Beijing or Hebei? Buying used.

[Lao Jia Hou]

I have a couple of specific questions around Beijing.

-1) first, checking what I understand from LJH posts: if I buy a used bike with "public" b plates, I don't need a >6 month temp residence paper. I just need a bill of sale and transfer of responsibility document. Is this correct?

-2) Since I live closest to Yanqing County, most used bikes here are "private" B plates. So, without a >6 month Yanqing residence paper I can't transfer ownership, right? But could I get a local trusted Chinese resident to "buy" a bike (with my money) and have him register the private plates? And then could we draw up a bill of sale and a transfer of responsibility document to legally pass it over to me? Perhaps with the help of an agent?

1) Yes, that is correct.
2) Right, you cannot transfer ownership into your name w/o the >6 month residency. Yes, you could have a trusted Chinese person buy & register the bike for you. Finally, you could have a Bill of Sale (which you should) but the bike will legally remain in his/her name.

If you had a falling out with the "trusted" Chinese owner, that person could sell the bike and keep the funds. You could try and take the crook to court, based on supplementary documentation (e.g., a Bill of Sale between you two), but I doubt you'd be very successful.

In my experience, using a trusted agent in Beijing will always help smooth the process. Do NOT take Joe Blow's recommendation about an agent ... ask some of the larger shops which agent they use.

Good luck, and congrats on your DL!

PS: Posted from the Wet Coast (aka Vancouver) ... rain in town, snow on the mountains.