Does the car need to be present for vehicle transfer?
3 Answers
For vehicle transfer, the car must be physically present. According to Article 19, Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations," when processing transfer registration for a motor vehicle, the vehicle management office must "confirm the motor vehicle, verify the vehicle identification number imprint, review the submitted documents and certificates, and retrieve the license plates and vehicle registration certificate" after accepting the application. Relevant information about vehicle transfer is as follows: 1. Introduction: Vehicle transfer refers to changing the name of the vehicle's owner. When buying a used car, besides checking the vehicle's condition, the most important step is completing the transfer procedures. 2. Principle: Each car has a fixed registration, which mainly records the owner and address, as well as some relevant vehicle parameters. A transferred vehicle proves that the car belongs to the new owner and has no accidents or violations. If the car has issues, such as being involved in an accident, failing an annual inspection, being stolen, or being smuggled, it cannot be transferred through normal procedures.
I've helped friends transfer vehicle ownership several times before. Usually, the car doesn't need to be physically present on-site—it's mainly about completing all the paperwork. Required documents include the vehicle registration certificate, original IDs of both parties, the original vehicle license, and the ownership transfer application form. You can either go directly to the local DMV or hire an agent. The main tasks are verifying information and signing documents, so bringing the car along is often unnecessary. However, if the vehicle has unresolved traffic violations or an expired inspection, you might be asked to temporarily drive it to an inspection station for verification—though this situation is relatively rare. Generally, it's more time-efficient and convenient to update the documents after completing the formalities. Don’t forget to make an appointment in advance to avoid long queues. The whole process is quite smooth as long as all the required documents are prepared—no need for unnecessary hassle.
I just bought a used car for the first transfer of ownership, and I was always worried that the car had to be driven to the DMV, but it turns out it's not necessary. After asking around, experienced drivers all said the documents are key: just bring the original owner's ID, the buyer's ID, and the vehicle's green book (registration certificate). The staff on-site will verify everything, and that's it. Only if there are real issues, like a mismatched VIN, would the car need to be present, but the probability is very low. After the transfer, remember to update the insurance and license plate under the new owner's name to avoid future disputes. For beginners, it's recommended to check local policies—most cities support online appointments to save time and hassle.
