What does it mean to buy a second-hand car with a nominal owner?

[MacAdeline]

Buying a second-hand car with a nominal owner refers to purchasing a used vehicle using someone else's ID card, and the ID card holder is called the nominal owner. Here are specific details about nominal owners: 1. Risks involved: If the current owner commits a hit-and-run, the traffic police will not investigate the current owner's responsibility but will attribute it to the original owner; the original owner will have to bear medical expenses, nursing costs, and other compensations; in severe cases, legal liabilities may also apply; if the current owner violates traffic rules, the original owner will be held responsible for the violations; in first-tier cities, the original owner cannot purchase a new car for license plate registration. 2. Advice: It is not recommended to buy a second-hand car with a nominal owner because once the 'nominal owner' passes away, it becomes extremely difficult for the actual owner to reclaim vehicle ownership, as the transfer procedures cannot be completed.

[Daniela]

Buying a second-hand car with the title still under the original owner's name means you've paid for and are driving the car, but legally it's not yours. I experienced this firsthand when I bought a cheap SUV under such an arrangement. The seller claimed the car couldn't be transferred because the original owner had unpaid bank debts, locking the records. Six months later, the car was repossessed by the court, and I learned that 'title-held' cars can be seized by the original owner's creditors at any time. Moreover, annual inspections required coordination with the original owner, which was a hassle. Once, after an accident, insurance claims were stalled due to the name mismatch. The worst part was trying to sell it—nobody dared to take it. Now, whenever someone asks about title-held cars, I advise them to steer clear, even if it costs more to get a properly transferred title for peace of mind.

[DeTravis]

Simply put, you spent money to buy a car, but the name on the green book (vehicle registration certificate) wasn't changed, and the car is still registered under the original owner's name. A friend of mine suffered from this—he thought buying a 'beihu' car (a car purchased without transferring ownership) was simpler and 20% cheaper. Then the original owner suddenly showed up claiming the car was just borrowed, and calling the police nearly turned it into a theft case. Such cars usually have hidden issues, like being mortgaged, seized, involved in debt disputes, or the original owner going missing. In the traffic police system, the car is still registered under the original owner, so any traffic fines go to them. If they get angry, they might report the car as stolen. Annual inspections requiring the original owner's ID can be a nightmare. Before transferring ownership, it's best to check the records thoroughly. Trying to save money by skipping proper ownership transfer is like planting a ticking time bomb for yourself.

[Sally]

A 'beihu' car is when you pay for a vehicle, but the ownership remains under the original owner's name. This often happens because the original owner has debts and the car is mortgaged, or due to registration restrictions that prevent the transfer of ownership. You get the car keys but not the green registration book, always driving with anxiety. Once, I considered buying an Audi under this arrangement, and the seller admitted the original owner was on the credit blacklist, hence the car was 30,000 cheaper. But the thought of potential court repossession kept me up at night. Insurance claims for accidents involving 'beihu' cars are more complicated, and these vehicles depreciate quickly. I'd rather pay more for a car with a clean title to avoid endless worries.