How to Check if Your Car is Mortgaged?
2 Answers
Inquire at the vehicle management department. The owner must go in person. If it's a used car, the original owner needs to accompany you for the inquiry. Check with the insurance company. The status of the car affects the beneficiary of the car insurance. If it's a mortgage loan, the beneficiary is the bank. Inquire at the traffic police department. If it shows "mortgaged," it means the car is a mortgaged vehicle. If it shows "normal," then it is not a mortgaged vehicle.
When I bought my last car, I was also worried about whether it had been mortgaged. I remember going directly to the local DMV office to check the records. The staff was very patient and asked me to show my ID and vehicle registration certificate—they quickly informed me about the loan status. This method is free, though sometimes you have to wait in line. Another option is to use online report services like Carfax, where you can enter the vehicle identification number to check its mortgage history, though it usually costs a small fee. If the car is purchased from a private seller, carefully inspect the back of the vehicle title certificate—if any financial institution's name is noted, that’s a mortgage indicator. I also recommend contacting the possible lending bank for confirmation to avoid oversight. Checking for mortgages is crucial to prevent buying a debt-laden car with future troubles. A friend of mine was scammed due to negligence, so verifying through multiple channels before proceeding is safer. The actual process is straightforward—don’t stress too much, just take it step by step.
