Legislation that would allow the registration or transfer of used vehicles with pending recalls has been delayed in the Cyprus parliament, despite agreement between legislators and government officials.
The proposed amendment to the Vehicle Type Approval Law was discussed urgently on Thursday in the parliamentary Transport Committee but was not submitted as an emergency measure to the plenary session as initially planned.
The bill would permit the registration or transfer of second-hand vehicles even when manufacturers’ recalls are pending, addressing issues faced by used car buyers and sellers.
Under the proposed changes, vehicles could be registered or transferred normally in cases where certification of no pending recalls cannot be provided due to delays from distributors or representatives.
The new owner would assume responsibility for implementing corrective measures prescribed by a ministerial decree. This responsibility would be certified through a mandatory declaration, the format of which would be determined and published in the Official Gazette.
Repairs for defective or unsuitable components would need to be completed within 18 months from the date the Road Transport Department is notified. For cases with immediate instructions from manufacturers, interventions would need to be made without delay.
The relevant authority would retain the right to modify the 18-month period if necessary, through a circular to distributors or representatives.
If the deadline passes without the required measures being taken, the vehicle’s Certificate of Roadworthiness would be suspended. A new certificate could only be issued after the defective component is replaced and the vehicle passes a new technical inspection.
Vehicle owners are advised to regularly check for recalls that might affect their vehicles.
Currently, registration, transfer, or technical inspection of a vehicle requires certification that no recall is pending. This certification is issued after checking the distributor’s or representative’s database and ensures owners are informed of future recalls.
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