Inheriting a vehicle

When the holder or owner of a vehicle dies, the surviving spouse or heir (e.g. a child) must have a new registration certificate drawn up in his/her name before the vehicle can be put back on the road.

 

Who does this apply to?

  • Anyone who lives in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and inherits a second-hand vehicle that was last registered in Luxembourg.
  • Garages and assimilated businesses (able to justify being authorised to deal in road vehicles) may carry out the procedure on behalf of their customers.
  • If the application is submitted by a third party, that person must present a written power of attorney (mandate). In this case, it is important to ensure that all documents mention the name of the holder, owner or keeper of the vehicle in whose name the vehicle will be registered, and not that of their representative (mandate holder).

Prerequisites

In the following cases, the person concerned must apply for a registration number before proceeding with registration.

  • inheritance of a vehicle registered under a number in old format (2 letters and 3 digits or 1 letter and 4 digits).

Supporting documents

A second-hand vehicle that was last registered in Luxembourg can be registered on production of the following documents:

  • a duly completed and signed registration certificate application form (Demande en obtention d'un certificat d'immatriculation);
  • the required 'Droit de Chancellerie' tax stamp(s); if the vehicle is being registered in the name of the surviving spouse, no stamp is required;
  • a valid insurance certificate;
  • parts 1 and 2 of the registration certificate;
  • the passport or ID card of the holder, owner or keeper of the vehicle;
  • If the vehicle was registered for the first time after 1 February 2016;
    • the European certificate of conformity;
  • If the vehicle is subject to periodic technical inspections:
    • a valid technical inspection certificate issued for the vehicle by an authorised technical inspection body in the Grand Duchy.
  • Regarding the inheritance or succession:
    • the attestation of succession issued by the Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority (Administration de l'Enregistrement, des Domaines et de la TVA);
    • Optional > ** agreement on transfer of ownership signed by all the heirs, with authenticated signatures or copies of the heirs' ID documents.

** if the agreement on transfer is missing or it is not possible to trace the new owner unequivocally, the SNCA can register you as the holder, even if you can't provide all the supporting documents needed to unequivocally document all successive transfers of ownership. However, you won't be listed as the owner on the registration certificate. Only the holder of the vehicle will be recorded. The registration certificate will contain in the section C.4c following information for the holder "is not identified by the registration certificate as the owner of the vehicle", no owner will be recorded on the registration certificate.

 

The original of each document must be produced.

For any other documents that may be required, please consult the FAQ section.

Selling a vehicle resulting from an inheritance or succession

If the surviving spouse or heir wishes to sell the vehicle, the person concerned must carry out the procedure for selling a vehicle  and add the following documents to the supporting documents required:

  • the attestation of succession issued by the Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority;
  • Optional > ** agreement on transfer of ownership signed by all the heirs, with authenticated signatures or copies of the heirs' ID documents.

** if the agreement on transfer is missing or it is not possible to trace the new owner unequivocally, the SNCA can register you as the holder, even if you can't provide all the supporting documents needed to unequivocally document all successive transfers of ownership. However, you won't be listed as the owner on the registration certificate. Only the holder of the vehicle will be recorded. The registration certificate will contain in the section C.4c following information for the holder "is not identified by the registration certificate as the owner of the vehicle", no owner will be recorded on the registration certificate.

Application processing

Please make an appointment online, or send your application by post, preferably by registered post.

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