How to Notify the DMV of a Death
There are several life events that require you to notify the DMV, but is it required that you get in touch with them after someone dies? Each state has its own set of rules and regulations when it comes to handling a deceased person’s matters, but contacting the DMV and managing your loved one’s personal items doesn’t have to be complicated.
Does the DMV know when someone dies?
You may be wondering, “Is the dmv notified when someone dies?”. The answer is: yes. The DMV is eventually notified of a death after Social Security is notified of the death. You do not need to notify them that a death has occurred, but you can contact them to dispose of the license and other identifying information. If you’re worried about identity theft, are trying to handle sensitive DMV needs, or feel the need to ensure that their notified as soon as possible, you can contact your local DMV office and let them know that a death has occurred. Anyone can do this, you do not need to be the next of kin in order to notify the DMV that a death has occurred.
How do you report a death to the DMV?
Every state has its own procedures and processes for notifying the relevant DMV about a death, so you’ll need to check with your state’s procedures before continuing. In general, you’ll need a few important documents, such as:
- A death certificate
- The driver’s license or government-issued ID cards you’d like cancelled
- Disability permits or disability cards
- Vehicle title and registration
- License plates
These pieces of information are important to gather so that you can either turn them in, destroy them, or keep them (depending on your state and their rules). Once you’ve gathered all the necessary information, many DMVs ask that you notify them of the death in one of the following ways:
- Call their customer service line and report the death. (Be prepared to be asked to submit supporting documentation through mail or email).
- Visit the DMV in-person and bring the supporting documentation with you.
- Mail in the requested documentation and a letter.
What do I do with a deceased person’s driver’s license?
Depending on the state you live in, you have a few options when it comes to the deceased’s driver’s license. Some states ask that you return the driver’s license in-person, some ask that you mail it in for disposal, and some leave it up to you. It can be a good idea to hole punch or mark the license in some way to indicate that it's no longer valid, especially if you’re worried about identity theft.
Can I get in trouble for driving a deceased person’s vehicle?
Driving a deceased person’s vehicle is allowed as long as you have a current license, the vehicle is in good standing, and you have the permission of the executor of the estate.
How to transfer ownership of a car after death
The process of transferring ownership of a vehicle after a death depends on a few factors, including whether there are beneficiaries listed, whether the car is going through probate, and whether or not the deceased lived in a state that offers Transfer on Death as an option when registering a car. Read this article to find out more about transferring ownership of a car after someone dies and what you’ll need to bring to the DMV to vehicle transfer after a death.
What do I do if I lost the title and the owner is deceased?
If you don’t know where the title is and the owner of the vehicle is deceased, it’s time to visit the DMV for next steps. It’s worth looking at your state’s official DMV website to see if you have the ability to handle any of this online. Each state has different steps for recovering a title, especially if you’ve lost one and the owner is deceased. Please note that this process can be slightly complex once you lose the title to a vehicle -- this process is made even more difficult if the original owner is deceased and you don't have the title.
How to cancel a deceased person’s license in every state
Even though you don’t need to notify the DMV of a death, you may still be interested in handing in the deceased’s license. Here’s what to do with the license in each state after someone dies.
Alabama
Submit a copy of the death certificate to an ALEA location or you can email a copy of the death certificate to driverlicenseinfo@alea.gov.
Alaska
Simply notify the clerk that the individual has passed away and surrender the driver's license to the following DMV location:
Division of Motor Vehicles
3901 Old Seward Highway, Suite 101
Anchorage, AK 99503
Arizona
Surrender the driver's license in person at an Arizona MVD location, which you can find here.
Arkansas
You can mail in the driver's license (along with a note to destroy the license) to the following address:
PO BOX 1272
Little Rock, AR 72203
California
Follow these steps:
- Submit the decedent’s California Driver's License or ID card to the DMV.
- Include a certified copy of the death certificate, or the original death certificate.
- Include a written statement that has the following: Decedent’s full name, decedent’s ID/DL card number, your name and your relationship to the decedent, your signature and a reachable phone number for you.
Mail the above items to:
DMV-Issuance Unit
PO Box 942890, MS G204
Sacramento, CA 94290-0001
Please note, you may be asked to provide the following documents as well:
- An original or certified copy of the decedent’s death certificate.
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
- The decedent’s California Driver License and/or Identification Card (DL/ID).
- The decedent’s Disabled Person (DP) parking placard.
- Any special license plates.
- The decedent’s California Certificate of Title or Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title (REG 227) form.
- Affidavit for Transfer without Probate – California Titled Vehicle or Vessels Only (REG 5).
- Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment (REG 262) (PDF) form.
- Planned Non-Operation Certification (REG 102) form.
- Statement of Facts (REG 256) form.
Colorado
Mail the driver's license to the following address (be sure to include a note explaining the individual has passed away):
Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles
Driver Control Section
PO Box 173350-3350
Denver CO 80217
Connecticut
You do not need to return the driver's license in Connecticut and can instead destroy or dispose of it yourself.
Delaware
After they've received notification of death from their Vital Statistics department (or after they've received a copy of the death certificate), the Delaware DMV will deactivate the driver's license.
If the death occurred in state, there is no need to bring a copy of the death certificate to the DMV. If it occurred out of state, you will need to bring a copy of the death certificate to the DMV. You can find a location here.
Florida
- Write a letter explaining that you'd like to cancel the decedent's driver's license.
- Submit a copy of the death certificate and the following information alongside the letter: The decedent's full name, their date of birth, their social security number, their address, note your relationship to the deceased and sign the letter.
If you have possession of the driver's license, you can cut it in half and include it in the same envelope.
Mail to:
Bureau of Records
P.O. Box 5775
Tallahassee, FL 32314
Georgia
Submit a certified copy of the death certificate and their license in one of the following ways:
- In-person, find a location here.
- By mail: Georgia Department of Driver Services ATTN: Records Management P.O. Box 80447 Conyers, GA 30013
- By fax: 770-918-6264
Hawaii
Contact the local county Motor Vehicle office to handle disposal of the license.
Idaho
You do not need to return the driver's license to a DMV office in Idaho and can instead destroy or dispose of it yourself. The Idaho Department of Transportation is automatically notified of the death after a death certificate is submitted to the Bureau of Idaho Vital Records and Health Statistics.
Illinois
Submit a copy of the certified death certificate and the Driver's License and/or Identification Card to:
Secretary of State Central Services Section
2701 S. Dirksen Pkwy.
Springfield, IL 62723
Indiana
You do not need to return the driver's license in Indiana and can instead destroy or dispose of it yourself.
Iowa
You can return the driver's license to the following address:
Iowa DOT
Attn: Driver Services
PO Box 9204
Des Moines Ia 50306
Kansas
Submit a copy of the death certificate or an obituary along with the decedent's information (such as their full name and address) to the following address:
Driver's Licensing
P.O. Box 2188
Topeka, KS 66601-2188
Kentucky
Contact the local circuit clerk and notify them that the individual has passed away. They will update the decedent's record.
Louisiana
Send a note explaining that the individual has passed away and that you'd like their license cancelled.
Mail to:
Office of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 64886
Baton Rouge, LA 70896
Maine
Maine receives notification of death from vital statistics, but if you wish to, you can send the driver's license (or ID card) and a copy of the death certificate to:
Bureau of Motor Vehicles Driver License Services Division
29 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0029
Maryland
You can submit the license or identification card (along with a note explaining the individual has passed away, including the date of death) in person (at any branch office) or by mail at:
MVA Administrative Adjudication Division
6601 Ritchie Highway
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
Massachusetts
Mail the driver's license and a copy of the death certificate to:
Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles
1250 St James Ave
Springfield, MA 01104
Michigan
Bring the driver's license and a copy of the death certificate to your local Secretary of State's office.
Minnesota
Submit a copy of an obituary, death notice, memorial card and a copy of the death certificate to:
Driver and Vehicle Services
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 180
St. Paul, MN 55101-5180
Mississippi
Contact the State Tax Commissioner at 601-923-700 and ask to be connected to the title and tag division. For additional information, call the Mississippi Department of Public Safety at (601) 987-1212 or (601) 987-1224 or email drivesafe@dps.ms.gov.
Missouri
Submit an image of the death certificate by email (include the image as an attachment, either in JPG or PDF form) to dlbmail@dor.mo.gov.
There is no requirement to surrender the license, however, you can return the license (along with a copy of the death certificate) to:
Missouri Department of Revenue
ATTN: License Issuance
301 West High Street - Room 470
Jefferson City, MO 65105-0200
In any case, it's recommended that you destroy the card in some way.
Montana
Submit the driver's license, a letter of explanation, and a copy of the death certificate to:
Driver Services Bureau (DSB)
P.O. Box 201430
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59620-1430
Nebraska
You can include the driver's license information when you file a death certificate with Vital Records, no additional action is needed.
Nevada
Submit the driver's license and a signed note (that explains the decedent has passed away and you wish for the documents to be cancelled) to:
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles
555 Wright Way
Carson City, NV 89711
New Hampshire
Send an email to the following email to get more information on handling the decedent's driver's license: NH.DMVHelp@dos.nh.gov
New Jersey
Send the license, ID Card and a copy of the death certificate to:
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
Driver Management Correspondence Unit
P.O. Box 134
Trenton, NJ 08666-0134.
New Mexico
If you're in New Mexico, you can turn in the driver's license in person at any DMV office. If you're outside of New Mexico, you can mail a letter (include a contact number) and the driver's license to:
New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division
1100 S St Francis Dr
Santa Fe, NM 87505
New York
It is not required to submit the driver's license, but if you'd like to, you can send the document (if available) and a copy of the death certificate to:
License Production Bureau NYS DMV
PO Box 2688 ESP
Albany, NY 12220-0688
North Carolina
Mail a copy of the death certificate and the driver's license to:
North Carolina DMV
3148 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27697
North Dakota
Mail a copy of the death certificate and the driver's license to:
608 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505-0700
Ohio
Mail a copy of the death certificate or a letter from the coroner's office to:
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Attn: Record Clearance Unit
P.O. Box 16784
Columbus, OH 43216-6784
Or you can fax it to 614-752-7987.
Oklahoma
Mail a copy of the death certificate and the driver's license to:
Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
3600 North Martin Luther King Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Oregon
The DMV will update the decedent's record after receiving a death notification from The Center for Health Statistics and Vital Records, the Department of Human Services. If you'd like to, you can update the record immediately by submitting one of the following documents:
- Death Certificate
- Court documents
- Obituary Notice
- Funeral Notice
- Police report or other notice from law enforcement
- Signed statement containing the decedent's name and date of birth
- DMV mail, such as a renewal notice, with a deceased notation and signature
- Driver's license with a signed note
Any of these documents can be mailed to:
Attention: Driver Issuance Unit
1905 Lana Ave NE
Salem, OR 97314
Pennsylvania
You can submit a copy of one of the following documents (if you submit one of these documents, you do not need to return the license):
- Funeral announcement from the funeral home
- Death Certificate
- Obituary article from newspaper
Mail to:
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Bureau of Driver Licensing
PO Box 68615
Harrisburg PA 17106-8615
Rhode Island
Mail a copy of the death certificate and the driver's license to:
RI DMV
Attn: License Dept.
600 New London Ave
Cranston, RI 02920
South Carolina
Contact South Carolina's help desk (webhelpdesk@scdmv.net) and request information on what documents you need to submit to cancel a driver's license after a death.
South Dakota
If you prefer to, you can mail the driver's license to 118 W Capitol Ave, Pierre, SD 57501. However, you are able to keep the license instead, if you'd like to.
Tennessee
Submit a copy of the death certificate and letter of explanation to:
Financial Responsibility
PO BOX 945
Nashville, TN 37202-0945
Texas
Contact The Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) by phone at (512) 424-2600 regarding the disposal of the driver's license.
Utah
Contact the DMV by phone at 801-965-4437 and let them know the name of the deceased, they will enter the information into their database.
Vermont
Mail a copy of the death certificate and the driver's license to:
120 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05603
Virginia
Submit a notarized or certified copy of the death certificate, the driver's license or ID card, and a letter explaining that you'd like the decedent's driver's license or ID record cleared to:
DMV Data Management Services
P. O. Box 27412, Richmond
VA 23269-0001.
Alternatively, bring the license and the death certificate to a customer service center.
Washington, DC
You can surrender the driver's license to any DMV location in person. If you prefer to mail, send the driver's license and a letter (with a contact number) to:
3270 M St NW
Washington, DC 20007
Washington (State)
Mail a copy of the death certificate and the driver's license to any DMV office.
West Virginia
Mail a copy of the death certificate and the driver's license to:
West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles
P.O. Box 17020
Charleston, WV 25317
Wisconsin
Send an email to dotdmvccaredirectemail18@dot.wi.gov with the full name, date of birth ,date of death, and driver's license number.
You can also mail the information to:
WI DOT - DMVCC
PO Box 7983
Madison, WI 53707
The decedent's records will be updated once they receive notification through one of the above ways.
You can also surrender the driver's license in person at any DMV center.
Wyoming
Email a copy of the death certificate to renewals@wyo.gov and request that they deactivate the decedent's license.
