What Are the Risks of a Car Not Being Transferred?
2 Answers
Risks of a car not being transferred for both sellers and buyers: For sellers: If the car is not transferred, any subsequent traffic violations will still be recorded under the original owner's name. More seriously, in cases of hit-and-run, the vehicle cannot be deregistered, and traffic violations cannot be processed, which becomes a hassle for future car purchases and registrations. For buyers: For buyers, if the car is not transferred, they cannot prove that the vehicle is their private property. Later procedures such as annual inspections and insurance claims will require the original owner's involvement. Additionally, according to traffic laws, the current owner of the vehicle must apply for a transfer registration with the local vehicle management office within 30 days of the vehicle's delivery, meaning that used car transactions must be transferred.
I recently bought a second-hand car without completing the transfer of ownership to save money, and it turned into a nightmare. At first, everything seemed fine, but then the original owner suddenly changed his mind and demanded the car back, even accusing me of theft. It took a lot of effort to explain the situation at the police station. To make matters worse, when I got into a rear-end collision, the insurance company refused to cover the repair costs after discovering the registered owner didn’t match, leaving me to pay thousands out of pocket. Regular maintenance was also a hassle—authorized shops wouldn’t service it due to incomplete paperwork. When I tried to sell it, no one wanted to take the risk of unclear ownership. Delaying the transfer is like carrying a ticking time bomb—it can blow up anytime. My advice: always ensure the ownership transfer is completed before buying a car to avoid future headaches.
