Is it possible to buy a used car that cannot be transferred?

[Journey]

It is possible to buy a car that cannot be transferred. Notarization: You must go to a notary office with the owner listed on the original vehicle license to complete notarization, indicating the signing of the purchase contract and the division of accident responsibilities during future use. You must first consult the local notary institution (must be a legal notary institution) to inquire about relevant matters before signing the agreement with the owner. Completing the transfer of a used car legally completes the transfer of vehicle ownership and ensures the legality of the vehicle's source. Cases where transfer is not possible: Unauthorized modifications, alterations, or changes to the cargo weight or passenger capacity without approval; If the vehicle has reached the scrapping age but is in good condition, it can be transferred after passing a special inspection, but it cannot be transferred to another jurisdiction; the applicant's seal does not match the original registered owner's seal.

[LeonardoLee]

You really need to think carefully about buying a used car that can't be transferred. I once bought an old car recommended by a friend at a cheap price, only to find out later that the original owner hadn't paid off the loan, and the bank had locked the vehicle, making it impossible to transfer ownership. Trying to get license plates or insurance was all blocked, and the car could only sit rusting in the yard. Now, every time I see that car, I regret it—spent money but got no legal protection. Later, I specifically checked the legal provisions: if the vehicle isn't transferred, ownership still legally belongs to the original owner. If they owe debts and the car is seized as collateral, the court will take it away, and you won't get a penny back. So unless it's a close acquaintance you know well, don't touch such cars—it's just digging a hole for yourself.

[DelMatteo]

Once at a repair shop, I saw an owner dismantling his car that couldn’t be transferred. During a casual chat, I learned he bought it cheap from a mortgage company, only to find out during the transfer process that it was a smuggled vehicle, landing it directly on the blacklist. He admitted then that trying to save a few thousand bucks backfired—the car got impounded, and the loss was enough to buy a small electric scooter. Seeing such cases often makes it clear: cars that can’t be transferred usually have serious issues—either cloned plates, stolen vehicles, unpaid hefty traffic fines, or worst of all, accident cars with unresolved compensations. Even if you get these cars, they can’t pass annual inspections, get insured, let alone be resold later. The veteran mechanics shake their heads, saying such cars are hot potatoes no matter how cheap they are.

[StSimon]

Buying a used car is most feared when encountering such a deadlock. Last week, I just met a young guy who found out the car was frozen by the court after paying. A friend at the DMV privately mentioned several common reasons: unpaid loans or unresolved liens account for the highest proportion; followed by the car being seized due to the owner's debt disputes; it could also be due to unresolved violations from another region preventing local transfer. In such cases, spending money on the car only makes you a temporary custodian, as ownership isn't legally recognized. Seeking justice is nearly impossible, and filing a lawsuit is difficult if the original owner can't be found. So no matter how much the dealer boasts about the tempting price, if you hear the car can't be transferred, walk away without hesitation to avoid unnecessary complications.