Notifying DVA of a bereavement

If you have suffered bereavement, you should notify Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) as soon as possible. Doing so will help prevent you receiving further correspondence relating to the deceased person's driving licence and or vehicle at a later date.

What you need to do

The information below will help advise you on how to notify DVA and what to do with the deceased person's driving licence and vehicle registration certificate. If you need to return both documents to DVA you can do so in the same envelope to either address stated below. You don't need to send them to the different addresses.

Driving licence

The driving licence should be returned to DVA with a covering letter explaining the circumstances, stating your relationship to the deceased. If you can't find the driving licence, you will need to write stating the name, address and date of birth of the deceased, and your relationship (relative or executor) to the person. Please write to

DVA
Driver Licensing Division
Coleraine County Hall
Castlerock Road
Waterside
Coleraine
BT51 3TB

Vehicle registration certificate V5C(NI)

If the deceased person has a vehicle, how you notify DVA will depend on whether you are keeping or selling the vehicle and the documentation available to you.

Keeping the vehicle - registration certificate available

You will need to complete the new keeper details in section six of the V5C(NI). The new keeper should sign and date the new keeper declaration. Do not sign the registered keeper declaration. The V5C(NI) should be returned to DVA with a covering letter explaining the circumstances and your relationship to the deceased person. The new keeper should retain the green V5C/2(NI) new keepers supplement. The letter and documents should be sent to DVA, Coleraine, BT51 3TA. The DVA will aim to deliver a new registration certificate to the new keeper within four weeks of receipt.

Keeping the vehicle - registration certificate not available

You will need to send a letter to DVA explaining the circumstances and your relationship to the deceased. Please send to DVA, Coleraine, BT51 3TA. The new keeper will need to complete form V34(NI): application for a registration certificate, (£25 fee applicable) and send this to DVA, Coleraine, BT51 3TA.

Form V34(NI) is available online on the motoring forms link below, from DVA local offices or selected Post Office® branches. The DVA aim to deliver a new registration certificate to the new keeper within four weeks. Please allow up to six weeks before contacting DVA.

Selling the vehicle - registration certificate available

Private sale

You will need to complete the new keeper details in section six of the V5C(NI) form. The new keeper should sign and date the new keeper declaration. Don't sign the registered keeper declaration. The V5C(NI) should be returned to DVA with a covering letter explaining the circumstances and your relationship to the deceased person.

The new keeper should retain the green V5C/2 (NI) new keeper's supplement. The letter and documents should be sent to DVA, Coleraine, BT51 3TA. The DVA will aim to deliver a new registration certificate to the new keeper within four weeks of receipt. Remember to keep a note of the buyer's name and address details.

Selling to the motor trade

You will need to complete the sale/transfer to the motor trade section V5C/3(NI) (section nine) on a V5C(NI). Don't sign the registered keeper declaration. The motor trader will also need to sign and date the slip. Return to DVA with a covering letter explaining the circumstances and your relationship to the deceased. Give the motor trader the rest of the registration certificate. The letter and slip should be sent to DVA, Coleraine, BT51 3TA.

Selling the vehicle - registration certificate not available

You will need to write to DVA explaining the circumstances and relationship to the deceased. Include the exact date of sale and the name and address of the new keeper. The new keeper will need to complete form V34(NI) application for a registration certificate (£25 fee applicable) and send this to DVA, Coleraine, BT51 3TA.

Form V34 (NI) is available online on the motoring forms link above, from DVA local offices or selected Post Office® branches. The DVA aim to deliver a new registration certificate to the new keeper within four weeks. The new keeper should allow up to six weeks before contacting DVA.