Decisions concerning a car, tractor or other vehicle belonging to the estate of a deceased person are taken jointly by the parties to the estate. The estate does not need to submit a registration notification when the ownership of the vehicle is transferred from the deceased person to the person's estate.
Notify changes in the registration details of the estate if the estate
- sells or transfers a vehicle that it owns
- buys a vehicle
- decommissions a vehicle, commissions it or changes the holder information
- changes the address of the estate.
You will find more specific instructions for notifying the above-mentioned changes further down on this page.
Only one party to the estate needs to sign the document for the registration notification. The party signing the notification is responsible for ensuring that they have the consent of the other parties to the estate to make the notification. There is no need to draw up a document granting consent.
A vehicle belonging to an estate can be registered at an inspection station that offers registration services or at an insurance company.
It is not possible to act on behalf of a deceased person’s estate in My e-Services because the parties to the estate have not been entered in any register. If the estate is continuing the business activities of the deceased person and has a business ID, the parties to the estate can use Suomi.fi e-Authorizations to authorise a person, company or organisation of their choice to manage the matters of the estate.
Sell a vehicle owned by an estate or transfer its ownership
An estate can transfer a vehicle to a new owner either by submitting a notification of transfer or by giving the notification part (Part II) of a valid registration certificate to the new owner. Only one party to the estate needs to sign the notification part.
How to submit a notification of transfer on a vehicle owned by an estate
For the notification of transfer, you will need the buyer’s name, address, and either their personal identity code or business ID. Print out the deeds of transfer for you and the new owner of the vehicle for carrying out the sale. Fill in and sign the deeds of transfer together with the new owner. Both parties should keep the deeds of transfer in case there are conflicting situations.
You can submit the notification of transfer at an inspection station that offers registration services or at your own insurance company. In addition to the deed of transfer, take with you the estate inventory deed, the deceased person’s extract from the Population Information System (also called ‘virkatodistus’ in Finnish), or a report on family relationships to prove that you are a party to the estate.
With this notification, the estate ensures that it will not need to pay vehicle taxes or other expenses after the sale.
How to transfer a vehicle owned by an estate with the notification part (Part II) of the vehicle’s registration certificate
If the estate does not submit a notification of transfer, the new owner of the vehicle needs the notification part (Part II) of the registration certificate. If the estate does not have the notification part, you can get one for a fee at an inspection station that offers registration services. Take with you the estate inventory deed, the deceased person’s extract from the Population Information System (also called ‘virkatodistus’ in Finnish), or a report on family relationships to prove that you are a party to the estate.
Fill in and sign the notification part together with the new owner and hand it over to them.
How to submit a notification of transfer of a vehicle owned by an estate to an unknown person
If there is a vehicle in the estate’s name that is not part of the estate, and it is not possible for the estate to determine to whom the vehicle has been transferred, the estate can make a notification of transfer of the vehicle to an unknown person. Make the notification by submitting the required form at an inspection station that offers registration services. Only one party to the estate needs to sign the form.
Buy a vehicle for an estate
Submit a registration notification on the ownership change within 7 days of the date when the owner recorded in the register transferred the ownership of the vehicle to the estate. To submit the change of ownership, use the notification part (Part II) of a valid registration certificate, which you get from the person selling the vehicle. In addition to the seller, only one party to the estate needs to sign the notification part.
Submit the registration notification at an inspection station that offers registration services or at an insurance company. Apart from the notification part of the registration certificate, you do not need any other appendices such as a copy of the estate inventory deed or a similar document. As the person who has signed on behalf of the estate, you are responsible for ensuring that you have a permission from the other parties to the estate to buy the vehicle.
Decommission a vehicle belonging to an estate, commission it or change the holder data
As a party to an estate, you can make a notification of the decommissioning of a vehicle, the commissioning of a vehicle or a change in the holder information at an inspection station that offers registration services or at an insurance company. For the notification, you will need the notification part (Part II) of a valid registration certificate.
If the estate does not have the notification part (Part II), as a party to the estate, you can notify the change of registration details by presenting the estate inventory deed, the deceased person’s extract from the Population Information System (also called “virkatodistus” in Finnish) or a report on family relationships to prove that you are a party to the estate.
Change the address of the estate
Information about a change of address of an estate is not transmitted automatically to Traficom. As a party to the estate, you can notify a new address to Traficom to the following address: Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, PO Box 320, 00059 TRAFICOM or by email to kirjaamo@traficom.fi . Attach to the notification the estate inventory deed, the deceased person’s extract from the Population Information System (also called “virkatodistus” in Finnish), or a report on family relationships to prove that you are a party to the estate.
If you send your notification by email, we recommend using a secure encrypted connection to ensure that third parties cannot access your information.
The address you have notified to Traficom will be valid for a maximum period of one year. After that, you will have to resubmit the address notification, if necessary.