Do I Need to Notify the DMV of a Death in California?

Notifying the DMV of a death in California takes one form: the Notification of Deceased Person (DMV 22), mailed to Sacramento. Filing it cancels the deceased’s driver’s license or ID card and stops DMV mail in their name, which is the single most effective step against identity misuse. If the person owned a vehicle or held a disabled person placard, more paperwork follows, and some of it runs on strict deadlines.

Filing the DMV 22 Form

Download the Notification of Deceased Person form (DMV 22) from the DMV website, complete it, and mail it to:

DMV
PO Box 942869, MS C271
Sacramento, CA 94269-0001

No office visit is required. Submitting the form removes the deceased from DMV mailing lists and cancels their license or ID.1California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Reporting a Death of a Family Member or Friend That step alone completes your obligation to the DMV if the person didn’t own a vehicle or hold a placard.

Keeping the Vehicle Registration Current

If there’s a car involved, the registration has to stay current while you sort out the title. You can either pay the renewal fees when they come due or file for Planned Nonoperation (PNO) status before the expiration date. Miss that date and the DMV adds late penalties on top of everything else.1California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Reporting a Death of a Family Member or Friend

PNO is the cheaper option when nobody will drive the car during the transition. There’s no grace period, so file it early.

Transferring the Vehicle Without Probate

Most families qualify for the simplified path. If the total value of the deceased’s California personal property is $208,850 or less, you can transfer the vehicle by filing an Affidavit for Transfer Without Probate (REG 5).2California Courts. Check If You Can Use a Simple Process to Transfer Property That threshold covers all personal property in California, not just the vehicle. It’s adjusted periodically, so confirm the current figure for deaths well after 2025.

Two conditions apply: you must wait at least 40 days after the death to file, and the vehicle must already have a California title. A vehicle titled in another state has to be brought onto California title first.3State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual – Estate Valued at or Less

Along with the REG 5, you’ll need:

Can’t find the pink slip? File an Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title (REG 227) before you submit the rest.4California Department of Motor Vehicles. Title Transfers and Changes Check for it early.

Transferring the Vehicle Through Probate

When the estate is above the small-estate threshold or is going through probate for other reasons, the court appoints someone to handle the deceased’s assets. If there’s a will, the court issues Letters Testamentary to the named executor. Without a will, it issues Letters of Administration to an appointed administrator.

Either document lets the holder sign the title on behalf of the deceased and complete the transfer, alongside the certificate of title, certified death certificate, and Statement of Facts.5California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual – Transfer to Estate Of Keep certified copies of the letters, because the DMV may not return originals.

What the Transfer Costs

The base title transfer fee is $15.6California Legislative Information. California Vehicle Code VEH 9255 On top of that, California charges a Transportation Improvement Fee (TIF) scaled to the vehicle’s value:

  • $0–$4,999 vehicle value: $33
  • $5,000–$24,999: $66
  • $25,000–$34,999: $132
  • $35,000–$59,999: $198
  • $60,000 and above: $231

A vehicle valued at $20,000 would run about $81 before any other registration charges. Late filings add a $15 penalty.7California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration Fees

You can submit the transfer package at a DMV field office or by mail. New titles typically arrive within 15 to 30 days of processing.4California Department of Motor Vehicles. Title Transfers and Changes

Inheriting a vehicle counts as an involuntary transfer under California tax law, so no use tax is owed regardless of your relationship to the deceased. Transfers between qualifying family members (parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, spouses, and domestic partners) are separately exempt.8California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Tax Guide for Purchasers of Vehicles Claim the exemption on the REG 256.

Returning a Disabled Person Placard

If the deceased had a disabled person placard or specialized plates, California law requires you to return them to the DMV within 60 days of the death.9Legal Information Institute (LII) / Cornell Law School. California Code of Regulations Title 13, 182.04 – Surrender of Disabled Person License Plates and Permanent Disabled Person Placards upon Death Placards belong to the individual and can’t be passed to anyone else, including a co-owner of the vehicle.

Mark a large “X” on both sides of the placard to void it, then mail it with a completed DMV 22 to:

DMV
PO Box 942869, MS C271
Sacramento, CA 94269-00011California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Reporting a Death of a Family Member or Friend

Using a deceased person’s placard is a misdemeanor in California and can result in fines.

Other Agencies to Notify

The funeral home usually reports the death to the Social Security Administration, so most families don’t need to make that call. If no funeral home was involved, contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213 with the deceased’s name, Social Security number, date of birth, and date of death.10Social Security Administration. What to Do When Someone Dies

Call the auto insurer as well. The existing policy generally stays in effect while the estate is settled, but once the title transfers, the new owner needs coverage in their own name. Driving on a policy still in the deceased’s name after the transfer can leave you uninsured.