How to Claim Insurance for a Used Car Without Transferring the Policy?
2 Answers
According to the relevant provisions of the new Insurance Law, once a used car is transferred, the corresponding rights and obligations of the vehicle are also transferred to the new owner. The new 'Insurance Law' stipulates: Article 49 - When the subject matter insured is transferred, the transferee of the subject matter insured inherits the rights and obligations of the insured.
When I bought a used car before, I forgot to transfer the insurance, and it almost drove me crazy during the claims process. There was a minor scratch, and when I went to the insurance company to file a claim, they said the insurance was still under the previous owner's name and required his cooperation. I quickly found the contract signed during the purchase, along with payment records and a copy of my ID, and submitted them to the insurance customer service. They verified the VIN information and accident photos, and eventually approved the claim, but the previous owner had to sign a confirmation for the transfer. At that time, he was on a business trip and couldn’t be reached, so it took three days to sort it out. I learned my lesson: don’t delay transferring the insurance—it’s best to handle it on the day of the transaction because the insurance company’s system takes time to update. Looking back now, if the previous owner hadn’t cooperated or had gone missing, it would have been a real hassle, possibly requiring a lawsuit to prove the car was mine. In short, don’t panic if something like this happens—gather evidence and communicate proactively. But prevention is always key: remember to transfer the insurance to protect your rights.
