Does the original owner still own the car after the vehicle files are transferred?
2 Answers
Normally, the registered owner remains the original owner before the transfer procedures are completed. The ownership will only change after the transfer is processed. For vehicles applying for file transfer and ownership transfer, the vehicle owner must fill out an application form, present the vehicle for inspection, and submit relevant proofs and documents. File transfer refers to the process of moving the vehicle's files from the local vehicle management office. The vehicle's files are equivalent to its household registration. During the file transfer, a new registration location and owner (the transferee) will be specified, which is difficult to change once designated. After the file transfer, there are generally two scenarios: The first is external file transfer, where the vehicle is moved from the original licensing office to another vehicle management office, and the ownership remains unchanged, meaning the car still belongs to the original owner. The second is used car file transfer and ownership transfer, where the vehicle is sold to someone else and transferred to their name, making the car belong to the new owner. This scenario involves both file transfer and ownership transfer. If the vehicle is not registered after the file transfer, the original owner may bear certain responsibilities. Failure to register after file transfer can have the following consequences: restricting the owner from handling other transfer registration procedures, the vehicle being considered a 'black car' (unregistered) by the vehicle management office, resulting in 12 penalty points, a warning, and a fine of 20-200 RMB if caught. The original owner may also be involved if an accident occurs. If the original owner's license plate meets the conditions for retaining the 'old' plate, they still cannot continue to use it. Note: To avoid unnecessary trouble, it is recommended to complete the registration and licensing procedures within one month after the file transfer.
From a legal perspective, when the vehicle's registration file is transferred, the car usually no longer belongs to the original owner. The transfer of the file signifies the completion of the ownership change, and the new owner becomes the legally recognized possessor in the registration system. Having handled similar cases before, I must warn that if the file is officially transferred but the original owner still retains the car keys, it poses significant risks. You could potentially be held liable if someone else drives the car and gets into an accident. Therefore, I strongly advise owners to promptly verify the status of their vehicle's registration to avoid future disputes. Additionally, after the transfer, responsibilities like insurance and road taxes fall on the new owner, allowing the original owner to step back without worries. There's no point in dwelling on keeping the car—it's similar to property deed transfers; once the name changes, you must accept it.
