Can a car not under my name be traded in?
2 Answers
A car not under your name cannot be traded in. Here are the relevant details: 1. Required documents: The vehicle trade-in process requires the original vehicle's green book (registration certificate), the vehicle's license, and the original owner's ID card to proceed with the trade-in. Therefore, if the car to be traded in is not under your name, but you have all the necessary documents and the consent of the original owner, a trade-in is possible. 2. Trade-in explanation: Most 4S dealerships offer trade-in services for purchasing new cars. This means if your old car is of the same brand, you can use its residual value to offset part of the cost of the new car, and then pay the remaining amount to take delivery. In simple terms, it's selling your old car to buy a new one of the same brand, but the old car is sold to the 4S dealership instead.
From my understanding of vehicle replacement, if you want to replace a car that's registered under your name with a new one, there's definitely no issue. However, if it's not your car—for example, borrowed from a friend or family member—theoretically, there's a chance to proceed. I've seen many such cases, and the key is to obtain the owner's formal authorization letter, bring a copy of the vehicle registration certificate, and a power of attorney to negotiate with the dealer. Otherwise, without proof of ownership, the replacement could lead to disputes, such as vehicle debt or transfer obstacles, and dealers might refuse due to risk concerns. It's advisable to contact the 4S store in advance to clarify their policies, as some places are quite flexible. But never take risks—ensure everything is legal before proceeding to avoid wasting time and effort. The replacement process involves evaluating the car's value, so having all the necessary documents ready will make things smoother.
