As the surviving heir(s) of the decedent, you may need to address the following:

• Decedent’s driver license and/or identification (DL/ID) card.
• Decedent’s original or certified copy of the decedent’s death certificate or certified copy.
• Decedent’s disabled person (DP) parking placard.
• California Certificate of Title or Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title (REG 227) form.
• Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (REG 262).
• Planned Non-Operation Certification (REG 102) form.
• Statement of Facts (REG 256) form.
• Special license plates.

California DL/ID Card

The following must be submitted to DMV:

• The decedent’s DL/ID card, expired or unexpired.
• An original or certified copy of the decedent’s death certificate.
• A Statement of Facts (REG 256) with the:
  • Decedent’s name.
  • DL/ID card number.
  • Name of the person reporting the death and relationship to the decedent.
  • Signature and daytime phone number of the person reporting the death.

By mail to:

DMV-Issuance Unit
P.O. Box 942890, MS G204
Sacramento, CA 94290-0001

Disabled Person (DP) Parking Placard

DP parking placards must be returned to DMV within 60 days of the owner’s death. Include the DP placard ID card if available, and a Statement of Facts (REG 256) form (Section G) or a note stating the:

• Decedent’s name.
• Placard number.
• Placard owner is deceased and date of death.
• Name of the person reporting the death, relationship to the placard owner, daytime phone number, and signature.
• Deface the placard by marking an “X” on both sides (do not mark over the number).

A death certificate is not required. Submit the placard and statement to your local DMV office or by mail to:

DMV
P.O. Box 942869, MS C271
Sacramento, CA 94269-0001

Vehicle/Vessel Registration

Registration must be maintained while estate matters are managed, including paying registration fees or placing the vehicle on planned nonoperation (PNO) status on or before the registration expiration date.

File PNO status by submitting Planned Non-Operation Certification and paying a PNO fee up to 60 days before, but no more than 90 days after the registration expiration date. If registration or PNO fees are paid after the registration expiration date, penalties will be due.

If the vehicle is currently registered but will not be operated, maintain the vehicle insurance or notify DMV that liability coverage on the vehicle has been cancelled by submitting an Affidavit of Non-Use.

You may decide to transfer the vehicle’s title to establish yourself as the new legal owner. In this case, The documents you submit to DMV vary by the type of transfer. Refer to information on changing ownership due to death.

Special License Plates

Environmental License Plates

• Must be surrendered to DMV unless the applicant is the heir named on the court documents or Affidavit for Transfer Without Probate California Titled Vehicle or Vessels Only.
• If ownership is released by an administrator or executor, the relationship of the transferee to the decedent must be declared on a Statement of Facts (REG 256).

DP License Plates
Must be surrendered to DMV upon expiration of the registration, or within 60 days of the owner’s death, whichever occurs first.

Disabled Veteran License Plates
Must be surrendered to DMV by December 31 of the current year, or within 60 days of the owner’s death, whichever occurs first.

Former Prisoner of War, Legion of Valor, Pearl Harbor Survivor, and Purple Heart License Plates
The surviving spouse may retain these license plates and their privileges, which may include exemption from vehicle registration, license plate reassignment, addition, deletion, and replacement fees. The surviving spouse must complete a Statement of Facts (REG 256) stating he/she is the owner’s spouse and wishes to retain the license plates.

Former Prisoner of War and Purple Heart License Plates Only
Upon the death of the owner and surviving spouse (if any), another family member (parent, stepparent, children, stepchildren, grandparent, step-grandparent, sibling, or stepsibling) may retain one license plate as a family heirloom. The remaining license plate must be returned to DMV upon expiration of the vehicle registration, or within 60 days of the owner or surviving spouse’s death, whichever occurs first.

Additional Information

You might find these additional resources helpful:

• Change vehicle address.
• Information on changing ownership due to death.
• Registration vs. Planned Nonoperation.
• How to change vehicle ownership.
• Fee calculator (vehicle registration).