How to Check if a Car Has Been Transferred?
3 Answers
Methods to check if a car has been transferred: 1. Prepare identity information and directly go to the vehicle management office for inquiry; 2. Enter the vehicle information and license plate number on the traffic violation query system. If the information can be retrieved, it indicates the transfer was successful. If it cannot be retrieved or only the original owner's vehicle information can be retrieved, it means the transfer was not successful. Situations where a vehicle cannot be transferred: 1. Unauthorized modifications, alterations, or changes in cargo weight or passenger capacity without approval; 2. The vehicle has reached the scrapping age limit; 3. The applicant's seal does not match the original registered owner's seal; 4. Unresolved traffic violations or accidents, or if the vehicle is under investigation by the authorities; 5. Failure to undergo regular inspections or inspection results being unqualified.
To check if a car has changed ownership, I often help friends look at used cars, and the most straightforward method is to open the green book—that little green booklet. Every page flip reveals a transfer record, listing the transaction date, buyer and seller names, ID numbers, and stamped by the DMV. If there are many pages, it means the car has changed hands frequently; if there are only one or two pages, it might indicate fewer owners or that the car is relatively new. For example, when I bought my first car, seeing only three pages in the green book put me at ease because it suggested minimal historical baggage. When checking, don’t forget to verify if the information in the green book matches the seller’s ID—sometimes fraudsters play word games. I recommend taking photos of the green book pages before the transaction to avoid disputes later. Additionally, ownership history affects the resale value; cars with fewer transfers tend to be worth more. Paying attention to these small details can save you a lot of trouble and money. Always inspect the physical documents yourself when buying a car—don’t just rely on the seller’s word.
To determine if a car has been transferred, my experience suggests that starting with the green title is the simplest approach. This document records ownership transfers, with each transaction adding a new page at the DMV containing detailed records. I carefully scan each page for the transfer date and transaction party information—any new entry indicates an additional transfer. While the vehicle license shows the current owner, all historical clues lie within the green title. When helping family members buy cars, I noticed that the number of pages directly reflects the frequency of ownership changes—fewer pages mean a cleaner history and greater safety. Check if the official seals are clear, as fake stamps carry high risks and are easy to fall for. Transfers must go through formal procedures; private contracts signed off the books are invalid—only the green title serves as proof. For deeper checks, compare the VIN or request a vehicle history report, but the green title remains fundamental—without it, everything else is unreliable. Don’t rush; reviewing it multiple times can help you avoid buying a problematic car.
