Something different?
Buying a car from a deceased owner's estate
The question that decides everything: who has authority to sell? That's the estate's executor (liquidator in Quebec) — so before money moves, ask to see their estate grant, and know that its name differs by province (the table below). Everything else is a normal private purchase: lien search first, bill of sale signed by the executor in that capacity, registration within your province's deadline.
Family selling without a grant? Small estates sometimes qualify for simplified processes, and registries have their own document rules — the honest answer is “ask the registry what they'll accept” rather than assume. When in doubt, the estate should check the executor guide first.
What the authority document is called, by province
Ontario
Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee (with or without a will)
British Columbia
Grant of Probate or Grant of Administration
Alberta
Grant of Probate or Grant of Administration (Surrogate Court)
Saskatchewan
Letters Probate or Letters of Administration
Manitoba
Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
Quebec
Verification of testament (for holograph or witnessed wills only — notarial wills require no court process)
New Brunswick
Letters Probate or Letters of Administration
Nova Scotia
Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration
Prince Edward Island
Letters Probate or Letters of Administration (Form 65U)
Newfoundland & Labrador
Letters of Probate or Letters of Administration
British Columbia — ICBC's documented estate process
BC is the province with dedicated published guidance: ICBC's estate-transfers document (linked from its sell-a-vehicle page) sets out what Autoplan brokers accept from estates. Follow ICBC's current document — it governs, and it's clearer than any summary.
Your side of the purchase — unchanged
- •Run the lien search by VIN before paying — estates can carry vehicle loans like anyone else
- •Bill of sale signed by the executor/liquidator, in that capacity, with the usual contents
- •Register within your province’s deadline — the buyer steps in our provincial guides apply as normal
Common Questions
Who can legally sell a deceased person's car?
The estate's executor (called a liquidator in Quebec) — the person named in the will or appointed by the court to administer the estate. Family members without that authority can't validly transfer the vehicle just because they have the keys.
What document proves the seller has authority?
The estate grant — and its name differs by province: a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee in Ontario, a Grant of Probate in BC, Manitoba, or Nova Scotia, Letters Probate in Saskatchewan, PEI, or New Brunswick, and a Verification of testament in Quebec. Ask to see it (or the registry's accepted equivalent for small estates) before money moves.
Who signs the bill of sale when buying from an estate?
The executor or liquidator signs as seller, in that capacity. Everything else about the purchase stays the same as any private sale: lien search first, bill of sale, then registration at your provincial registry within its deadline.
Does BC have a specific process for estate vehicle transfers?
Yes — ICBC publishes dedicated estate-transfer guidance (linked from its sell-a-vehicle page) covering the documents Autoplan brokers accept from estates. Follow ICBC's current document rather than second-hand summaries.
Both sides of this transaction
Guidepost is not a law firm. This is general information, not legal advice — estates involve real legal authority questions; when in doubt, the estate's lawyer or the registry decides what's acceptable. Full disclaimer. Last updated: June 2026.