Centre issues draft proposals to ease sale, purchase of pre-owned vehicles

In a bid to promote ease of doing business (EoDB) and transparency in the sale and purchase of registered vehicles through dealers, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification.

The pre-owned car market in India has been gradually gaining ground. In recent years, the advent of online marketplaces, which are involved in buying and selling of pre-owned vehicles has further given a boost to this market.

In the current ecosystem, many issues were being faced viz. during transfer of vehicle to subsequent transferee, disputes in regard to third party damage liabilities, difficulty in determination of defaulter etc.

MoRTH has proposed amendments in Chapter III of Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 to build a comprehensive regulatory ecosystem for the pre-owned car market.

The key provisions of the proposed rules include an authorization certificate for the dealers of registered vehicles has been introduced to identify the authenticity of a dealer. Furthermore, the procedure for intimation of delivery of vehicle between the registered owner and the dealer has been detailed.

The powers and responsibilities of a dealer in possession of registered vehicles have also been clarified. Dealers have been empowered to apply for renewal of registration certificate/ renewal of certificate of fitness, duplicate registration certificate, NOC, transfer of ownership, of motor vehicles in their possession.

As a regulatory measure, maintenance of an electronic vehicle trip register has been mandated which would contain details of the trip undertaken viz. trip purpose, driver, time and mileage.

As per an official statement from the ministry these rules are expected to aid in recognizing and empowering intermediaries / dealers of registered vehicles as well as provide adequate safeguards against fraudulent activities to the selling or purchasing of such vehicles.

In this regard, the ministry has also invited comments and suggestions from all stakeholders within a period of thirty days.