Ottapalam: The Kerala Motor Vehicle Department has issued strict instructions directing vehicle owners to obtain permission before scrapping vehicles. 

Owners must submit an application for scrapping permission and for the cancellation of the registration certificate (RC). After the vehicle is demolished, it’s important to check with the Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector (AMVI) to ensure the RC has been cancelled and any outstanding fines paid.

The department is raising awareness via social media due to an increase in cases where RCs are not being cancelled for vehicles that are scrapped. This process is crucial to prevent vehicles intended for scrapping from being reused without the owner's knowledge.

A vehicle is typically scrapped when it becomes unusable due to age or accidents. If the RC is not cancelled before scrapping, the vehicle's records remain active. This oversight could allow defects to be repaired and the vehicle to be reused, potentially for illicit purposes, including theft. As a result, the original owner may face legal issues if the vehicle is later involved in a crime.

Components like the engine or chassis from a scrapped vehicle can be used in another vehicle, leading to potential legal action against the owner based on those identifying numbers.

Beyond criminal activity, owners may also receive fines for traffic violations recorded by surveillance cameras related to vehicles that were supposed to be scrapped. To avoid these complications, the department advises vehicle owners to apply for demolition at their nearest Motor Vehicle Department office. Officials stress that after the vehicle has been dismantled, owners should verify that the RC has been cancelled.