[Neversaygbye]

Originally Posted by RoadAtlas

So technically according to the cops, he should have gotten a notary agreement signed by his father allowing him to drive the car.

Which traffic guard was this? Please post this incident on the Kolkata Traffic Police FB page.

This is absolutely ridiculous. You can drive a car registered in anyone's name as long as you have a valid driving licence and the car's papers are in order.

Regarding the OP's post, my regular ride (the Vista) is registered in the name of my mother even though I am the one who drives it. I have never faced any issues till date, and it's been 8+ years that I have been driving the car, and I have gone out of Bengal too with the car multiple times. Hence don't worry about your car being in your wife's name. The only time she may be bothered is if you ever have to make an insurance claim, as at that point of time her signature will be required on the claim form.

In case you still want to make a change in the ownership, it should be possible without having to go through the rigmarole of showing a token sale. When I had taken our WB registered Matiz to Delhi, I had got the registration transferred in my name since the car was originally registered in my father's name. With my father being in Cal I did not want any hassles if it came to insurance claims. The RTO had charged a certain amount (I have forgotten how much) for changing the owner name and reissued the RC. So it was possible in 2004 and should be possible now as well. However, it's not really required since both you and your wife are in the same location.

[VEA]

As long as the car is driven by someone with a valid driving license and proper insurance for any purpose that is not illegal, your wife will be spared of any charges even in case of an accident. Things go bad if someone without a DL causes an accident. Or if the car is suspected to be involved in illegal activities.

I have had an experience where a bike that I sold was purchased by a guy who used it in Bangalore and refused to stop during a police check. Bangalore police called me up in Kochi, apparently getting my phone number from Royal Enfield. It was surprised but luckily the ownership was changed a couple of days before the incident and I explained this to Bangalore cops which they verified and spared me. So make sure your paperwork is proper and no juvenile takes your car for a joy ride.

[Durango Dude]

Originally Posted by sushantk

Greeting BHPians,

My car was bought in name of my wife...I drive the car all the time...I am not very comfortable with this arrangement...Am I being paranoid here? If I am the owner (and I am the the driver anyway), my wife could be fully out of the matter.

Man: I drive my son's car all the time: he has a Grand i10. Why didn't I feel like you did even once. In fact I took delivery of the car as he was new to driving. You ARE being paranoid or over protective of your better half. Go ahead and enjoy the drive...

[chinmaypillay]

Unless your wife has a tax issue or something concerning, please continue with the RC name in her name. The thought is noble, but wouldn't cause such an issue in the future and you need not worry about that.

As others have mentioned, we initially drive motorcycles and cars registered in our parent's name. Max to max the cops only ask how is the owner related, answer it confidently and they will leave you alone. Fumbling and not recognizing your parent/spouse is another issue

Jokes apart, please enjoy the car as it is and don't change the owner unnecessarily.

[kutts]

I never found this to be an issue. 5 cars and 3 two wheelers owned by 4 of us. 5 of us including the driver makes use of any of the vehicle depending on the need. Accidents do happen and mostly the owner was not driving the vehicle and any insurance etc never had a problem.

I always ensure that the vehicle papers are perfect so no worries.

[rsjagtap]

I am not very comfortable with this arrangement. There is possibility of car getting involved in some unfortunate accidents or traffic/legal issues and usually car owner will be have to available in such matters. This will be unnecessary inconvenience and hassle to my wife.


All vehicles bought in my family have always been registered under the women of our house. It has now become sort of a lucky factor for us.
Infact buying cars under women's name is sort of a benefit in India as some banks and institutions and government schemes that provide subsidy on vehicle purchases. My 2017 Brezza got a loan interest rate at very low price as we purchased it on my grandmothers name

But no need to get paranoid here. God forbid, anything does happen; your wife will be equally inconvenienced regardless of in who's name the car is. You are a family after all.

Keep the car under same name. Avoid the unnecessary formalities of changing names just within the house. It will also sort of destroy the purpose of you getting a discounted car in the first place.

[nathanjdias]

All the vehicles in our family are registered on my father's name. I have not faced any issue with respect to police or insurance claims.

The police only ask how I am related to the owner and during insurance claims I need to get my father's sign on a couple of documents.

[fawad0222]

Can I put another angle to this query. what about if you drive a car registered in your wife's name, in a different state, than the state of registration, for longer periods. wife has a interstate transferable job, to further complicate this issue

[ronford]

Originally Posted by SN88

Hi ,
I have one question here. If I sold my car to a used car dealer and he gives me a delivery note signed and stamped by the dealer but does not transfer the car to the new buyer as he did not find a buyer in time and say something unfortunate happens with the car then am I liable?

I have been chasing Shaman cars Mumbai to get my car removed from my name which they exchanged sometime back when I purchased a new car from them. They only say we haven't got a buyer yet.

Ask them for proof the car is stationary and not being driven around. Also, I hope you have signed a delivery note.

[footloose]

Originally Posted by sushantk

I am not very comfortable with this arrangement. There is possibility of car getting involved in some unfortunate accidents or traffic/legal issues and usually car owner will be have to available in such matters.

Am I being paranoid here? If I am the owner (and I am the the driver anyway), my wife could be fully out of the matter.

Two problems that I am facing with the same scenario are insurance related
1. I can't claim owner driver accidental coverage of 150000 if anything happens to me as a driver.
2. I can't carry forward No Claim Bonus Certificate to my next car if bought in my name.

So yes, I would definitely get my new car registered in my name only.

[Hayek]

Frankly, the OP is being paranoid here. Loads of us drive cars registered in others names - be it a parent, sibling, spouse or even one’s employer. Yes, an authorised representative of the registered owner needs to sign certain documents, but that is usually not a problem. And if the owner is going abroad, getting a Power of Attorney issued by the owner in favour of the user present in India is a simple solution - which would allow the OP to represent his wife as and when needed.

[hondatoyotafan]

Originally Posted by sushantk

Greeting BHPians,

My car was bought in name of my wife as the car company had significant corporate discounts for select companies and my wife is an employee with one of them. However, I drive the car all the time.

Am I being paranoid here? If I am the owner (and I am the the driver anyway), my wife could be fully out of the matter.

I am very much inclined to change the ownership but would like to hear your experiences and view on this matter. Thank you !

I think you are being unnecessarily paranoid unless there is lack of harmony in the relationship and you are worried about your possession.

We juggle the registration of cars in our family as TS charges extra for individuals who have 2 cars.Our cars are registered among different people in our family or our company.

Only two issues happened with women folk in our family
once a habitual trouble maker reported at the police station that my mom caused a hit and run accident and left. We ended up getting the summons and using our contacts we submitted the evidence that my mom was at work at the alleged time of the accident including duty register and other evidences. Mostly it was handled by my dad and his contacts and my mom had to visit the PS once to submit an affidavit along with the lawyer. Later through our contacts we realised that the complainant was a habitual offender who uses this tactic to extort money from people based on fake accident complaint.

Another time my aunt got a summons from Jubilee Hills PS because of more than 20 outstanding challans on the car registered on her name. My cousin and the chauffeur had a great ride speeding in the ORR on an accord registered in her name. The law abiding house wife almost had a heart attack with a constable at the door. Again it was handled through contacts in the department.

So it is not a big deal and the police too understand the issues when women are involved. They also tend to go easy.

I also remember when I had an accident with our car registered in my dad's name. We processed insurance and FIR without any problems.

[SN88]

Originally Posted by ronford

Ask them for proof the car is stationary and not being driven around. Also, I hope you have signed a delivery note.

The delivery note is signed and the car is in their possession at their yard. My worry is if something untoward should happen, then does this delivery note suffice to safeguard me from any headache etc..

[Neversaygbye]

Originally Posted by fawad0222

what about if you drive a car registered in your wife's name, in a different state, than the state of registration, for longer periods.

It doesn't matter really as long as both of you are in the same location so that she can sign if there is an insurance claim. Also there was another point mentioned in an earlier post about the insurance benefits going to the person in whose name the car is registered, and that is something to consider. Apart from this as long as the car has valid papers including insurance and PUC, it makes no difference where in India you drive it and for how long as long as you have a valid driving licence yourself and can connect the police to the person in whose name the car is registered if it comes to that (for example if there is an accident). Many cars are registered in the names of organizations and given to employees as part of company car lease programs. These are all private cars with white and black number plates. Hence don't worry about this at all. However, if you are taking your car to a different state you may need to get it registered at the RTO there after a year depending on how strict the police is so if you really want to change the ownership that is the best time to do it.

[navpreet318]

Originally Posted by Sahil

Yes you are. If this is how most thought then cars would be bought in chauffeur names

Well ahem, someone should definitely have had the car in the "chauffeur"'s name. Would have been quicker.

None the less back to the important issue at hand, I drive a Thar in my wife's name. All our previous cars at home were in my mother's name. We've just found cars in the names of the females of our family to be trouble free, last longer, in short lucky!

There's nothing to it. Don't worry.