Is the transfer of a car between relatives considered a title transfer?

[SanBrayden]

Is the transfer of a car between relatives considered a title transfer? The transfer of a car between relatives is indeed considered a title transfer. Both parties involved in the gift must go to a notary office to complete a notarization. They need to bring the notarization certificate, the vehicle registration certificate, and the vehicle license to the vehicle management office to complete the gift transfer procedures. To process the transfer of vehicle ownership, the required documents include the identity proof of the current vehicle owner, proof and documentation of the ownership transfer, and the vehicle registration certificate. According to relevant regulations, if the ownership of a registered vehicle is transferred, the new owner must apply for the transfer registration at the local vehicle management office within 30 days from the date of vehicle delivery. Before applying for the transfer registration, the vehicle owner must resolve all traffic violations and accidents related to the vehicle.

[Brantley]

Last month, my cousin transferred her old car to me. I thought that between relatives, going through the transfer process wouldn’t be necessary, but it almost caused a big problem. While the car was still under her name, I received a traffic violation ticket and had to deal with it, which affected my credit. Later, we hurried to the DMV, brought our IDs and the vehicle registration certificate, filled out a transfer application, paid a fee of over 200 yuan, and got it done in less than two hours. Experts told me that no matter who is involved, any change in vehicle ownership must be registered through the transfer process; otherwise, the original owner remains liable. It’s just like getting married—you need official documentation and can’t rely on verbal agreements. I think everyone should avoid cutting corners; the process is actually quite smooth, and it’s easy to complete with an appointment.

[DelSavannah]

From a safety perspective, it's absolutely essential to transfer the ownership when handing over a car to a relative. I once helped my nephew buy a car but didn't complete the transfer in time. When he scratched someone else's car, the insurance company refused to cover it, forcing me to pay for the repairs out of pocket. The core purpose of ownership transfer is to update the registration with the vehicle management office, clearly transferring liability to avoid the original owner being held responsible. The process is straightforward: both parties need to be present, sign an agreement, bring the required documents to the vehicle management office for inspection and registration changes, and the fees are minimal. I recommend checking local vehicle regulations, as environmental requirements might affect the transfer efficiency. In today's connected car era, irregular operations can easily trigger alerts, and the status can be checked via the vehicle management platform. Safety is no small matter—only by completing the process properly can you have peace of mind.

[HaileyAnn]

Legally speaking, vehicle transfer requires ownership change registration regardless of whether it's between relatives or not. I've studied relevant regulations, such as the Road Traffic Safety Law, which mandates that vehicle registration must accurately reflect ownership rights and responsibilities. Without completing the transfer procedure, the original owner remains liable for accidents or traffic tickets and may still be held accountable. The process involves signing certification documents and submitting them to the vehicle management office for review, with costs typically amounting to a few hundred yuan. In reality, many people skip this step due to unfamiliarity with the process, but this creates significant legal loopholes. I recommend following proper procedures to protect your rights and interests.