Bill My CarRTO and Ownership Transfer
Form 31: Transferring a Vehicle to a Legal Heir After the Owner's Death
When a registered owner passes away, their vehicle cannot simply be sold by the family. The registration must first move to the nominee or legal heir, and Form 31 is the application that does it. Dealers meet this situation regularly: a family wants to sell a deceased parent's car, and the deal cannot go through until this step is done.
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What is Form 31?
Form 31 is the "Application for Transfer of Ownership in the Name of the Person Succeeding to the Possession of the Vehicle", prescribed under rule 56(3) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. It applies when ownership changes because of the registered owner's death, not because of a sale.
The sequence for a family sale
- Form 31 first. The nominee or legal heir applies with the death certificate and proof of succession. The RC is reissued in the heir's name.
- Then the normal sale. The heir, now the registered owner, sells the car with an invoice, sale letter, Form 29 and Form 30 like any other transfer.
A dealer who skips step one and buys directly from the family owns a car whose RC still names a deceased person, which no RTO will transfer onward.
Documents checklist
- Form 31, signed by the nominee or heir
- Death certificate of the registered owner
- Nominee entry in the RC, succession certificate, or legal heir certificate
- RC, insurance, PUC
- If the vehicle is under loan, the financier's consent on the form
Dealer takeaways
- Ask one question early: "is the RC in the name of a living person?" It saves weeks.
- Budget time: heir transfers involve document verification and can take longer than standard transfers, which affects when you can resell.
- The RC renewal status matters too; older inherited cars often also need Form 25 RC renewal before anything else moves.
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Try Bill My Car free →Frequently asked questions
Who files Form 31?
The nominee recorded in the RC, or the legal heir succeeding to the vehicle, files Form 31 with the registering authority. It transfers the registration into their name so the vehicle can be legally used, insured, or sold.
What documents accompany Form 31?
The death certificate of the registered owner, proof of nomination or succession (nominee entry, succession certificate, or a legal heir certificate depending on the case), the RC, valid insurance, and the applicant's address and identity proof.
Can a dealer buy a car directly from a deceased owner's family?
Not until the ownership is first transferred to the legal heir through Form 31. The heir becomes the registered owner, and only then can they sell the vehicle to the dealer with the normal Form 29 and Form 30 process.
Is there a deadline for Form 31?
The person succeeding to the vehicle must apply within three months of the owner's death, and may use the vehicle in the meantime as if the registration had been transferred, after informing the registering authority.
Is Form 31 the death transfer of ownership form?
Yes. Form 31 is specifically the transfer of ownership form used when the registered owner has died, moving the vehicle to the nominee or legal heir. It is different from the standard sale-based transfer, which uses Form 29 and Form 30 instead.