From today, people can transfer ownership of vehicles that have lost their papers and have been bought and sold for many generations.

Specifically, Article 31 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA stipulates the settlement of vehicle registration transfer for vehicles that have transferred ownership to many organizations and individuals as follows: Organizations and individuals using the vehicle shall go to the agency managing the vehicle registration records to carry out the revocation procedure and register the vehicle transfer at the vehicle registration agency; in case the agency managing the records is also the agency handling the vehicle registration transfer, the revocation procedure is not required.

The time for transferring the vehicle ownership is regulated in the case of organizations and individuals using the vehicle with vehicle ownership transfer documents of the vehicle owner and vehicle ownership transfer documents of the last seller: Within 2 working days from the date of receiving all valid vehicle documents, the vehicle registration agency shall issue a decision to impose a penalty for not carrying out the prescribed recall procedures and registering the vehicle ownership transfer.

In case an organization or individual is using a vehicle without the vehicle owner's vehicle ownership transfer document and the last seller's vehicle ownership transfer document: The vehicle registration authority shall issue a valid appointment to use the vehicle for 30 days.

Within 2 working days from the date of receiving the vehicle registration transfer application, the vehicle registration authority must send a notice to the vehicle owner and the vehicle registration authority that registered the vehicle; publicly post the receipt of registration application documents from organizations and individuals at the vehicle registration authority's headquarters; look up and verify the stolen vehicle archive and vehicle registration data.

After 30 days, if there is no dispute or complaint, the vehicle registration authority will issue a decision to impose a penalty for not completing the vehicle revocation and registration transfer procedures.

Circular 24 also clearly stipulates the responsibilities of units managing databases of stolen vehicles and evidence vehicles. Within 7 working days from the date of receiving the request for verification from the vehicle registration agency, the unit managing databases of stolen vehicles and evidence vehicles must respond in writing to the vehicle registration agency.

The documents and procedures for vehicle registration transfer include: Vehicle owner's documents; Vehicle registration declaration, which clearly states the buying and selling process and commitment, responsibility for the legal origin of the vehicle; Vehicle ownership transfer documents of the vehicle owner and vehicle ownership transfer documents of the last seller (if any); Registration fee documents according to regulations; Certificate of registration revocation, vehicle license plate (with a copy of the engine number and chassis number and the vehicle registration agency's seal on the copy of the engine number and chassis number).

In case the agency managing the vehicle records is also the agency handling the vehicle registration transfer, the organization or individual using the vehicle shall submit the vehicle registration certificate and license plate in lieu of the registration revocation certificate and license plate.

Thus, from today, car owners who have been bought and sold through many owners and are missing the purchase documents, or even lost the documents, can go to the authorities to change the ownership according to regulations.