Sale of vehicle when the owner has died
In order to transfer the ownership of a vehicle when the owner has died, you need to submit the required documentation.
In some cases, you will also need to submit a Notification of Sale.
Documentation, fee and insurance
The documentation you need to attach and how to register a change of ownership will depend on whether the deceased’s estate is divided privately, divided publicly (judicially) or undivided. You can read more about the different ways to divide the estate at norge.no.
As a general rule, you have to pay a registration transfer fee when the ownership of a vehicle is transferred to a new owner. Read more about exemption from the registration transfer fee on the Norwegian Tax Administration’s website.
Remember to contact your insurance company to transfer the vehicle insurance to you. Trailers and caravans are not required to have liability insurance.
Private division of estate
Only one inheritor
If the division of the estate is administered privately and there is only one inheritor, you can submit the Notification of Sale online and attach a probate certificate from the District Court or City Recorder’s Office. You should select “Change of ownership in connection with death, bankruptcy or similar”, and fill inn the previous owner as “seller” and the new owner as the “buyer” in the Notification of Sale. If someone else is submitting the Notification of Sale and probate certificate online on behalf of the inheritor, they need to attach written authorisation and a copy of the inheritor’s ID.
Alternatively, the inheritor can fill in the Notification of Sale on paper (PDF). The Notification of Sale on paper should be handed in at a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office (trafikkstasjon), where the inheritor also must present the probate certificate and valid proof of identity. If someone else is submitting the Notification of Sale and probate certificate on behalf of the inheritor, they need to bring written authorisation, a copy of the inheritor’s ID, and proof of their own identity.
You need to book an appointment before you go to a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office.
Multiple inheritors
If the division of the estate is administered privately and there are multiple inheritors, one of the inheritors may submit the Notification of Sale online and attach
- a probate certificate
- a copy of the other inheritors’ ID
- written authorisation from the other inheritors
You should select “Change of ownership in connection with death, bankruptcy or similar”, and fill inn the previous owner as “seller” and the new owner as “buyer” in the Notification of Sale.
Alternatively, the inheritors can fill in the Notification of Sale on paper (PDF) and hand it in at a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office (trafikkstasjon). All inheritors need to sign the Notification of Sale and present proof of identity. One or more inheritors may also authorise someone else to sign on their behalf. The authorised person must then remember to bring the authorisation letter and a copy of the ID of the person who has given the authorisation. Remember to bring valid proof of your own identity to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office.
You need to book an appointment before you go to a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office.
Public division of estate
In the case of a public division of the estate, the Notification of Sale is to be signed by the District Court, County Court or the appointed trustee of the estate. As the appointed trustee of the estate, you should select “Change of ownership in connection with death, bankruptcy or similar”. You need to upload documentation of the appointment of the trustee.
Alternatively, the trustee may fill in the Notification of Sale on paper (PDF). The Notification of Sale and documentation of the appointment of the trustee can then be handed in at a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office. You need to book an appointment before you go to a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office, and remember to bring valid proof of identity.
Undivided possession of estate
In the case of an undivided possession of estate, the vehicle may be transferred to the surviving spouse or cohabitant. In order to transfer the ownership of the vehicle, we need a copy of the certificate of undivided possession of estate. Remember to transfer the insurance to the new owner.
Submit online
If you wish to submit the certificate of undivided possession of estate online, you should select “Change of ownership in connection with death, bankruptcy or similar”, and fill inn the previous owner as “seller” and the surviving spouse/cohabitant as the “buyer” in the Notification of Sale. The certificate of undivided possession of estate should be uploaded as documentation. This can also be done by others on behalf of the surviving spouse/cohabitant.
Submit by post or at a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office
Remember to inform us which vehicle(s) that should be transferred to you. We recommend that you fill in the Notification of Sale (PDF) so that we can obtain information about the vehicle. You can send a copy of the certificate of undivided possession by post, along with information about the vehicle, or book an appointment at a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office to hand it in there.
Authorisation
A general authorisation form for private division of estate can be found on the Courts of Norway’ s website "Forms regarding the division of estates". This form can be used to authorise someone to take care of everything in connection with administration of the estate.
Write the authorisation letter yourself
If the authorisation only is to apply to one specific act, such as signing a Notification of Sale for one or more vehicles belonging to the deceased person’s estate, the inheritor may write the authorisation letter themselves. The authorisation must contain the following:
- Name of the deceased
- Name of the person giving authorisation
- Name of the person receiving authorisation
- Clear explanation of what the authorisation applies to (example; "I, ..., have taken over the estate of the deceased for private division, and am hereby authorising NN to administer the change of ownership of vehicles belonging to the estate of the deceased – including signing the Notification of Change of Ownership on behalf of the estate – as well as on my own behalf.)
- Place and date
- Signature of the person giving authorisation
You also need to attach a copy of the ID of the person giving authorisation.