Do I Need to Be Present in Person to Buy a Car?

[StWeston]

It is not necessary for the car buyer to be present in person, but the person acting on behalf of the buyer must hold the original ID card of the car owner. Below are the relevant details: 1. Regulations: As long as the vehicle has a formal invoice, certificate of conformity, purchase tax, and compulsory insurance, any new car purchased from a formal auto trading market nationwide can be registered in the buyer's place of residence. 2. Documents: For license plate registration, the car owner only needs to provide the original and a copy of the certificate of conformity, the original purchase invoice, the purchase tax, the car owner's ID card, and the compulsory insurance policy. 3. Notes: Although the internet is very advanced now, and you can find a lot of car sales information just by searching online, it is best to choose a formal 4S store, as this is much more reliable than the information posted by online car dealers, and any problems encountered can be resolved properly.

[DeViolet]

I just helped a friend pick up a car on their behalf, and it really depends on the specific situation. There are three key steps in the standard process that usually require the owner's personal presence: signing the official car purchase contract, completing the face-to-face signing for the auto loan, and issuing the invoice plus paying the purchase tax. However, many 4S dealerships are flexible now—as long as you bring the original ID card of the owner, a power of attorney, and the original ID of the authorized person, even invoicing can be handled by a proxy. For insurance and license plate registration, the dealership salesperson can usually handle these tasks for you, but it's best to confirm the details with the dealer in advance. Requirements vary across different city vehicle management offices—some are quite flexible, while others are very strict. I recommend contacting the 4S store sales manager directly to inquire.

[OEva]

Last year, my cousin was working in another city and managed to have me help pick up the car. The purchase contract must be signed by the buyer in person, but the car pickup process is more negotiable. The power of attorney must be notarized or in a format recognized by the 4S store, and the original IDs of both parties must be brought along, mainly to get the invoice issued. The 4S store usually offers license plate registration services, and insurance can also be purchased remotely, so it's not a big deal if you don't show up on the day of pickup. However, if you're going through a loan process, it gets complicated—the bank must see you in person and requires facial recognition for signing. Another pitfall of buying a car in a different location is the temporary license plate. Nowadays, you can apply for an electronic temporary plate directly through the Traffic Management 12123 app, but it must be done using the car owner's own account.

[VonAthena]

It depends on what car you're buying. From my experience: if you pay in full for a car in stock, the entire process can be handled by an agent. For loans, you must attend the face-to-face signing yourself. For imported cars, the owner must complete the environmental certification. Actually, 4S stores can handle the license plate registration as they have good connections with the DMV. The two most critical points are: the original ID card of the car owner is required for invoicing, and the vehicle purchase tax must be paid with a real-name bank card. There are templates for power of attorney online, but it's best to have the 4S store confirm the format. Here's a tip: you can buy from large automotive dealer groups, as internal vehicle transfers can save you the hassle of traveling to another location. Of course, confirming by phone before buying is the safest approach.

[EmilyAnn]

This has happened three or four times, and the conclusion is: you must be present in person to sign the contract, and both fingerprints and documents need to be verified. Someone else can handle the car pickup for you, but they must bring a power of attorney and the original ID card. Pay special attention to the financial services part—manufacturer financing is less strict than bank requirements, and some even allow video signing. Pay the purchase tax with the car owner's bank card, and license plates can now be mailed to your home. However, it's recommended that first-time buyers go through the process in person, as you can inspect the actual car condition during the transfer. If you get tricked into buying an inventory car or a transport-damaged car, it can be troublesome to dispute afterward. Picking up a car from the used car market is simpler, but you need to inspect it even more carefully on the spot.

[SanDelaney]

I recently handled company car procurement for my company. For private purchases, it's indeed more complicated. The car purchase quota must be applied for by the owner themselves. The down payment at the dealership can be paid by someone else, but signing the official contract requires the owner's physical presence and fingerprint. The vehicle certification copy for archiving will also require a fingerprint. Currently, the biggest hurdle is the binding process on the Traffic Management 12123 app, which mandates facial recognition by the owner. However, post-delivery procedures are more flexible - tasks like window tinting and accessories installation can be delegated to friends. Remember to ask the dealer to mail the temporary license plate in advance, as the digital version is also acceptable. If absolutely unavailable, consider direct manufacturer sales like Tesla's delivery model, which offers home delivery and contract signing.