Does the Used Car Registration Require the Owner to Be Present in Person?

[Cathy]

The transfer of a used car does not require the presence of the owner; it can be handled by an authorized agent. Below is the process for registration: 1. Application Form Filling: The original owner or their agent should bring copies of their ID card and the vehicle's relevant documents. Both the buyer and seller need to go to the local used car trading hall or vehicle management office to obtain and fill out the "Used Vehicle Sales Contract." 2. Required Documents: To process the vehicle transfer, prepare the necessary documents, complete the vehicle inspection, tracing number, license plate removal, and photographing, then fill out the inspection record form at the transfer hall. 3. Processing: Take a number to pay the transfer fee, which varies based on the vehicle's displacement, year, type, and load capacity range, and also pay the license plate fee.

[OElena]

You don't have to personally handle the vehicle transfer at the DMV. When I sold my old car last time, I happened to be on a business trip, so I entrusted a friend to handle it for me. Just send him photos of the front and back of your ID card on WeChat in advance, and prepare a handwritten power of attorney with a red thumbprint—you can buy a template for five yuan on Taobao, fill in the owner's information, license plate number, and entrusted matters yourself. The clerk at the DMV window processed it swiftly, and the new owner's name was stamped on the green title in half an hour. However, there are three things to note: don't write the wrong engine number in the power of attorney; the friend handling it must remember to bring their original ID card; and if the license plates need to be removed, it's best to clarify this in advance. If you encounter a strict clerk who asks for a video authorization, don't panic—just find a print shop and video call while holding up the power of attorney.

[KimberlyLee]

You don't have to queue up in person for used car transfer. My cousin, who's been in this business for ten years, says entrusting an agent is now standard practice. Just write a power of attorney, hand over the original owner's ID and vehicle registration certificate to a friend, and the agent can complete the process at the counter with their own ID. However, pay attention to these points: never use scanned copies - the DMV only accepts originals; changing vehicle status like commercial to non-commercial requires the owner's fingerprint; for cross-province transfers, some cities still require the new owner's facial verification. Last time I helped my uncle with this, we learned the hard way and ended up making a wasted trip.

[LaColton]

We seasoned hustlers who hang around the DMV entrance know best—90% of used car registrations don't require the owner's presence. Just bring a power of attorney signed by the owner (make sure it's thumbprinted), original IDs of both parties, the vehicle registration certificate, and the green book, and you'll get it done in a jiffy. If the owner's out of town or just lazy, toss us 50 bucks as a service fee and we'll even draft the power of attorney for you. But remember: financed vehicles must be fully paid off before transfer; company cars require the official seal and business license; out-of-town plates need to pass emissions standards first. Last week, a college student tried to proxy-register with just a photocopied ID and got kicked out—you've gotta steer clear of these pitfalls.