Santander Auto
Subsidiary of Santander Holdings USA, Inc. (Banco Santander, S.A.)
santanderconsumerusa.comWhat to do when a Santander Auto account holder dies
Report the death to Santander Auto's Customer Service at 1-888-222-4227
Notifying Santander Auto of a death is not a claim for money — it is the step that stops the account, fixes the balance owed as of the date of death, and puts Santander Auto on notice as a creditor of the estate. The Customer Service (1-888-222-4227) handles it.
Before contacting Santander Auto, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Santander Auto works as follows:
Filing a claim
- Regular mail: Santander Consumer USA, P.O. Box 660633, Dallas, TX 75266-0633
- Overnight mail: Santander Consumer USA, 3000 Kellway Drive, Ste. 120, Carrollton, TX 75006, which accepts mailed payments only
- All mailed payments, including overnight and certified payments, generally post within three business days after they are received
- Personal checks may have an extended title release timeframe
- The dealership must enclose an authorization form, signed by the borrower, instructing Santander Consumer USA to send the title to the dealership
Required Documents
- The Santander account numberSantander asks for it to access account information.
- The Social Security number and date of birth of the borrower or co-borrowerSantander asks for these to access account information.
What happens to each kind of account3
- Loan
If there is a surviving co-borrower listed on the account, "the surviving co-borrower will continue to be responsible for the account."1
Santander Consumer USA contracts cannot be taken over or assumed by a third party, and Santander Consumer USA does not refinance existing accounts.2
If the account is paid in full, the title is sent to the primary borrower's address. Once the title has been released, ownership is transferred through the state Department of Motor Vehicles.3
Santander releases the vehicle title "based on your state's law timeframe and final reconciliation of accounting."4
For an electronic title, Santander notifies the state that the lien has been satisfied and the State Titling Division prints and mails the title; shipping times vary by state. For a paper title, Santander ships the title by USPS to the address on the account.4
- Vehicle lease
At lease end, Santander's options are purchasing the leased vehicle, returning it, or buying or leasing a new car.5
After a leased vehicle is returned, Santander sends a vehicle return invoice listing any remaining amounts due, such as a disposition fee, unpaid payments, excess miles, excess wear, late charges, taxes or other fees.5
- Debt protection, GAP or service contract
Santander directs customers who bought additional products with their Santander contract, which may include an extended warranty, credit life or credit disability, to contact the service provider or dealership to cancel them.6
Accounts handled elsewhere5
- Santander Bank, N.A.
Servicing of many Santander Consumer USA accounts since April 1, 2025, with the same account number and phone number7
- Santander Lease Servicing Team
Questions about lease-end options5
Phone: 1-888-222-4227
- Santander Lease Final Bill Team
Questions about the vehicle return invoice after a leased vehicle is returned5
Phone: 1-855-383-0558
- Santander Title Department
Requests from a local Motor Vehicle Office for the existing title, for example to remove, add or change a name on it8
Fax: 1-214-237-3549
Mailing address: Santander Title Department, 1601 Elm St., Dallas, TX 75201
- Santander Consumer USA Titles
Title questions9
Phone: 1-800-526-0157
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 AM-6:00 PM CT
What Santander Auto provides to the estate2
- Payoff statement
A payoff quote is available in MyAccount under "Request Payoff Quote". Near lease maturity, or when the quote is not available online, a live chat agent provides it during operating hours.10
- Tax forms
A Year-End Interest Paid Statement for an auto loan may be available based on account eligibility; a live chat agent can provide a copy, or an alternative such as a payment history with an interest breakdown.11
What Santander Auto's agreement and guidance say1
- Fees
When an account is past due, late fees may be assessed "in accordance with your contract and state law," and additional interest may accrue because interest accrues daily.12
Not in Santander Auto's published guidance4
- Whether the death certificate must be certified
- A claim form
- A mailing address for claim documents
- How long a claim takes
Sources12
- 1.What should I do if the account holder is deceased?, January 15, 2025
- 2.Welcome Guide, SB-195100-CUST_022526
- 3.How do I obtain the title for the vehicle if the account holder is deceased?, January 14, 2025
- 4.I recently paid off my vehicle; when will I receive my title? I need an additional release of lien, how do I receive that?, July 29, 2026
- 5.Lease-end process
- 6.What if I have an extended warranty or other ancillary product?, January 15, 2025
- 7.Who services my account, April 2, 2025
- 8.Copy of the title, July 29, 2026
- 9.Contact Us
- 10.How do I request payoff information?, September 2, 2026
- 11.How do I request a Year-End Interest Paid Statement for My Auto loan?, May 6, 2026
- 12.Payment Options
Santander Auto's Customer Service can be reached by phone at 1-888-222-4227 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Santander Auto primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Santander Auto death claims support
Customer Service
Phone
Hours
Website
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