When someone passes away, their car is rarely top of the list. We've helped dozens of Hexham and Tyne Valley families through probate and estate sales. Written valuation for the executor, payment directly to the estate, free doorstep collection and all DVLA paperwork handled - no branch trips, no pressure, no hurry.
We move at your pace - not ours. If grant of probate is still pending, we hold the valuation until you're ready. If a solicitor is involved, we deal directly with them.
We come out at a time that suits you, view the car carefully, and provide a written valuation. It's suitable for submission to the executor, the solicitor or HMRC if probate needs a value for the vehicle. No pressure to sell afterwards.
You cannot legally sell a vehicle that's still part of the estate until you have the authority to do so (usually grant of probate or letters of administration). We hold the valuation for as long as it takes. No chasing.
When you're ready we collect the vehicle free of charge - including non-runners if it's been sitting. Payment goes by instant bank transfer to the estate or executor account, whichever the solicitor or family prefers. Signed paper receipt for the file.
We complete the V5C "new keeper" section, notify the DVLA that the vehicle has been sold out of the estate, and send confirmation. You get a clean audit trail for the estate file.
Don't worry if you can't find everything - we'll tell you what matters and work around the rest. In practice we often help families locate documents during the valuation visit.
Short answer: usually not - but we can still help. Here's how the timing typically works.
We can still visit, photograph and document a written valuation. Executors often need this figure for the probate application itself. No vehicle moves; no money changes hands.
The vehicle can normally stay insured as part of the estate while the application is processed. The DVLA's "tell us once" service handles the change-of-keeper notification when the time comes.
Once the grant is issued, we collect free of charge, pay the estate account, complete DVLA paperwork and close the loop. The whole completion step usually takes about an hour at your kitchen table.
No forms, no algorithms. Just tell us the situation and we'll tell you what we'd do.