Does the car need to be present for vehicle transfer?
4 Answers
For vehicle transfer, the car must be driven to the location. Article 19, Paragraph 1 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations" stipulates: "When applying for transfer registration, the current owner of the motor vehicle shall fill out an application form, present the motor vehicle for inspection, and submit the following documents and certificates." This regulation clearly states that for motor vehicle transfer registration, the motor vehicle must be "presented for inspection," which means driving the vehicle to the vehicle management office. Therefore, the vehicle to be transferred must be driven there. According to Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 19 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations," when processing transfer registration, the vehicle management office must "verify the motor vehicle, check the vehicle identification number imprint, review the submitted documents and certificates, and retrieve the license plate and vehicle registration certificate." This also requires an on-site inspection of the vehicle. Detailed steps for vehicle transfer: Issue a transaction: 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, imprinting the vehicle identification number, removing the license plate, and taking photos. Obtain the vehicle photos and attach them to the inspection record form, then proceed to the transfer hall for filing. License plate selection: After obtaining a number from the dispenser, queue up with the relevant materials to pay the transfer fees. Transfer out: Required materials include the Motor Vehicle Registration, Transfer, and Cancellation Form/Transfer Application Form, inspection record form, original motor vehicle property registration certificate, original vehicle registration certificate, original owner’s ID card, original license plate number, vehicle photos, and the transfer invoice from the trading market. Documents required from the original owner for used car transfer include: registration certificate, vehicle registration certificate, and ID card. The buyer needs to provide an ID card, and if they are from another region, a residence permit or temporary residence permit is required. Vehicle transfer first requires a vehicle evaluation. The evaluation fee is generally 1%-2% of the assessed vehicle value, and other fees include license plate and vehicle registration certificate costs. The original commercial insurance 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 registration certificate (or original purchase invoice), vehicle registration certificate, vehicle purchase tax certificate, road maintenance fee records, and compulsory insurance. Missing vehicle registration certificates, vehicle registration certificates, or unpaid compulsory insurance and road maintenance fees can cause endless trouble for the buyer. Therefore, if the seller cannot provide complete documentation, consumers should be especially cautious. Tampering with the odometer. Most consumers judge a car’s condition by the odometer, and sellers often take advantage of this by tampering with it. The odometer is not just a record of usage intensity but also an indicator of when other parts were repaired or replaced. If buyers follow the tampered odometer for maintenance, it can lead to a series of potential safety hazards. New paint covering "external injuries." When purchasing a used car, if the car has been repainted and there are signs of repair around the front, rear, and A, B, C pillars, the car may have been in a major accident. "Tuning the heart" to raise the price. Many consumers focus too much on the car’s "heart" (engine) and neglect the health of the body. Used car sellers exploit this by replacing engine parts to make the "heart" appear younger and inflate the price.
I've been driving for over 20 years, and there's really a lot to pay attention to when it comes to vehicle transfer. Generally speaking, the car needs to be present for inspection, mainly to check the vehicle identification number (VIN) and engine number to prevent fraud or concealment of accidents. For example, when I transferred my old car before, the staff at the vehicle management office had to open the hood to carefully verify the numbers and took photos for records, saying they wouldn't process the paperwork without the car. Bring your ID card, vehicle license, and vehicle registration certificate, and don't forget to make an appointment to save time in line. If you're really busy, some places allow you to delegate an agent to handle it, but there are risks—if there's an issue with the car that leads to disputes, it can be even more troublesome. Experience tells me that being there in person is the safest option—don't cut corners for convenience. After all, safety comes first, and you can also take the opportunity to check the braking system and other things.
I just bought a new car recently, and helped my best friend transfer a used car. Turns out you really have to go in person. I asked the DMV customer service, and they said the car must be brought to the inspection area for staff to verify on-site if the information matches the documents, to prevent stolen or refurbished cars. I naively thought it could be done via phone, but ended up queuing for half an hour. Checking the VIN was quick though. Bring all personal documents and print the transaction contract in advance to avoid hassle. Suggest going early before closing time to prevent a wasted trip. Washing the car also makes it easier to pass inspection, and any modifications might cause issues. Overall not too complicated, but showing up is standard procedure—otherwise, disputes later could make it hard to protect your rights.
From a technical perspective, the physical presence of the vehicle during the ownership transfer process is indispensable, primarily for the inspection phase. Staff must personally verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and engine serial number to ensure they match the registration records, thereby eliminating risks of cloning or accident concealment. Otherwise, electronic documents could be tampered with, leading to legal complications. The process includes photographing the vehicle and conducting a basic condition check. While remote or delegated transfers are theoretically possible if the vehicle is absent, success rates are low and may be invalid, especially for high-value transactions. It is advisable to bring all required documents such as ID cards and vehicle licenses, and prioritize handling the transfer on weekdays for smoother processing.
