Can I directly transfer ownership when selling to a used car dealership?
2 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.
