What does it mean to transfer the file when buying a used car?

[StWeston]

Transferring the file of a used car refers to the process during the transfer of ownership when purchasing a used vehicle. It involves extracting the vehicle's file from the local vehicle management office and relocating it to a designated new registration area and owner. Once this transfer is specified, it is difficult to change. Buying a used car from another location can be registered locally. However, it is more complicated than buying a used car locally, as it requires an additional procedure: transferring the file from another location. Additional information on transferring files from another location: Transferring a vehicle's file from location A to location B for registration. The process of transferring a vehicle's file from another location takes about 3 working days, and it generally takes around 3-7 days for the file to be processed after extraction. According to Article 13, Paragraph 1 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations": The vehicle management office shall, within three days from the date of acceptance, annotate the changes on the motor vehicle registration certificate, retrieve the license plate and driving license, issue a temporary driving license plate valid for thirty days, and hand over the motor vehicle file to the owner of the motor vehicle.

[DelAmelia]

Buying a used car and transferring its registration is essentially about handling the 'household relocation' for the vehicle. For example, if you purchase a car with Jiangsu license plates in Shandong and want to switch the plates to Shandong, you'll need to transfer the vehicle's records from the Jiangsu DMV. Last year, I helped a friend with this process. The steps are: first, both the buyer and seller go to the DMV where the car is registered to submit the vehicle for inspection. The DMV will collect and review materials like the vehicle registration certificate, license, and the original owner's ID. Once the record file is sealed, you'll receive a temporary license plate, and the car can no longer use its original plates. Here's the key point: the sealed record file must never be opened! You must bring it to the new city's DMV within the specified time to complete the registration. The biggest concerns in this process are incomplete documentation or failure to meet emission standards. Once, I encountered a case where a National IV standard car couldn't be transferred to a city requiring National VI standards, and the process was halted right there.

[Alexia]

I've been working at the car dealership for eight years, handling two or three vehicle transfer cases daily. Simply put, it's 'removing plates and extracting files'—transferring the car's 'ID card' from its original city. When processing, bring the complete green book (registration certificate), vehicle license, original IDs of both buyer and seller, and most importantly, verify the emission standards! Many buyers stumble on this point—cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen mostly only accept China VI emission standard vehicles. After the vehicle inspection at the original DMV, the staff will seal the files in a kraft paper envelope and hand them to you. Remember to get temporary plates! In our jargon, it's called the 'dead car revival period,' usually within 30 days for registration in the new city. If you exceed the deadline or recklessly open the sealed envelope, the car will truly become an unregistered vehicle.