From 15/8/2023: Is it permissible to register for vehicle title transfer regarding vehicles that are imported and have been using in Vietnam since 2014?

From 15/8/2023: Is it permissible to register for vehicle title transfer regarding vehicles that are imported and have been using in Vietnam since 2014?

Pursuant to Clause 18 Article 32 of the Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA stipulating solutions to specific cases during the registration and issuance of license plate as follows:

Solutions to specific cases during the registration and issuance of license plate

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18. Vehicles that are imported duty-free and have been using in Vietnam with dutiable value of 0% as prescribed by law; vehicles that are movable properties of Vietnamese citizens who are residing overseas and have been granted permanent residence in Vietnam arrived at a port of Vietnam before April 1, 2014 will be eligible for vehicle title transfer according to regulations of this Circular.

If the vehicle of such a Vietnamese citizen arrives at a port of Vietnam from April 01, 2014 onward, it must be registered before it can be transferred; its title can only be transferred if there is proof of tax arrears payment according to regulations of this Circular.

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As regulations above, from 15/8/2023, it is permissible to register for vehicle title transfer regarding vehicles that are imported and have been using in Vietnam since 2014 as prescribed in the Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA.

Vehicles that are imported duty-free shall have dutiable value of 0%.

What are regulations on modified vehicles in case of an imported vehicle that has been used and modified before registration in Vietnam before 15/8/2023?

Pursuant to Clause 2 Article 32 of the Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA stipulating modified vehicles in case of an imported vehicle that has been used and modified before registration in Vietnam before 15/8/2023 as follows:

- In case of an imported vehicle that has been used and modified before registration, submit following documents:

+ Vehicle registration form;

+ Legal documentation of the vehicle owner.

+ Vehicle documentation.

- Note:

+ Reject the registration for automobiles and automobiles of different kinds that are modified into a passenger vehicle, special-purpose vehicles and refrigerator trucks that are repurposed 05 years and 03 years before the date of importation, respectively;

+ Do not replace engine and chassis taken from end-of-life vehicles as stipulated by laws; discarded vehicles, vehicles that are not allowed to run on roads according to regulations, tax-exempt vehicles; temporarily imported and re-exported vehicles owned by diplomatic missions, consulates and representative offices of international organizations that have been offered the diplomatic and consular immunities and privileges.

+ During the period in which the vehicle is used, each vehicle may only replace the engine or the chassis (do not replace both the whole engine and the chassis).

From 15/8/2023: How to handle imported vehicles of which both or either of engine and chassis numbers are not unregistered?

Pursuant to Article 30 of the Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA stipulating cases related to the engine and chassis number as follows:

Cases related to the engine and chassis number

1. Regarding an unregistered or registered vehicle of which both or either of engine and chassis numbers may be welded, chiseled, corrected or erased, if the confiscation decision does not state engine number, chassis number or state “không xác định”, “không rõ số”, “không có số” (“unidentifiable”, “unknown number”, “number unavailable”), such vehicle shall not be registered.

2. Regarding an unregistered vehicle that is domestically manufactured and assembled

a) In case the vehicle has only VIN number, no engine number or chassis number, the vehicle registration authority shall re-stamp the chassis number according to the VIN number and the engine number according to the number of the license plate;

b) As for a vehicle of which engine and chassis numbers are printed on a tag or stamped by lasers or with painted, faded and rusty numbers due to environmental impacts, the vehicle registration authority shall re-stamp the engine number and chassis number according to the number recorded in the vehicle origin documentation specified at Points a and b, Clause 1, Article 11 of this Circular.

c) As for a vehicle which has its engine and chassis numbers stamped with technical errors and a written certification from the foreign manufacturer, the vehicle may be registered and its engine and chassis numbers may be re-stamped according to the number of the license plate; regarding an imported vehicle, the written certification of the foreign manufacturer shall be consular legalized;

d) A vehicle of which the engine and chassis numbers are overlapped and are proved to remain intact shall be registered.

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As regulations above, from 15/8/2023, imported vehicles of which both or either of engine and chassis numbers are not unregistered shall be handled as follows:

- Imported vehicles do not have a serial number. The vehicle registration agency will record the chassis number according to the VIN number, and the engine number will be based on the license plate number.

- Due to the impact of the environment causing the vehicle to become blurred or corroded, the vehicle registration agency will record the engine and chassis numbers according to the original documents at Points a and b, Clause 1, Article 11 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA.

- If there is a technical error and there is a written confirmation from the foreign manufacturer, it must be legalized by the consulate and translated.

- When there is a conclusion that the engine number and frame number are overlapped, it will be resolved according to the vehicle registration.

Note: the Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA takes effect from 15/8/2023.

Best regards!