Vehicle Inspection Company Expected

The Land Transport Authority has once again engaged Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre Company Limited (JEVIC) to conduct pre-shipment structural and mechanical inspection of used vehicles.

JEVIC is an offshore vehicle inspection agency. It started inspection in and around the major used vehicle export ports in Japan from July 15. It will officially come into effect in Fiji on August 15.

Under this system, inspection is mandatory for all Fijian-bound vehicles. However JEVIC is only part of the requirement because it does not guarantee a vehicle’s import approval into the country.

LTA Chief executive officer, Naisa Tuinaceva believes JEVIC will be beneficial to customers as the system will significantly reduce the unscrupulous and unethical practices in the used vehicle industry. Mr Tuinaceva said: “We are encountering numerous cases of deception in the used vehicle industry whereby some Authorised Motor Vehicle Dealers (AMVDs) are giving false information when they sell used vehicles to their customers and the customer ends up with a defective vehicle. “There have been many cases of odometer-tampering and half-cut vehicles being sold, but with JEVIC appraisal in place, unscrupulous dealers will not be able to rip-off their customers as JEVIC will only issue a clean chit to those vehicles that meet the standards.

“The Authority does not condone corrupt practices. We have terminated the AMVD license of some unethical motor vehicle dealers in the past, and through our standards and compliance process, we will continue to identify and penalise any dealer who is caught breaching the conditions of the AMVD license”.