What is the Vehicle Green Book?
2 Answers
The Vehicle Green Book is the motor vehicle registration certificate. The registration certificate is not a legal proof of vehicle ownership but rather an administrative document permitting the vehicle to be driven on the road. The motor vehicle registration certificate serves as the essential proof of vehicle ownership, kept by the vehicle owner and not carried with the vehicle. It is required to be presented for any vehicle registration procedures such as transferring registration or ownership changes, and it records relevant details about the vehicle, functioning similarly to a vehicle's household registration booklet. According to current motor vehicle registration regulations and related provisions, the registration conducted by public security authorities is for permitting or prohibiting road use, not for confirming vehicle ownership. For the purposes of traffic management, vehicle management offices under public security authorities confirm the vehicle owner based on documents such as the purchase invoice or legal judgments, rulings, and mediation documents from the court when issuing vehicle license plates. If the motor vehicle registration certificate is lost, missing, or damaged, the vehicle owner must apply for a replacement or reissuance at the local vehicle management office where the vehicle is registered.
When I ran an auto repair shop near the DMV, I often heard people mention the 'Green Book' – it's actually the vehicle registration certificate, called so because of its green cover. It serves as both the ID card and household register for a car, detailing crucial information like the VIN, engine number, owner's name, and registration date. Whenever I buy a used car, I always scrutinize the Green Book, as the number of ownership transfers recorded there reflects the vehicle's usage history, and I also check for any mortgage markings. Once, a client had their Green Book stolen from their car, and it took a full two weeks to get a replacement, seriously delaying the transfer process. It's best to keep it secured like property deeds in a safe – losing it requires newspaper declarations and vehicle re-verification for replacement, which is particularly troublesome.
