Transferring registration from a deceased registered operator

The loss of a relative or friend can be a difficult time. Managing the affairs of a deceased person can be complex but we aim to make the finalisation of vehicle registrations and personalised or customised plates as easy as possible.

We trust that you appreciate that there are certain requirements that must be met to ensure that all transactions made on behalf of the deceased person or their estate are legitimate.

We may be advised that someone has passed away by Births, Deaths and Marriages or by the deceased person’s next of kin. If the deceased person had vehicles or personalised or customised plates registered to them, we will send a letter to their last known address. This letter will advise the estate of any vehicles or number plates in the deceased person’s name that need to be transferred or cancelled.

If a vehicle was registered in two names, it can be transferred free of charge to the surviving registered operator who must produce proof of death (if a Registration Notice Individual Restriction letter has not been received) and original evidence of identity. No other application forms or documents are required.

Find out what you need to do to transfer or cancel registration products

The requirements to transfer or cancel registration products depend on a number of factors. Use these questions and answers to help to work out what you need to do.

Questions to answer

1. Have you received a “Registration Notice Individual Restriction” letter?

   • Yes
   • No

You must provide the original or a certified copy of a death certificate or coroner’s report.


Do you have a grant of probate or letters of administration?
• Yes
• No


• You must present the original or certified copies of the grant of probate or letters of administration; and
• Complete an Application to Transact with Registration Products on behalf of a Deceased Person form F5296; but
• You do not need to present the Will, a death certificate or sign the statutory declaration on Application to Transact with Registration Products on behalf of a Deceased Person form F5296.


Has a grant of probate or letters of administration been applied for but not yet granted?
• Yes
• No

You cannot finalise the deceased person’s registration products until a grant of probate or letters of administration have been granted.


Did the deceased person have a valid Will?
• Yes
• No


• You must present the original or a certified copy of the deceased person's last known valid Will;
• You must be an executor named in the deceased person's last known valid Will; and
• Complete an Application to Transact with Registration Products on behalf of a Deceased Person form F5296 including the statutory declaration.



• You must be the next of kin (under the Succession Act 1981) to finalise the registration products in the deceased person’s name; and
• Complete an Application to Transact with Registration Products on behalf of a Deceased Person form F5296 including the statutory declaration.


Has a decision been made on whether to transfer or cancel the vehicle registration/s?
• Yes
• No

You must transfer or cancel registrations or personalised plates and cancel any unattached customised plates. An administrator, executor* or next of kin must:
• Complete any additional forms outlined on the Application to Transact with Registration Products on behalf of a Deceased Person form F5296;
• Present original evidence of identity; and
• Pay any applicable fees.
*Note: where multiple executors or administrators exist only one is required to sign and present original evidence of identity.

You can temporarily transfer vehicle registrations to the estate of the deceased person. An administrator, executor or next of kin must:
• Be nominated as the second registered operator and be responsible for the vehicle and registration until it is transferred out of the estate or cancelled; and
• Present original evidence of identity.


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30 day survival period

Generally, the beneficiary of a deceased estate must survive the deceased by 30 days in order to benefit under the will. During this period, an application to transfer a vehicle's registration should not be made unless:

• the Will specifically states that the beneficiary is not required to survive the deceased by 30 days
  or
• registration is being transferred into the 'estate of' the deceased person.

Failure to transfer registration

A vehicle must be registered in the name of a person or legal entity. This ensures that we can identify the person or entity responsible for the operation of a vehicle, the safety of that vehicle on a road and the payment of any associated fees.

When we are notified that a person has passed away, we place a restriction against the vehicle/s and personalised or customised plates that are in the name of the deceased. The restriction will not allow the registration of these vehicle/s to be renewed until the registration is transferred to a legal entity.