What Are the Risks of a Car Not Being Transferred?
4 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.
Once, I helped a friend deal with his old car that hadn't been transferred, and it was a complete nightmare. The car ran fine, but whenever there was an accident or the traffic police checked the vehicle, problems arose. The owner's information was under someone else's name, making it difficult to determine responsibility, and the insurance claims were rejected several times, causing my friend to waste money. There were also daily fines that were sent to the original owner, delaying resolution by several days. If the car needed major repairs or an annual inspection, businesses would check the registration certificate, and there was a risk of being turned away. When it came time to sell, there was no market for it—buyers were afraid of endless disputes after taking ownership. This experience reminded us that transferring ownership can't be taken lightly, or small issues can snowball into big troubles, ruining the joy of driving altogether.
My neighbor suffered a big loss because they bought a used car without transferring the ownership. After driving it for about a month, the original owner showed up at their doorstep, demanding more money or the return of the car, or else they would call the police. This led to a neighborhood dispute and police intervention. Later, the insurance company refused to recognize the car, leaving them with no coverage in case of an accident and forcing them to bear the repair costs themselves. What's even more concerning is that if they hit someone, the responsibility could be shifted to the original owner, affecting their credit and making the situation even more complicated. Skipping the ownership transfer is like having a tree without roots—there's no security. Failing the vehicle inspection often means multiple trips to the DMV, wasting both time and energy. I suggest avoiding such cars, as unclear ownership will eventually come back to bite you.
