Can I directly transfer ownership when selling to a used car dealership?
4 Answers
Selling to a used car dealership allows for direct ownership transfer. Extended information about vehicle ownership transfer is as follows: 1. Principle: Every vehicle has a fixed registration, similar to a person's household registration. The vehicle registration primarily records the owner's information, address, and relevant vehicle parameters. A transferred vehicle certifies that it belongs to the current owner and has no accident or violation records. If the vehicle has issues such as being involved in an accident, failing annual inspection, being stolen, or being smuggled, the transfer cannot proceed through normal procedures. 2. Vehicle relocation: When a vehicle is moved from one city to another, the registration process required to change the managing vehicle authority is called relocation. Vehicle relocation necessitates changing the license plate and registration certificate, and the procedures must be completed at both the original and new vehicle management authorities, involving both transfer-out and transfer-in processes.
Last time I helped a colleague deal with an old car, I encountered this issue. Selling directly to a reputable used car dealership allows for immediate transfer of ownership, but it depends on the reliability of the dealership. I recommend choosing a chain brand with a physical storefront—they usually have the official seal for ownership transfer right at the counter. After signing the sales contract, the salesperson will take your ID copy and the vehicle registration certificate on the spot, and the transfer can be processed in the DMV system the same day. However, make sure to pay attention to three key points: ensure the contract explicitly states 'transfer fees included'—don’t rely on verbal promises; get a vehicle handover form with the official seal when handing over the car; and most importantly, ask to log into the Traffic Management 12123 APP on the spot to confirm the online transfer application has been submitted. In my case, I signed the contract in the morning and saw the 'transfer pending registration' status in the APP by afternoon.
It depends. For reputable dealers like Guazi or Renrenche, they have dedicated transfer agents who accompany you to the DMV, and the entire process can be completed in two hours. However, if you're dealing with small roadside vendors, they'll likely ask you to hand over the car before transferring ownership, which carries risks. My childhood friend got burned—two weeks after handing over the car, the dealer suddenly demanded a 5,000 yuan price cut and withheld the final payment until the transfer was done. My advice: no matter which dealer you choose, insist on three simultaneous actions: verify their business license when signing the contract, check the transfer progress on 12123 when handing over the keys, and demand the transfer receipt when receiving the final payment. Also, remember to clear any traffic violations beforehand—once, my transfer got held up because of an unaddressed speeding ticket from three years ago.
The vehicle transfer process is actually quite simple. Last month, I just sold my old POLO to a local used car market. I arrived at the dealership at 9 AM with three essential documents: ID card, vehicle license, and the green registration book. After the dealership inspected the car, they took me directly to the transfer office in the market. We paid 200 yuan for a broker to handle the paperwork (the dealership covered this cost), signed my name three times at the counter, and two hours later, the new temporary license plate was affixed to the car. Throughout the process, just remember three key things: take a photo of the VIN number with your phone before leaving to prevent any swapping; carefully review the 'liability division after vehicle delivery' clause when signing the transfer contract; most importantly, always receive payment via bank transfer with 'vehicle payment' noted in the remarks—never accept cash. Don't believe car dealers if they say cash is more convenient; bank transaction records are the official proof of transfer.
