Authorities are highlighting a glaring oversight in the recent bust of a high-value pre-owned car smuggling operation from Bhutan into Kerala. According to officials, a quick check of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) — often called the chassis number, and essentially a car’s unique digital fingerprint — could have immediately flagged the Coimbatore-based racket.
This distinctive 17-character alphanumeric code isn’t just a random series; it’s a comprehensive record detailing a vehicle’s entire life story. From its manufacturing origin and past ownership to accident history and legal standing, the VIN provides crucial insights. You’ll find it not only stamped directly onto the chassis but also clearly listed on the registration certificate, dashboard, door frame, hood, trunk, rear wheel arch, and all insurance documents.
A senior official from the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department (MVD), who chose to remain anonymous, stated emphatically: ‘If the initial registration authority in India had simply verified the chassis number, it would have instantly revealed the vehicle’s Bhutanese origin, clearly indicating an illegal import or smuggling operation.’
Customs authorities have corroborated that most of these illicit vehicles were initially registered in Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across various other Indian states. This raises serious questions, as officials suggest that possible collusion or involvement from within these RTOs cannot be dismissed. Indian regulations are strict: importing pre-owned vehicles is largely forbidden, with the only exception being under the ‘Transfer of Residence’ provision. Even then, the vehicle must have been used for a minimum of three years in its country of origin, and a hefty 160% duty is levied upon its registration in India.
The MVD official elaborated on the loophole: ‘When a vehicle already registered elsewhere in India is presented at a Kerala RTO for tax payment or re-registration – a requirement if the vehicle is used here for more than a year – its details are typically available on the national Parivahan portal. In such cases, this process doesn’t automatically trigger an alarm.’
He continued, ‘Re-registration merely necessitates a no-objection certificate from the initial registration authority; all other crucial information is easily accessible via Parivahan. Consequently, the re-registering office isn’t typically mandated to conduct further checks, unless the vehicle itself is rare or highly unusual, which wasn’t the case for these common premium models. Should a discrepancy be found, the re-registering authority’s power is limited to reporting the violation to the original RTO, suggesting the revocation of the registration certificate.’