To notify the DMV of a death in California, download the Notification of Deceased Person form (DMV 22), fill it out, and mail it to the DMV in Sacramento. Filing that single form cancels the deceased person’s driver’s license or state ID card, removes them from DMV mailing lists, and is the most effective step you can take to prevent someone from misusing those credentials.1California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Reporting a Death of a Family Member or Friend No office visit is required. The whole thing is handled by mail.
Where to Send the DMV 22
Mail the completed form to:
DMV
PO Box 942869, MS C271
Sacramento, CA 94269-0001
That’s it for the notification itself. If the deceased didn’t own a vehicle and didn’t have a disabled placard, you’re done once the form is in the mail. If they did, there are a few more things to work through.
Keep the Vehicle Registration Current While You Sort Things Out
This catches a lot of families off guard. While you work through a title transfer, the deceased’s vehicle registration still has to stay current. Either pay the renewal fees or file for Planned Nonoperation (PNO) status before the registration expiration date. Miss that date and you’ll owe late penalties on top of everything else.1California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Reporting a Death of a Family Member or Friend
If no one is going to drive the car while the estate is settled, PNO is the cheaper option and keeps the registration from lapsing. The DMV does not offer grace periods here, so file before the expiration date.
Return a Disabled Person Placard Within 60 Days
If the deceased had a disabled person placard or specialized plates, California law requires you to return them to the DMV within 60 days of the death.2Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. California Code of Regulations Title 13, 182.04 – Surrender of Disabled Person License Plates and Permanent Disabled Person Placards upon Death Placards are tied to one individual and cannot be transferred to anyone else, not even a co-owner of the vehicle.
Before you send it back, mark a large “X” on both sides of the placard to void it. Mail it with a completed DMV 22 to the same Sacramento address used for the notification.1California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Reporting a Death of a Family Member or Friend Using a deceased person’s placard is a misdemeanor in California and can result in fines.
Transferring the Vehicle to a New Owner
Every title transfer from a deceased owner starts with the same core documents, whether or not the estate goes through probate:
- The California Certificate of Title (the original “pink slip”), with the transfer section on the back signed by the new owner or executor.3California Department of Motor Vehicles. Title Transfers and Changes
- A certified copy of the death certificate.3California Department of Motor Vehicles. Title Transfers and Changes
- A Statement of Facts (REG 256), used to confirm the owner is deceased, explain the transfer, and claim any tax exemption.4California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual – Transfer to Estate Of
Can’t find the title? File an Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227) before anything else can go through.3California Department of Motor Vehicles. Title Transfers and Changes Check for it early so you’re not stuck mid-process.
If the Estate Is Small, Skip Probate
If the deceased’s total California personal property is worth no more than $208,850, you can bypass probate by filing an Affidavit for Transfer Without Probate (REG 5).5California Courts. Check If You Can Use a Simple Process to Transfer Property That cap covers everything in the estate, not just the car. Two conditions apply: you must wait at least 40 days after the death to file, and the vehicle must already carry a California title.6State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual – Estate Valued at or Less If the car is titled out of state, you’ll have to deal with that first.
If the Estate Goes Through Probate
When the estate exceeds the small-estate threshold or is in probate for other reasons, the court appoints someone to manage the assets. A will names an executor, who receives Letters Testamentary. With no will, the court appoints an administrator and issues Letters of Administration. Either document gives the holder authority to sign the title on behalf of the deceased, and copies go in with the rest of the transfer package.4California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual – Transfer to Estate Of Keep certified copies of the letters, since the DMV may not return originals.
Fees and How Long It Takes
The base title transfer fee is $15.7California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code VEH 9255 California also charges a Transportation Improvement Fee that scales with vehicle value:
- $0–$4,999 value: $33
- $5,000–$24,999: $66
- $25,000–$34,999: $132
- $35,000–$59,999: $198
- $60,000 and above: $231
A $20,000 car, for example, runs about $81 ($15 + $66) before other registration charges. Late filing adds a $15 penalty.8California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration Fees Submit the package at a DMV field office or mail it to PO Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269. New titles typically arrive 15 to 30 days after processing.3California Department of Motor Vehicles. Title Transfers and Changes
No Use Tax on an Inherited Vehicle
Inheriting a vehicle counts as an involuntary transfer under California tax law, so no use tax is owed regardless of your relationship to the deceased. Transfers between certain family members (parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, spouses, and domestic partners) are separately exempt even when they’re not inheritances.9California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Tax Guide for Purchasers of Vehicles Claim the exemption on the Statement of Facts (REG 256) when you file.
Other Agencies to Contact
The DMV is one stop among several. The funeral home usually reports the death to the Social Security Administration, so most families don’t need to handle that step. If no funeral home was involved or the report wasn’t made, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 with the deceased’s name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death.10Social Security Administration. What to Do When Someone Dies
Call the auto insurance company as well. The existing policy generally stays in effect while the estate is settled, but once the title transfers, the new owner needs their own coverage. Driving on a policy still in the deceased’s name after the transfer leaves you uninsured.