Of course, you may not drive the car during the suspension period, nor may it be parked on public roads. When you’re ready to start using the car, you can lift the suspension.

Car Insurance After Death

Car insurance is not automatically canceled upon death. As long as the license plate is still registered in the deceased owner’s name, the vehicle must remain insured. Only after the car has been transferred to a new owner can the auto insurance policy be canceled. The new owner must then take out their own auto insurance policy. If the car is transferred to the spouse’s name, the auto insurance policy can also be transferred. In many cases, the no-claims discount can be carried over. However, a new owner may affect the premium amount.