Is it advisable to buy a mortgaged car that cannot be transferred?
2 Answers
It is not recommended to purchase a mortgaged car that cannot be transferred. Legally speaking, such a vehicle belongs to someone else, and it only becomes truly yours after the registration transfer is completed. Buying this type of car carries significant risks. Here is relevant information about mortgaged cars: 1. Car mortgage: If a car has been mortgaged, it means the ownership rights have temporarily shifted away from the original owner. Therefore, the original owner does not have the right to transfer a car that does not temporarily belong to them. In short, the mortgage must be fully paid off, the lien released, and ownership confirmed before the transfer can proceed. 2. Mortgage release: If the mortgage has been released, the car can be purchased; if not, there are risks. This means: if the original owner repays the loan on time, there is no issue; if they default, the car may be auctioned by the mortgagee to repay the debt, and the buyer cannot refuse the auction.
I personally think buying a mortgage car that cannot be transferred is a huge trap. Last time, someone around me bought one at half the market price without transferring ownership. After driving it for half a year, the original creditor came to reclaim the car, and even the police got involved. Not only did he lose all the money, but he also had to pay extra fees to handle the dispute. More importantly, the inability to transfer ownership means no proper insurance coverage—any accident would result in bearing the losses yourself. When trying to resell, no one would take it, leaving it to be scrapped. Although some sell them online, 90% of the time, hidden debt issues are involved. I think the risk is too high—I’d rather spend more money on a clean, legal car to avoid endless trouble.
