What is a special-use vehicle? Conditions for special-use vehicles to join in traffic in Vietnam

What is a special-use vehicle? Conditions for special-use vehicles to join in traffic in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. What is a special-use vehicle?

According to Clause 20, Article 3 of the Law on Road Traffic 2008, special-use vehicle means construction vehicle, farm vehicle, forestry vehicle and other special-use vehicles used for defense and security purposes, which joins in road traffic.

2. Conditions for special-use vehicles to join in traffic in Vietnam

Conditions for special-use vehicles to join in traffic are specified in Article 57 of the Law on Road Traffic 2008, specifically as follows:

- Satisfying the following quality, technical safety and environmental protection criteria:

+ Having an effective brake system;

+ Having an effective steering system;

+ Having lamps;

+ Ensuring the operator’s visibility;

+ Special-use parts must be fitted firmly at right positions, ensuring safety while traveling;

+ Ensuring exhaust gas and noise according to environmental standards;

- Having a registration paper and number plate granted by competent state agencies.

- Operating within the prescribed area, ensuring safety for people, vehicles and road works while traveling.

- The manufacture, assembly, modification, repair and import of special-use vehicles must comply with regulations on quality, technical safety and environmental protection.

- The owners and operators of special-use vehicles shall maintain the technical safety conditions and have them inspected as prescribed for special-use vehicles in road traffic.

- The Minister of Transport shall issue specific regulations on quality, technical safety and environmental protection, the grant and withdrawal of registration papers and number plates; determine a list of special-use vehicles subject to inspection and organize the inspection;

The Minister of Defense and the Minister of Public Security shall stipulate and organize the grant and withdrawal of registration papers and number plates and the inspection of army and police special-use vehicles used for defense and security purposes.

3. Road traffic principles in Vietnam

Specifically, in Article 4 of the Circular 22/2019/TT-BGTVT, the documentation evidencing ownership of special vehicle may be one of the followings:

(i) Quality inspection certificate form issued under regulations of the Minister of Transport to domestically manufactured and assembled special vehicles.

(ii) Certificate of conformance to technical safety and environmental protection regulations for imported special vehicles or notification of exemption from the requirement for inspection of technical safety and environmental protection of imported special vehicles issued under regulations of the Minister of Transport as the requirement for import of special vehicles.

(iii) Certificate of quality for refurbished vehicles issued under regulations of the Minister of Transport to refurbished special vehicles, and the document specified in clause 1 or clause 2 of Article 4 of the Circular 22/2019/TT-BGTVT.   

In case of replacement of engine fittings and vehicle body frame, written documents evidencing substitute engine fittings or vehicle body frames are required under law.

If any substitute engine fitting or vehicle body frame is part of other registered special vehicles, declaration form for withdrawal of vehicle registration or number plate must be submitted by using the form No. 1 of Appendix 2 to Circular 22/2019/TT-BGTVT.  

(iv)  Documentation requirements for special vehicles confiscated as public assets:

- Confiscation decision issued by competent authorities in accordance with law;

- Invoice of property confiscated as public assets issued by the Ministry of Finance (in case of property disposed of in the liquidation form); note of handover and receipt of property (in case of disposing of property in the transfer form) issued under law.

(v) Documentation requirements for special vehicles subject to the decision on disposal of evidence objects.

- Decision on disposal of evidence objects issued by the investigation agency, People's Procuracy or People's Court under law;

- Cash receipt note or handover report made under law (applicable to the complainant).

Thanh Rin

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