Can a Mortgaged Car Be Driven for a Lifetime?
2 Answers
Under the premise of legal and reasonable sources and good vehicle condition, a mortgaged car can be used until it is scrapped. Mortgaged cars are divided into fully paid mortgaged cars and non-fully paid mortgaged cars. Fully paid mortgaged cars are legal and can be traded; non-fully paid mortgaged cars are still under mortgage status with the DMV and the bank, making them illegal and untradeable. The conditions that a fully paid mortgaged car must meet include: 1. The car was purchased with a one-time payment; 2. The car was purchased with installment payments, the payments have been completed, but the owner is unwilling or unable to repay the financial company and does not cooperate with the transfer, leading to a legal transfer of debt by the financial company. For a mortgaged car, you can check the mortgage registration details in the motor vehicle registration certificate, or visit the DMV with the original owner to inquire about the car's information.
You can't drive a mortgaged car for a lifetime—I’ve been through a similar situation, so I’m giving everyone a heads-up. These cars are typically used by the original owner as collateral for a loan, meaning full ownership isn’t yours. If the loan isn’t fully repaid, the bank or lender can repossess the car at any time, no matter how good its condition is. The physical lifespan of the car might indeed be long—with proper maintenance, it could run for over 200,000 to 300,000 kilometers—but that’s just the mechanical part. The real issue is ownership risk. I’ve seen too many friends buy mortgaged cars, only to have them towed away after a year or two, losing money and wasting time. My advice: check the loan status thoroughly before buying, aim to transfer the title as soon as possible, or just opt for a fully paid-off car for more security. That way, you can drive long-term with peace of mind. In short, a mortgaged car feels borrowed, not permanent—don’t expect to enjoy it forever.
