VicRoads Deceased Estate Transfer — Vehicle Registration After Death

Transferring a Vehicle When the Owner Dies Overseas

When someone dies and leaves a registered vehicle behind, the registration doesn't just lapse — it remains in the deceased's name until the executor formally transfers or cancels it. If the death happened overseas, the added complexity of foreign documentation turns what should be a straightforward form submission into a multi-step compliance exercise.

Each state handles this differently. Victoria (VicRoads), Western Australia (Department of Transport), and the ACT (Access Canberra) each have their own forms, fee structures, and documentation standards for deceased estate vehicle transfers.

VicRoads — Victoria

VicRoads publishes a specific Deceased Estate Pack covering vehicle transfers. The key advantage for surviving spouses or domestic partners: no Roadworthy Certificate and no transfer fees are required when the vehicle passes to them. This exemption saves several hundred dollars and eliminates the need to get the car inspected while you're still managing the overseas paperwork.

For other beneficiaries (adult children, siblings, named legatees), the standard transfer process applies — including a roadworthy inspection and transfer fee.

VicRoads requires an original or certified copy of the death certificate accompanied by a NAATI-certified English translation. For a death in Vietnam, this means the authenticated Extract of Death Certificate (Trích lục khai tử) with a separate NAATI-certified translation — an Apostille for eligible documents processed on or after 11 September 2026, or DOFA authentication and Australian consular legalisation for earlier files. They'll also need a certified copy of the Will or the Grant of Probate, and the executor's proof of identity.

Western Australia — Department of Transport

WA uses Form E172 (Declaration of Deceased Estate) for vehicle transfers. The executor submits this with Letters of Administration issued by the Supreme Court of WA and a NAATI-certified translation of the overseas death certificate. Nominal stamp duty applies, though beneficiaries under the Administration Act 1903 may qualify for a reduced rate.

ACT — Access Canberra

The ACT requires an Application to Transfer Vehicle Registration form. Duty is exempt on deceased estate transfers. Access Canberra accepts a Statutory Declaration outlining next-of-kin status as an alternative to formal probate for straightforward estates, but they may still require a full Grant of Probate if the entitlement is disputed or unclear.

Foreign death certificates must include an official English translation. Access Canberra doesn't specify NAATI, so confirm its current requirements before lodging; a NAATI translation remains the broader option for documents intended for other Australian authorities.

Don't Forget the Driver's Licence

While you're dealing with vehicle registration, also submit a certified copy of the death certificate to cancel the deceased's driver's licence. This prevents identity misuse and is a separate administrative step from the vehicle transfer — VicRoads, for example, handles licence cancellation through a different internal team.

The Australian Dies in Vietnam emergency guide includes state-by-state checklists for vehicle transfers, licence cancellations, and every other post-arrival administrative task — coordinated with the Vietnamese document authentication timeline so you handle everything in the right order.