Do You Need to Drive the Car for Vehicle Transfer?

[DiClara]

For vehicle transfer, the car must be driven to the relevant office. Article 19, Paragraph 1 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations" stipulates: When applying for transfer registration, the current owner of the motor vehicle must fill out an application form and submit the vehicle for inspection. For motor vehicle transfer registration, i.e., transfer of ownership, the vehicle must be submitted for inspection. Since the vehicle needs to be inspected, it naturally means driving the vehicle to the vehicle management office. Therefore, the vehicle to be transferred must be driven there. According to Article 19, Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations," when processing transfer registration, the vehicle management office must confirm the vehicle, verify the vehicle identification number (VIN) imprint, review submitted documents and certificates, and retrieve the license plate and vehicle registration certificate. This also requires on-site inspection of the vehicle. Detailed process for vehicle transfer: Issue transaction documents: Pay the used car transaction tax. Private accounts are charged 1%, while corporate accounts are charged 4%. Vehicle inspection: Drive the car to the inspection area for external inspection, VIN tracing, license plate removal, and photography. Obtain vehicle photos and attach them to the inspection record form, then proceed to the transfer hall for filing procedures. License plate selection: Take a number from the dispenser and queue with relevant materials to pay the transfer fees. Transfer and relocation: Required materials include the Motor Vehicle Registration, Transfer, and Cancellation Form/Application for Transfer, inspection record form, original vehicle title certificate, original vehicle registration certificate, original owner's ID card, original license plate number, vehicle photos, and transfer invoice from the trading market. Documents required from the original owner for used car transfer include: vehicle title certificate, vehicle registration certificate, and ID card. The buyer needs to provide an ID card; if they are non-local residents, a residence permit or temporary residence permit is required. Vehicle transfer first requires vehicle evaluation. The evaluation fee is generally 1%-2% of the assessed vehicle value. Other fees include license plate and vehicle registration certificate costs. The original commercial insurance for the vehicle can be canceled (compulsory insurance cannot be canceled), or the insurance can be transferred to the buyer at the insurance company. Precautions when buying a used car: Incomplete documentation. Complete documentation for a used car includes: vehicle title certificate (or original purchase invoice), vehicle registration certificate, vehicle purchase tax payment certificate, road maintenance fee records, and compulsory insurance. Missing vehicle title certificates or registration certificates, or unpaid compulsory insurance or road maintenance fees, can cause endless trouble for the buyer. Therefore, if the seller cannot provide complete documentation, buyers should be especially cautious. Tampering with the odometer. Most consumers judge a car's condition based on the odometer reading, and sellers often take advantage of this by tampering with the odometer. In fact, the odometer is not just a record of usage intensity but also an indicator of when other vehicle components were repaired or replaced. If buyers follow maintenance schedules based on a tampered odometer, it can lead to a series of potential safety hazards. New paint hiding damage. When buying a used car, if the car has been repainted and there are signs of repairs around the front, rear, or A, B, and C pillars, the car may have been involved in a major accident. Engine tuning to inflate the price. Many buyers focus too much on the car's engine and neglect the body's condition. Used car sellers exploit this by replacing engine components to make the engine appear younger and inflate the price.

[Grant]

I just bought a used car last year, and I did need to drive it to the DMV for the transfer process because the staff had to take photos and inspect the car on-site, checking if the body matched the VIN number. I remember preparing the vehicle registration certificate, ID card, and sales contract early that morning, driving there to queue up, and the whole process took about two hours. If you don’t drive the car there, the inspection step can’t be completed, which might delay the transfer, especially if the used car has exterior flaws—it’s best to clean it beforehand. After the transfer is done, it’s advisable to update the insurance to avoid liability issues. Some places now offer online appointments, but most still require an in-person visit—don’t skip it, as it saves time and gives peace of mind.