Short answer

Yes — it is often possible to be reimbursed from the decedent’s estate for money you personally paid to protect or preserve a vehicle that is an asset of the estate. How you get repaid depends on whether you are the personal representative (executor), an heir, or a third‑party creditor, whether the payment benefitted the estate, and whether proper probate procedures are followed.

Detailed answer — what matters under Washington law

1. Is the vehicle an estate asset?

If the vehicle was owned solely by the decedent at death, it is an asset of the decedent’s estate. If the vehicle was jointly owned, had a beneficiary/title transfer, or was community property, ownership rules may differ and that affects reimbursement rights.

2. Who paid and why it matters

If you are the court‑appointed personal representative and you paid the lien to preserve the asset (for example, to stop repossession or to keep the car to sell or distribute), the estate can typically reimburse you as an estate administration expense after you record the payment in the estate accounting and seek approval from the court or beneficiaries.

If you are not the personal representative but paid to protect the vehicle (for example, you paid the loan to stop repossession while the estate was being opened), you generally must present your payment as a claim against the estate. Washington law governs presentation and allowance of claims against estates; the personal representative or court will decide whether the payment was a valid estate claim.

3. How to document and prove your claim

• Keep original receipts, bank records, loan account statements, and communications showing why the payment was necessary (e.g., repossession notices).
• Show the payment directly benefitted the estate’s asset (for example, the payment preserved the vehicle’s value so it could be sold or used by beneficiaries).
• If you advanced funds as an emergency to avoid greater loss, document the circumstances and any attempts to notify whoever was handling the estate.

4. Procedural paths in Washington

Common paths include:

1. Personal representative reimbursement: If you are the PR, record the payment in the estate records and request approval from the court or show the payment as an authorized administration expense. See the statutes covering the powers and duties of personal representatives: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/title11/11.48/
2. Claim by creditor/heir: If you are not PR, present a written claim to the personal representative for allowance as a debt of the estate. Washington law on claims against estates is in Title 11, chapter 40: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/title11/11.40/
3. Small estate procedures: If the estate qualifies as a small estate, simplified claim/collection procedures may apply. See Washington’s small estate statutes: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/title11/11.62/

5. What can block or limit reimbursement?

• Lack of proof that the payment benefited the estate.
• Failure to present a timely claim if probate notices require it or if you miss statutory deadlines (watch for creditor notices and probate filings).
• If estate assets are insufficient, unsecured claims (including many reimbursements) may be unpaid or paid only pro rata.
• If the payment was personal (for example, you paid for your own use of the vehicle rather than to preserve estate value), the court may disallow reimbursement.

6. Additional practical considerations

If paying the lien cleared title issues and the vehicle must be transferred, you may also need to follow Washington vehicle title and lien rules (Title 46). See Washington statutes on certificates of ownership and liens: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/title46/46.12/

7. Typical steps to pursue reimbursement

1. Keep records: receipts, bank transfers, statements, notices of repossession, correspondence.
2. Identify whether a probate case has been opened and who the personal representative is.
3. If you are the PR, include the payment in the estate accounting and request approval. See PR powers: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/title11/11.48/
4. If you are not the PR, present a written claim to the PR and, if necessary, file the claim in the probate court under Washington’s claims procedure: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/title11/11.40/
5. If the estate is small, check small‑estate procedures that may allow collection without full probate: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/title11/11.62/
6. If the PR refuses to pay or the claim is disputed, consider petitioning the probate court for determination or seeking counsel to represent your claim.

Helpful hints

• Preserve every receipt and communication about the payment. Courts rely heavily on documentary proof.
• Act quickly. Probate notice periods and deadlines can limit your ability to recover unpaid claims.
• If you are the personal representative, get court approval for large outlays when feasible to avoid later disputes.
• Distinguish payments that protected estate assets from those that were personal or voluntary gifts — only payments that benefitted the estate are likely reimbursable.
• Check whether the vehicle’s title shows a surviving joint owner or transfer on death designation. If so, the vehicle may not be an estate asset at all.
• If estate funds are insufficient, an unsecured reimbursement claim may not be fully paid. Consider whether the lien payment should instead be treated as a secured claim.
• When in doubt, consult a probate attorney early — they can explain timelines, draft claims, and, if needed, petition the court to resolve disputes.