Does changing the owner's name count as a transfer of ownership?
3 Answers
Changing the owner's name does not count as a transfer of ownership. A transfer of ownership requires submitting the relevant materials, completing the corresponding procedures, and registering. The required materials for a transfer of ownership include: Vehicle license: Motor vehicle registration certificate; Motor vehicle registration supplementary form; Vehicle purchase additional tax certificate; Identification cards and household registration books of both the buyer and seller. For non-local residents, a temporary residence permit is required, and the buyer's temporary residence permit must be valid for at least one year. The vehicle management office shall, within one day from the date of acceptance, review the submitted proofs and vouchers, annotate the changes on the motor vehicle registration certificate, reclaim the license plate and vehicle license, determine a new motor vehicle license plate number, and reissue the license plate, vehicle license, and inspection qualification mark. "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations" Article 19 If the motor vehicle is owned by two or more persons and the name of the registered owner needs to be changed to another co-owner's name, an application for change of registration can be submitted to the vehicle management office at the place of registration. When applying, all motor vehicle owners shall jointly submit the application, confirm the application information, and provide the motor vehicle registration certificate, vehicle license, identification proofs of the owners before and after the change, and a notarized proof of co-ownership. However, if the vehicle is jointly owned by a married couple, a marriage certificate or a household registration book proving the marital relationship can be provided. The vehicle management office shall, within one day from the date of acceptance, review the submitted proofs and vouchers, annotate the changes on the motor vehicle registration certificate, reclaim the license plate and vehicle license, determine a new motor vehicle license plate number, and reissue the license plate, vehicle license, and inspection qualification mark. If the domicile of the motor vehicle owner after the change is not within the jurisdiction of the vehicle management office, the vehicle management offices of the departure and destination locations shall handle the change of registration in accordance with the provisions of Article 18.
Whether changing the owner's name counts as a transfer of ownership depends on the specific reason. If it's just a personal name change, such as due to marriage, but the car remains your property, it doesn't count as a transfer because ownership hasn't changed hands. A transfer refers to the formal transfer of vehicle ownership to another person, which requires going to the DMV to complete the paperwork and sign documents. If the name change is for inheritance or transferring the vehicle, such as when you give the car to your children and change the name, then it counts as a transfer. After a name change, I recommend updating the vehicle registration and insurance information as soon as possible to avoid future issues, such as insurance companies causing trouble in case of an accident or running into problems during traffic police checks. In short, handling it case by case can help you avoid unnecessary hassles and keep your car worry-free to drive.
I've encountered a similar situation where a friend had issues with insurance claims after changing their name, and the insurance company gave them the runaround, saying the names didn't match. This made me realize that changing your name doesn't directly count as a transfer of ownership; a transfer is the official action when you sell or gift the car to someone else, changing the ownership. Simply changing your own name means the car is still yours, and you just need to go to the DMV to update the registration. Related matters, like insurance and license plate records, should be updated promptly to avoid problems during annual inspections. I usually recommend handling the paperwork as soon as possible after a name change to keep life running smoothly without unnecessary hassles.
