What documents and materials are required for the registration of a used car?
2 Answers
Documents required for the transfer of a used car: 1. For the seller: the owner's ID card, vehicle registration certificate, vehicle license, original purchase invoice (or transfer invoice if the car was previously transferred). If the seller is an organization, the original business license and official seal are required. 2. For the buyer: ID card. For non-locals who need to register for a local license plate, a valid temporary residence permit is also required. (Some cities have switched to residence permits, which can be linked to the public security network!) If the buyer is an organization, the original business license and official seal are required. 3. Original vehicle purchase invoice or the last transfer invoice: required before 2012, but not needed in most cities after 2012. 4. Others: original vehicle license. Vehicle registration certificate (big green book). For out-of-town transfers, the purchase tax booklet is required (small red book before 2001, small green book after 2001).
Last time when I bought a used car and went through the transfer process, I was delayed for several days due to incomplete documents. Now I’m sharing the essentials. You must have the original and photocopies of both the buyer’s and seller’s ID cards—I once encountered a situation where the original owner’s ID had expired and needed renewal. Also, bring the vehicle registration certificate (the big green book) and the vehicle license. Make sure the sales contract is clearly signed—don’t just agree verbally. The purchase invoice or transfer invoice is a must to prove the transaction’s authenticity. Fill out the transfer application form, which you can get for free at the DMV. If it’s an inter-province transfer, you’ll also need an emissions certificate—for example, when I transferred from Beijing to Hebei, they checked the environmental compliance certificate. Bringing the insurance policy is also a good idea, and make sure to inspect the car’s condition beforehand to avoid issues. I recommend making multiple copies of the documents to save trips back and forth. Arriving at the DMV by 8 AM means fewer people and faster processing, and the whole thing should cost under 200 yuan—smooth and hassle-free.
