What responsibility does the vehicle registration authority have for vehicles that have undergone multiple ownership transfers?

As you have provided, the vehicle has been transferred through many people, and you are currently the one possessing it.

According to Clause 4, Article 24 of Circular 15/2014/TT-BCA, issued by the Minister of Public Security, regarding vehicle registration, the responsibilities of the vehicle registration agency are stipulated as follows:

a) In the case of transferring vehicle ownership within the same province:

The vehicle registration agency receives the registration transfer documents, checks the compliance with procedures, and issues a receipt for the vehicle user:

- If the current vehicle user has the ownership transfer documents of the person named in the vehicle registration certificate and the ownership transfer documents of the last seller, within two working days from the date of receiving a complete valid dossier, the vehicle registration agency must issue a vehicle registration certificate to the current vehicle user; the old license plate will be retained (except in cases of 3 or 4-digit plates or different systems, where the old plate will be collected and replaced with a 5-digit plate as regulated).

- If the current vehicle user does not have the vehicle ownership transfer documents, the receipt is valid for vehicle use for 30 days while waiting for the registration agency to provide results.

The registration agency sends a notification to the person named on the vehicle registration certificate and publicly posts it at the registration agency, checks the stolen vehicle archives, and the vehicle registration data. After 30 days from the date of sending the notice and public posting, the registration agency issues a vehicle registration certificate to the current vehicle user; the old license plate will be retained (except in cases of 3 or 4-digit plates or different systems, where the old plate will be collected and replaced with a 5-digit plate as regulated).

b) In cases of processing transfer procedures to another province:

The vehicle registration agency receives the dossier, verifies the compliance with prescribed procedures, and resolves as follows:

- If the transfer dossier has the vehicle ownership transfer documents of the person named in the vehicle registration certificate and the last seller's ownership transfer documents, within two working days from the date of receiving a complete valid dossier, the vehicle registration agency must complete the transfer and relocation procedures for the vehicle user.

- If the transfer dossier lacks the prescribed vehicle ownership transfer documents, a receipt is issued, and the transfer and relocation procedures are processed for the vehicle user. The receipt is valid for vehicle use for 30 days, pending the registration agency's processing of the transfer and relocation procedures.

The registration agency sends a notice to the person named on the vehicle registration certificate and publicly posts it at the registration agency headquarters, checks the stolen vehicle archives, and vehicle registration data. After 30 days from the date of sending the notice and public posting, the registration agency resolves the transfer and relocation of the vehicle as prescribed, recording and verifying the results in the transfer and relocation application.

- To the current vehicle user: Provide 1 transfer receipt and 1 application for transfer and relocation (Form 03 issued with this Circular) along with the original vehicle dossier for vehicle registration at the destination.

- Retain 1 transfer receipt, 1 application for transfer and relocation, the notice, posting, and verification results.

The General Director of the General Department of Administrative Management on Social Order and Safety will specifically guide the issuance of the receipt stipulated in points a and b of this clause.

c) In the case of registering a transferred vehicle from another province:

The vehicle registration agency (where the current vehicle user is permanently registered) receives the dossier, verifies compliance with required procedures, inspects the vehicle to ensure it matches the transfer dossier, and within two working days from receiving a valid dossier, must complete issuing the license plate and vehicle registration certificate to the current vehicle user.

This concludes the advisory content.

Sincerely!