Notification of vehicle ownership change from an estate

When the registered owner of a vehicle dies, the vehicle can be registered to a spouse, heir or another person. The documents you need to provide depend on who will become the new owner.

Spouse

The surviving spouse can have the vehicle registered in their name if they have permission to remain in an undivided estate.

You need to provide:

• a declaration from the District Commissioner confirming this permission. The declaration can be sent by email to samgongustofa@samgongustofa.is.

The vehicle can be registered to the spouse even if there are unpaid official charges on it.

Heirs

Heirs can have the vehicle registered to them if they have the right to manage and dispose of the estate’s assets.

You need to provide:

• a declaration from the District Commissioner stating who the heirs are and confirming that they have this right.

If the vehicle is to be registered to only one of several heirs, you also need to:

• submit the original change of ownership form

• have it signed by all heirs, unless someone has been authorised to sign on their behalf

• pay the change of ownership fee.

Any official charges on the vehicle must be paid before it can be registered to an heir.

Sale of a vehicle from an estate

If the vehicle is sold or transferred directly to someone other than the spouse or an heir, you need to provide:

• a declaration from the District Commissioner stating who the heirs are and confirming that they can dispose of the estate’s assets

• the original change of ownership form.

The form must be signed by all heirs, unless someone has been authorised to sign on their behalf.

Any official charges on the vehicle must be paid before the change of ownership can be registered.

A fee is charged for the change of ownership.

Cost

• The registration of the transfer of ownership from the estate to the spouse or all heirs is free of charge.

• If the vehicle is not registered to all heirs, a fee shall be paid for the registration of the change of ownership 3.041 ISK.

• If a vehicle is registered directly to a party other than the spouse or an heir, a change of ownership form must be submitted and a fee shall be paid for the registration of the change of ownership 3.041 ISK.