Can I sell a car with only the green book if I'm not present?
2 Answers
Selling a car with only the green book but without the owner present cannot complete the transfer of ownership. Vehicle Registration Certificate: The "Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate" is a necessary proof of property rights for the vehicle, kept by the vehicle owner and not carried with the vehicle. It is required to be presented for any vehicle registration procedures such as transfer or change of ownership, and records the relevant information of the vehicle, equivalent to the vehicle's household registration booklet. Vehicle Transfer: When a vehicle is moved from one city to another, the registration process required to change the jurisdiction of the vehicle management authority is called a transfer. Vehicle transfer requires the replacement of license plates and the vehicle license, and must be processed at two different vehicle management authorities, involving both the transfer-out and transfer-in procedures.
I remember encountering a similar issue before when I was working abroad and wanted to sell my idle car at home. I only had the green book, which is the motor vehicle registration certificate. Selling the car without being present in person wasn't possible with just the green book, as it only proves ownership of the vehicle. The transaction process requires the owner's personal signature or a notarized power of attorney. At that time, I asked a family member for help. We first went to the notary office to prepare a power of attorney, authorizing them to handle all the transfer procedures on my behalf. Remember, the power of attorney must have your signature and ID, and it needs to be notarized to be valid. During the transfer, the authorized person brought the green book, the power of attorney, and both parties' IDs to the vehicle management office to complete the process. They also had to sign a sales contract and pay the transfer fee. This approach avoided legal disputes and ensured safety. The whole process took about a week. I recommend contacting the vehicle management office in advance to inquire about the requirements to save multiple trips.
