Can the Vehicle Archives Be Returned After Being Withdrawn for a Used Car?
3 Answers
It is possible to return the vehicle archives after they have been withdrawn for a used car, but if the transfer of ownership exceeds the time limit, the archives cannot be returned because they are held by the current owner of the vehicle. The following are the procedures for the transfer of ownership: Individual to Individual: Original ID cards of both the buyer and the seller; vehicle license, motor vehicle registration certificate. Individual to Organization: Buyer's organization code certificate (original/within the annual inspection validity period), official seal, seller's original ID card; vehicle license, motor vehicle registration certificate. Organization to Organization: Organization code certificates of both the buyer and the seller (original/within the annual inspection validity period), official seals, ID card of the seller's organization representative; vehicle license, motor vehicle registration certificate.
As someone who frequently helps friends with used car paperwork, I know all too well how difficult it is to withdraw vehicle files once they're submitted. The DMV archiving process is like opening a floodgate - the moment paper records are retrieved from the original DMV, the system status immediately changes to 'in transfer'. Last time when helping Old Chen with title transfer, he changed his mind right after receiving the files. We made three trips to the DMV to no avail. The staff explained it clearly: once files leave the archive, it triggers a nationwide vehicle status update that can't be reversed. The only slim chance is trying to intercept the transfer by phone if the files haven't reached the new jurisdiction DMV, but success rates are minimal. If the buyer cooperates, the only option is reapplying for title transfer after the files arrive, essentially restarting the entire ownership transfer process.
I've changed cars four times, and the most costly experience was that failed rollback. I had my eye on a used Passat, paid the money, only to find out it was a flood-damaged car—but the vehicle records had already been transferred from Shenyang to our local DMV. The agent just shrugged and said the file transfer completion was equivalent to a property title transfer, meaning the car was already considered mine in the system. In the end, I had to grit my teeth and complete the transfer, losing 20,000 yuan when I resold it. Later, I specifically asked around with fixers, and they all said the only operable window was right after the records were pulled but before they were mailed out. You’d have to immediately get the original DMV to hold the file while both buyer and seller signed a withdrawal agreement at the counter. Once that file bag hits the logistics truck, not even the gods can retrieve it.
