Can a car without the green book be sold?
3 Answers
A car without the green book cannot be sold. The green book of a motor vehicle is the legal proof of its legitimacy. Without the green book, the vehicle is considered illegal, and the transfer of ownership cannot be processed. Below is relevant information about the green book: Replacement of the green book: When replacing the green book, it will show the mortgage status. The mortgage record is stored in the system of the vehicle management office. After the user applies for a new green book, the mortgage record will also be reissued. Moreover, if the owner has already mortgaged the green book to apply for a loan, the green book cannot be replaced during the loan period. Only after the loan is fully repaid and the green book is unfortunately lost can a replacement be applied for. The replacement process takes within 15 days. Function of the green book: The motor vehicle registration certificate is kept by the vehicle owner and does not need to be carried with the vehicle. However, when handling any vehicle registration procedures such as transfer of ownership or change of registration, the motor vehicle registration certificate must be presented, and relevant vehicle information will be recorded in the certificate.
As a friend who frequently deals with used cars, I have to say that selling a car without the 'green book' (vehicle registration certificate) is really difficult. I once encountered a similar situation where the green book was forgotten in a cabinet back home, and the buyer directly refused the transaction during the inspection because the original green book is mandatory for the transfer process. According to the DMV regulations, the green book must be submitted to complete the transfer procedures when selling a car—without it, a legal transfer is impossible. If you're in a hurry to sell, you might have to dump it at a low price to car dealers, but the risk is too high. The buyer might accuse you if they find out the transfer is stuck at the DMV after payment. My advice is to first visit the DMV to apply for a replacement green book by providing your ID and vehicle documents—it usually takes one or two weeks to process before you can sell. Don’t cut corners, or disputes may arise, and it could even affect your credit record. This lesson is worth a few tuition fees.
When I was young, I was tempted to save money and almost bought a car without a green book (vehicle registration certificate). Luckily, I backed out. The seller made it sound amazing with an ultra-low price, but after checking, I learned that no green book means the car has issues, like unpaid loans or theft suspicions. Later, I found out that the DMV requires the green book for transfer—without it, the new owner can’t register the car, making it a total waste of money. My advice: if you encounter such a car, walk away immediately and insist the seller first replaces the green book. Financially, the risk far outweighs the cheap price—if you fall for it, you’ll waste time, money, and even face legal trouble. Consulting experienced drivers or professional platforms can save a lot of hassle. Bottom line: don’t be fooled by low prices—safe transactions are what really matter.
