What to do if car your deceased father left owes money a

Determine the estate's assets and debts. Before you can do anything else, you need to get an accurate picture of the estate's financial health. This includes listing all the assets (such as property, bank accounts, investments) and debts (such as the car, mortgage, credit cards). If the value of the assets exceeds the value of the debts, the estate is solvent and you can move on to step two. If the debts exceed the value of the assets, the estate is insolvent and the vehicle loan will have to go through bankruptcy court.

Contact the lender and explain the situation. Once you know whether the estate is solvent or insolvent, you need to contact the lender. Let them know that your father has passed away and that you are the executor of his estate. If there is equity in the car, you may be able to work out a deal to pay the loan off by surrendering the vehicle to the lender.

File a claim with the insurance company. If the vehicle was insured, you should also file a claim with the insurance company. This is especially important if the loan is not paid off and there is no equity in the car.

Pay off any remaining debt. If there is any debt remaining on the car after the insurance payout, you will need to pay it off as part of the estate's administration. This may include using estate assets or selling the vehicle.

Transfer ownership of the car. If there is no debt remaining on the car and the estate is solvent, you can transfer ownership of the vehicle to yourself or another heir. This will likely require you to visit the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and present the following documents:

* The executor's deed or will

* The vehicle's title

* A death certificate

* A current emissions test (in some states)