Why is there no green book when buying a car in full payment?
3 Answers
When purchasing a car in full payment, there is no green book because the green book can only be obtained after purchasing insurance, paying all taxes such as vehicle purchase tax and vehicle and vessel tax, and completing the license plate registration. If the car is purchased with a loan, the green book can only be obtained after the loan is fully repaid. Before obtaining the green book, the car essentially still belongs to the lending bank, and the owner only has the right to use the car. Relevant information about the vehicle registration certificate (green book) is as follows: Definition: The vehicle registration certificate (green book) refers to the vehicle registration certificate. The vehicle registration certificate is a necessary property ownership document for the vehicle, issued by the vehicle management department of the public security authority after completing the vehicle registration. The vehicle registration certificate is kept by the vehicle owner and is not carried with the vehicle. It is required to be presented when handling any vehicle registration procedures such as transfer or change of ownership, and records the relevant information of the vehicle, equivalent to the vehicle's household registration book. Notes: If the vehicle registration certificate is lost, missing, or damaged, it is considered a reissuance of the vehicle registration certificate, and the vehicle must also be inspected. The vehicle management office shall confirm the vehicle and review the submitted proofs and certificates within one day from the date of acceptance, and reissue or replace the vehicle registration certificate. For vehicles registered before the implementation of the vehicle registration certificate system that have not applied for the vehicle registration certificate, the vehicle owner may apply for the vehicle registration certificate at the local vehicle management office. However, if the vehicle owner applies for modification, transfer, or mortgage registration, they must apply for the vehicle registration certificate at the vehicle management office before submitting the application.
Hey, didn't get the green book after paying in full for the car? I've been in a similar situation and understand the confusion. Generally, after full payment, the dealer should hand over the green book (vehicle registration certificate) to the owner upon completing the transfer procedures, as it proves ownership. But why didn't you get it? There could be a few reasons: First, the dealer's inefficiency might have delayed the registration process, such as failing to handle documents promptly or forgetting the handover procedures. Second, mismatched buyer information, like incorrect ID or address details, could cause the DMV to stall during verification. Third, unclear sales contract terms—sometimes so-called full payment comes with additional conditions, such as settling the final payment first or waiting for the invoice. I recommend calling the salesperson immediately to check the progress and also visiting the local DMV to inquire about the status. Remember, the green book is super important—without it, selling or transferring the car later will be a hassle. Don't hesitate to pursue it; spending some time resolving this is better than delaying. Paying in full should mean easily getting the green book—don't let a small hiccup turn into a big problem.
As a first-time car buyer, my friend recently paid in full for his car but didn't receive the vehicle title (green book), which made him quite anxious. Through our discussion, we realized the issue might lie in process coordination. After full payment, the title should arrive within weeks either from the dealer or directly from the DMV, but sometimes they overlook notifying the buyer to collect it, or there are delays in the electronic transfer system. Another common scenario is payment detail confusion - some dealerships may split payments into two transactions or wait until all taxes/fees are settled before initiating registration. I advised him not to panic, first review the purchase contract to verify payment proofs and dates. If confirming full payment was made, contact the 4S store customer service to follow up. From other car owners' experiences, this issue is easily resolved but requires timely follow-through, as lacking the title affects daily car insurance matters. Just pay extra attention to documentation during the initial phase.
