A guide to deceased estates
When someone dies, the authorised representative of the estate will need to settle all licence and registration matters with VicRoads.
If you are the authorised representative of a deceased estate, you will need to:
You may also need to:
You can complete all these transactions in a single visit to a VicRoads Customer Service Centre.
You do not need to make a booking before visiting.
Notify VicRoads that someone has died
To notify us of someone’s death, you will need to provide an original or certified copy of one of the following:
- a death certificate
- an interim death certificate (issued by an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages), or
- a letter or form from a coroner’s court of an Australian State or Territory that confirms the person's full name, date of birth and date of death.
If the person died in another country, you can also provide an international death certificate.
You do not need to be the authorised representative of the Estate to notify us of someone's death.
Establish the authorised representative of the estate
To confirm that you are the authorised representative of the estate, you will need to provide an original or certified copy of ONE of the following:
- the relevant section of the Will
- a Grant of Probate issued by a Supreme Court of an Australian State or Territory, or
- Letters of Administration.
If your Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration has been issued by the Supreme Court of Victoria and you don't have an original or certified copy, we will be able to verify them online.To do this, you’ll need to provide us with the application number and the unique identifier.
If there isn’t a Will, Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration, you should provide either:
If there is more than one executor or administrator, you will need to provide a letter signed by all executors or administrators that nominates you as the representative of the Estate. The authorised representative of the estate can nominate someone else to complete transactions for the estate.
We won’t keep or copy any documents you present unless they have been created specifically for VicRoads, like a statutory declaration.
Cancel any licences held by the person who has died
To cancel any licences or permits held by the person who has died, you need to fill in a Cancellation and refund request for deceased estate form (PDF 144kB). The card will be defaced by VicRoads, but you can request to keep the card after this if you wish.
You can also use this form if you need to cancel the registration of any vehicles owned by the person who has died. However, you will only need to do this if you choose not to transfer the registration.
Getting a refund
If you cancel any licences held by the person who has died, the Estate may be eligible for a refund.
Refunds will be paid by cheque to the Estate and posted to the authorised representative of the estate.
An administration fee will be taken from the refund. If the refund is less than the administration fee, we will not issue the refund.
We do not issue refunds for learner permits.
Visiting a VicRoads Customer Service Centre
Each time you do a transaction related to a deceased estate, you will need to establish that you are the authorised representative of the estate. That means it is easiest to complete all your activities related to a deceased estate with one trip to a VicRoads Customer Service Centre.
Make sure you take all the documents you need, including:
- proof the person has died
- proof that you are the authorised representative of the estate
- a completed form to cancel the licence of the person who has died
- completed forms to transfer registration of any vehicles or vessels owned by the person who has died
- evidence of identity.
Sending documents by mail
Some forms can be sent by mail. This includes:
- Cancellation and refund request for deceased estate
- Transfer of registration from a deceased estate
- Transfer of registration number rights agreement for deceased estate
You can send your completed forms and certified copies of your documents to VicRoads at:
GPO Box 1644
Melbourne
VIC 3001
Do not send us original copies as we will not be able to return them.