Can a second-hand car be driven on the road if the insurance is not transferred after ownership transfer?
2 Answers
Compulsory traffic insurance allows driving on the road if it is still valid. It is recommended that the owner promptly completes the insurance transfer after the second-hand car ownership transfer. Otherwise, if the vehicle is involved in an accident, the insurance company has the right to refuse claims, and even if a claim is made, the cooperation of the original owner is required, making the process quite troublesome. Below is an introduction to vehicle insurance: 1. Compulsory Traffic Insurance: This is a mandatory insurance required by the state. If not purchased, traffic police can impose fines upon inspection. This insurance offers limited compensation, mainly covering others, and does not compensate for damage to the owner's own vehicle. 2. Third-party Liability Insurance: This is used to compensate for losses caused by the owner to third parties in terms of personal injury or death. This must be purchased as it provides protection for both the owner and others. 3. Vehicle Damage Insurance: This compensates for losses to the vehicle itself caused by natural disasters and accidents. It is recommended for new drivers. 4. No-deductible Insurance: An additional insurance that transfers the responsibility the owner would otherwise bear to the insurance company, reducing the owner's losses. If both Vehicle Damage Insurance and Third-party Liability Insurance are purchased, it is advisable to also purchase No-deductible Insurance.
Last time I bought a used car, I made a mistake. The vehicle transfer went smoothly, but I forgot to update the insurance. Within two days of driving, I was pulled over by the police for a check, and they issued me a ticket for not having valid insurance. Luckily, there was no accident, or it would have been even more troublesome. After that, I learned my lesson and quickly contacted the original insurance company to handle the name change—it was simple and done with just one phone call. Don’t underestimate this; insurance is tied to the owner, and driving without transferring it poses huge risks. If there’s even a minor scrape and the other party seeks compensation, the insurance company might refuse to pay, leaving you to cover the costs. Legally, driving this way is also a violation and could lead to your license being revoked. My advice is to handle the insurance transfer immediately after buying a car—it’s safer and more convenient. Procrastinating only complicates things, so everyone should be more mindful.
