Can You Transport a Body Yourself

The Short Answer Is Yes, in Most States

In 41 US states, families have the legal right to transport a deceased person without involving a funeral director. You can use a personal vehicle — a minivan, SUV, or pickup truck — as long as the body is in a dignified container and you carry the required paperwork.

Nine states restrict this right. Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, and New York require a licensed funeral director to handle some or all aspects of body transport and disposition. If you live in one of these states, you'll need to hire a funeral director for the particular task your state assigns — transport in some states, and crematory arrangements or other tasks in others — though you may be able to handle the home vigil and body care yourself.

What Paperwork You Need

Before moving a body anywhere, you need two documents:

A medical certificate of death. The attending physician completes the medical certification; a hospice nurse may pronounce an expected hospice death and initiate the certification process. For unexpected deaths, the coroner or medical examiner must release the body first, which can take longer.

A burial-transit permit. This authorizes the physical movement of the remains. In most states, the local registrar or health department issues it after the death certificate is filed. Some states issue these permits electronically through the Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS), but family filers often need to use paper forms because EDRS access is restricted to licensed professionals in many jurisdictions.

Keep both documents in the vehicle during transport. The cemetery sexton or crematory operator will need to see them on arrival.

How to Prepare for Transport

Vehicle selection. You need a closed vehicle large enough to lay the body flat — a minivan with the seats folded, an SUV, a station wagon, or a covered pickup truck bed. The body must be fully enclosed during transport; open truck beds are not appropriate.

Container. Place the body in a rigid container or wrap it in a shroud secured to a flat board. Cardboard cremation containers (available for $50 to $200 from direct-cremation providers) work well and meet the requirements of most crematories and cemeteries. A body bag or simple plywood carrier is also acceptable.

Cooling. Keep cooling in place during transport: use wrapped ice packs or frozen polymer sheets around the torso inside the container. For longer trips, wrapped dry ice blocks under and over the body's core maintain temperature effectively. Always wrap dry ice in towels or paper bags to prevent direct skin contact, and keep windows cracked for ventilation since dry ice off-gasses carbon dioxide.

Helpers. Plan on at least six people to safely lift and transfer the body. Moving a body is physically awkward because there's no rigidity to grip. Use a draw sheet (a flat sheet folded under the body) to slide rather than lift where possible.

Interstate Transport

Crossing state lines adds complexity. Several states require embalming before remains enter their jurisdiction. Alabama, for example, mandates embalming for any body leaving the state unless the remains are donated for medical research.

If you're transporting via commercial carrier (air freight), the body must be professionally embalmed or shipped in a hermetically sealed, airtight container. Family-directed transport by personal vehicle is generally simpler for in-state or neighboring-state transfers.

For cross-border transport into Canada, you'll need an Out of Province Certificate from the originating province's coroner. UK transport out of England or Wales requires an Out of England order from the coroner's office plus a Freedom from Infection medical certificate.

Common Concerns

Will the police stop me? It's unlikely if the body is in a closed vehicle and you have your paperwork. If you are stopped, the burial-transit permit establishes your legal authority. Some families keep a printed copy of their state's relevant statute in the vehicle for additional assurance.

Can hospitals refuse to release the body to me? The designated next of kin or healthcare agent can request direct release, but facility procedures and state restrictions still apply. If a hospital pushes back, ask what authorization it requires and present a completed Next-of-Kin Authorization for Removal form where applicable. Having the form prepared in advance prevents delays.

What about the smell? With proper cooling started within four to six hours of death, cooling helps control odor during a same-day transport. Do not rely on that assumption if cooling has been neglected or transport is delayed without preservation.

The Home Funeral / Family-Directed Guide includes the exact forms, state-by-state legal requirements, and cooling protocols you need for a safe, legal transport — plus verbal scripts for talking to hospital administrators who may not be familiar with your rights.