Can a used car be transferred across provinces?
2 Answers
It depends on whether the vehicle meets the environmental standards of the destination province and whether the relevant documents are complete. If the purchased used car does not meet the local emission standards or the age requirements for the vehicle, it cannot be transferred. For the transfer of ownership, the owner's ID card, vehicle registration certificate, vehicle license, original purchase invoice, etc., must be provided. Only after completing the transfer procedures does the car truly belong to the buyer. Additional information: Vehicles that cannot be transferred: 1. Vehicles without compulsory traffic insurance: Every car must have compulsory traffic insurance. Vehicles without this insurance cannot be transferred. 2. Vehicles with unresolved traffic violations: If violations are not settled before the transfer, the vehicle cannot be transferred. Therefore, all traffic violations must be cleared before the transfer process. 3. Vehicles that fail or have not undergone annual inspections: Annual inspections are mandatory for all vehicles. Failing to undergo timely inspections not only poses risks when driving but also affects the transfer of used cars. Such vehicles cannot be transferred. 4. Mortgaged vehicles cannot be transferred: Vehicles mortgaged to banks, including those purchased through installment plans, cannot be transferred. Until the loan is fully repaid, the ownership of the car belongs to the bank, not the individual, making transfer impossible.
Used cars can indeed be transferred across provinces, but there are several key points to note. Last year, I helped a friend handle a transfer from Shandong to Jiangsu. First, you must confirm whether the emission standards meet the requirements of the destination—this is often overlooked. For example, Jiangsu requires China 6 standards; if you bring a China 5 car, you'll be directly blocked. The paperwork requires trips to both ends: the original owner must withdraw the files at the registration location, bringing the registration certificate, ID card, and compulsory insurance documents to the DMV for transfer registration. After withdrawing the files, you must complete the transfer at the new province's DMV within 30 days, and remember to get an environmental inspection report. Additionally, some provinces like Zhejiang also check for residence permits—without this, non-locals can't proceed. The whole process takes at least three or four trips, so it's best to reserve two weeks.
