Is it necessary to transfer ownership when gifting a car to someone else?
2 Answers
When gifting a car to someone else, it is necessary to transfer ownership. Below is additional information: Issues to pay attention to when transferring car ownership: Vehicles that have reached their scrapping age, vehicles that have not undergone annual inspection or failed the inspection, and vehicles that have been newly registered for less than three months cannot be transferred. Regarding insurance for used cars, if the new owner does not promptly change the insurance policy or renew the insurance after purchasing a used car, it may lead to difficulties in claims settlement in the event of an accident, resulting in disputes with the original owner or the insurance company. Documents required: The seller needs to provide the owner's ID card, vehicle registration certificate, vehicle license, and original purchase invoice. If the seller is a used car dealer, they should provide the original organization code certificate and official seal. The buyer needs to provide their ID card, original vehicle license, vehicle registration certificate, and for out-of-town transfers, the purchase tax booklet. Both parties should bring all the above documents to the vehicle management office to complete the procedures and sign the sales contract.
Once I gave my car to a relative without completing the ownership transfer formalities. Later, a minor accident occurred, and the police still held me accountable because the car was still registered under my name. So, when giving a car to someone else, it's absolutely essential to complete the ownership transfer—it's a legal obligation. The transfer process involves going to the vehicle management office, filling out a vehicle transfer registration form, bringing your ID card, vehicle license, the big green book (vehicle registration certificate), and paying some taxes and fees. It usually takes just half a day to complete. Don’t find it troublesome—if you skip this step, the original owner may continue to bear responsibility, such as traffic violation fines, annual inspection issues, or even difficulties with insurance claims. The new owner also won’t be able to drive the car legally. It’s recommended that both parties go through the process together when gifting the car—it’s hassle-free and safe. The same applies when buying or selling a car—the law requires updating ownership information after a change in ownership.
