Deceased estates

You can return your Driver's licence document at any Driver and Vehicle Services centre, regional DoT office or agent.

Deceased estate

The Department of Transport recognises that the death of a relative or friend is a difficult time. Births, Deaths and Marriages WA periodically notify the Department of recorded deaths in WA. A certified copy of the death certificate can also be presented at a Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) centre, regional Department of Transport office or authorised agent.

• The deceased person's driver's licence will be updated so that no correspondence is sent to the deceased person.
• The driver's licence document may be surrendered by the next of kin or executor of the estate.

Further information

Please refer to Driver licence fees and payments.

For information about transferring of Vehicle licences that are part of a deceased estate please refer to our page on Transfer by court order or deceased estate (vehicles)

A vehicle transfer can only be completed where the Department has received or sighted:

• Notification from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages;
• Notification from the Public Trustee; or
• A death certificate.

It will not always be necessary to make an application to the Supreme Court for a grant of Probate or Letters of Administration before a vehicle licence can be transferred from the name of a deceased licence holder.

However, where Probate or Letters of Administration have been granted or obtained from the Supreme Court, a true copy must be provided before a vehicle licence will be transferred to the executor or administrator of the deceased's estate or to another person at the direction of the executor or administrator.

If you are unsure as to whether to obtain a grant or if you require further assistance regarding the deceased's estate you should consider contacting the following:

• Citizens Advice Bureau.
• Community Legal Centres.
• Law Society - for legal assistance or help to find a lawyer.
• Supreme Court of Western Australia - for probate information.

Driver and Vehicle Services and the Probate Office of the Supreme Court cannot provide you with legal advice regarding these matters.

Transfer: Beneficiary of a Will

If transferring a vehicle licence from a deceased estate to a beneficiary under the terms of a Will, the beneficiary must supply the current licence papers (if available) and a Statutory declaration: Deceased estates (Form MR172) completed by the Executor or Administrator of the Estate, and submit the form in person at a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent. The beneficiary will pay a transfer fee and a reduced rate of vehicle licence duty.

Transfer: Non-beneficiary of a Will

If transferring a vehicle licence from a deceased estate to a non-beneficiary under the terms of a Will, the non-beneficiary must supply the current licence papers (if available) and a Statutory declaration: Deceased estates (Form MR172) completed by the Executor or Administrator of the Estate, and submit the form in person at a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent. The non-beneficiary will pay a transfer fee and the full rate of vehicle licence duty.

Transfer to beneficiary (next of kin): Intestate

If a vehicle licence holder dies intestate (without a Will) and the beneficiary (next of kin) wishes for the vehicle licence to be transferred into their name, they must supply the current licence documents (if available) and a completed Statutory declaration: Deceased estates (Form MR172) and submit the form in person at a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent.

The transfer fee and a nominal rate of vehicle licence duty are payable.

Under the provisions of the Administration Act 1903, a de facto partner is now recognised as having equal status as that of a husband or wife if the de facto partner and the licence holder lived as de facto partners for a period of at least 2 years immediately before the death of the licence holder.

If a vehicle licence holder dies intestate (without a Will) and the deceased person's de facto partner wishes for the vehicle licence to be transferred into their name, they must supply a completed Statutory declaration: Deceased estates (Form MR172), and submit the form in person at a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent.

Transfer to other than beneficiary (next of kin): intestate

If a vehicle licence holder dies intestate (without a Will) and the beneficiary (next of kin) wishes to sell the vehicle, the person who acquires the vehicle must present current licence documents (if available) and a completed Statutory declaration: Deceased estates (Form MR172) completed by the beneficiary (next of kin), and submit the forms in person at a DVS centre, regional DoT office or agent.

A vessel can transferred to a new owner by court order.

The court order must specify the vessel.

To complete the transfer:

1. The current owner must complete the seller’s copy of the Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership. 
2. The new owner must complete the purchaser’s copy of the Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership.
3. The new owner must submit the completed from with the court order and proof of identify at a Department of Transport office.

Alternatively, the completed form and a certified copy of the court order can be submitted by mail. 

Deceased owner with a will

You may need to make an application to the Supreme Court for a Grant of Probate before a vessel can be transferred from the name of a deceased owner.

When the application is granted, you will be provided with the reference number to complete the Statutory Declaration form to transfer the vessel.  

To transfer a vessel from a deceased estate, you will need to submit a:

• Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership that is signed by the executor or administrator of the estate.
• Statutory Declaration - Deceased Estate Transfer of Vessel form.

The executor of the will must record the seller's details as 'Estate of (insert full name)' on the boat transfer form. 

You can submit the documents to DoT via mail or in person at a Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) centre, DoT regional centre or authorised agent. 

Deceased owner without a will (intestate)

If the deceased owner of the vessel has not left a will, you will need to make an application to the Supreme Court for a Letter of Administration before a vessel can be transferred.

 When the application is granted, you will be provided with the reference number needed to complete the Statutory Declaration form to transfer the vessel.  

Transfer to next of kin / de facto partner
To transfer a vessel from the deceased owner to next of kin or de facto partner, you will need to submit a:

• Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership that is signed by the executor or administrator of the estate.
• Statutory Declaration - Deceased Estate Transfer of Vessel form.

Transfer to someone other than next of kin/ de facto partner
If a vessel registration holder dies intestate and the next of kin/de facto partner wants to give away or sell the vessel, the person who acquires the vessel must submit:

• Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership that is signed by the executor or administrator of the estate.
• Statutory Declaration - Deceased Estate Transfer of Vessel form.

Both forms must be completed by the next of kin/de facto partner. 

The next of kin or de facto partner must record the seller's details as 'Estate of (insert full name)' on the Boat Transfer Form and write 'Next of Kin' or 'De Facto Partner' above their signature in the seller's signature box.

The person who acquires the vessel must pay the transfer fee.