Does the vehicle transfer require the owner to be present?
2 Answers
Car transfer can be done without the owner being present. If the owner or the buyer is unable to personally handle the transfer procedures due to certain reasons, they can authorize someone else to do it on their behalf. The specific details are as follows: 1. If the seller cannot be present: If the seller cannot be present, they need to find a local agent with a local ID card or temporary residence permit to assist in the process. Additionally, the seller needs to prepare the following documents for the agent: a. Original and photocopy of the original owner's ID card; b. Original and photocopy of the vehicle's motor vehicle registration certificate; c. Original and photocopy of the vehicle's driving license. 2. If the buyer cannot be present: If the buyer cannot be present, they also need to find a local agent with a local ID card or temporary residence permit to assist in the process. The buyer needs to prepare the following documents for the agent: a. Original ID card of the buyer; b. If the buyer is from another city and wants to register a local license plate, they need to provide a valid temporary residence permit or residence permit.
Speaking from my experience of helping my uncle with the vehicle transfer last year, the owner didn’t need to be present in person for the transfer. Since he was busy and out of town, he just wrote a power of attorney for me. I brought his ID copy, my ID, the vehicle registration certificate, and the license plate registration card to the DMV, queued up to submit the documents, and finished all the procedures in half an hour. This delegation method is quite convenient, especially for the elderly or those who are away, saving them the hassle. However, the power of attorney must be formal, with signatures and dates from both parties. I recommend downloading the DMV’s template in advance and filling it out accordingly to avoid having to make another trip due to incorrect formatting. Nowadays, many places also support mail-in processing or online appointments. If the owner really can’t spare the time, just prepare the materials in advance and find a trustworthy family member or friend to handle it—the whole process is very efficient.
