How Many Times Can a Vehicle Be Transferred?
2 Answers
A vehicle can be transferred an unlimited number of times. However, transfer registration will not be processed under the following circumstances: 1. General situations: The vehicle does not match the records in its file; for vehicles under customs supervision, customs has not lifted supervision or approved the transfer; the vehicle is under mortgage registration or pledge filing. 2. Special situations: When the vehicle is confiscated and auctioned by the People's Court, People's Procuratorate, or administrative law enforcement departments, or when the ownership is transferred through arbitration, mediation, ruling, or judgment by the People's Court, if the original owner fails to provide the vehicle registration certificate, license plate, or vehicle license to the new owner, the new owner must submit an "Assistance in Execution Notice" issued by the People's Court or a certificate from the People's Procuratorate or administrative law enforcement departments stating the absence of the vehicle registration certificate, license plate, or vehicle license when applying for transfer registration. The vehicle management office will then declare the original vehicle registration certificate, license plate, or vehicle license invalid and issue a new vehicle registration certificate during the transfer registration process.
I've been in the car business for over a decade, and I can tell you there's no limit to how many times a vehicle can be transferred. As long as all the paperwork is in order, you can transfer ownership as many times as you want. However, each transfer requires both parties to bring their ID cards to the DMV to fill out forms, pay taxes, and update the registration certificate, which can cost several hundred dollars. If a car has been transferred multiple times, the registration certificate will be covered in stamps, which might make buyers suspicious—thinking it's a salvage or flood-damaged car, hurting its resale value. From experience, I've seen an old Toyota transferred seven or eight times and still sold normally, but I recommend checking the vehicle history report after each transfer to ensure there are no hidden issues. After the transfer, remember to update the insurance and annual inspection records to avoid complications on the road. This process must be done legally and properly—don’t skip inspections just to save time.
