Legal dos and donts for Off Road Vehicles

[pwuser164749502960]

Nowadays, i am working to buy my first SUV as second /weekend/ vacation car. I do understand the mechanicals and how get them checked for their condition, but i am aloof about the potential legal issues that SUVs are exposed to. In my view following issues can arise:

1) Tempering of body VIN / Plate
2) Tempering of Ladder frame number
3) change of body

I request your assistance to add any other issues that we need to look into and how to get clearance / verification from which relevant agencies in Sindh, Punjab or federal, depending on the registration plate.

I would be thankful for the support and this might also be a helpful reference for others who are planning to jump into such endeavor.

[sardarg]

the most important ITEMs to focus when shopping for an SUV -
1. Documents - file containing import & registration papers
2. Ownership (is seller owner or have an open letter)
3. Original Number plates
4. Engine number & Chassis (frame) number shall be identical to physicals & over the documents of vehicle
5. Outside Sindh LAB verification report of frame number genuine / tampered
-

buy a vehicle which is registered in your province of residence, though tax payment is online however the vehicle transfers' now require biometrics of owner & buyer both.

@consigliori @krafiq @dayrider @waqasch1 @Sheryar @samiedogar @xzap042

[sardarg]

[JunaidDogar]

Stay away from auctioned and amnesty vehicles. Get the vehicle checked from AVLS/CPLC and if possible get a written confirmation from them.

Keep in mind old vehicles are frequently check/ stopped by customs, police etc.

[pwuser164749502960]

I am resident of Punjab and in case i plan to buy a Sindh registered vehicle, will i have to go to sindh / Karachi for transfer. Also, is there any annual certificate / filing for sindh vehicles online token tax?

[pwuser164749502960]

What are the risks in auctioned / amnesty vehicles. Aren't they supposed to be kind of more authentic or easily verifiable in terms of legality.

[consigliori]

Absolutely. Just to now add the other angle, Mehngaa roye ek baar sasta roye baar baar. There is no such thing as sastaa and miyari in the world of used vintage jeeps. If it's 2 good and reasonably priced, I can bet 11 years of ownership of 80 series that it's a fossil which can never be buried nor kept. Cheers

[consigliori]

Sindh has online tax payment for more than 3 years now......

[consigliori]

A guy from ACLC told me around 9 years back that Amnesty Scheme is very safe as the cars have had Lab test done. I am just saying what the sitting Inspector ACLC told me. For Auction, I don't know, some friends told me that it's safe, others tell me it's not can't comment on this ma man.

[pwuser164749502960]

As told in Top Gear, cheap and nasty & expensive but cheerful.

[dani_kk]

Please tell me which city vehicle you want to buy? And which vehicle you would prefer.

Because generally speaking of suv's won't allow us to help you to the exact details.

[pwuser164749502960]

I am in Islamabad / Rawalpindi and looking for a 4th Gen 4runner aka Surf preferably 3.4. Prices in Karachi are somewhat lucrative.

would appreciate if someone can help me with the location(s) of VINs on the 4runner body, as what i have seen in market is that body change is considered not that big of an issue by some of the seller.

[sardarg]

VIN is applicable over Canadian & US market., sometimes mentioned / visible over firewall spine under windscreen.

Asian Markets have Frame & engine number. Engine number is over engine block, while the frame number is over driver side chassis rail in body-over-frame. in unibody vehicles the frame number is sometimes punched under driver side seat rail rib. Please refer to the website for details

[pwuser164749502960]

So that means for asian market SUVs which have no VIN stamping on body, same generation and color body change would have no legal implication whatsoever.

[sardarg]

please make sure that you know what you are looking for and what you choose under normal legal frame work. a suv seller with connections to power corridors may have no issues with doctored vehicle compared to papers in possession. for him to twist arms when needed may not be an issue, but would you be able to handle such nuisance with family in vehicle right in middle of a highway snap checking? -

living under assumptions and hearsay is not wise speacially when such capital investment is at stake.

[pwuser164749502960]

So, as guided by you, all in all i must ensure following while buying SUV:

1) Must have import file
2) Frame and engine number must correspond to the file.
3) get the frame checked for tempering
4) vehicle should be free from body change issue
5) Original number plates
6) lab report

How do i check that SUV has original body.

[dayrider]

You will hardly ever get a body changed surf. So its a bit relaxed on that region. With that being said, before buying one, go to a showroom in g8 and sit in one. Surf has a unique driving position that doesn't appeal to many, one of the major reasons why it has a selective market

[pwuser164749502960]

I have driven 1996 to to 2000 3rd generation surf and i can perfectly relate to what you are saying about the driving position. Its like being a toddler sitting on the floor with both legs wide and toy in between with which he is playing.

4th gen surf position is somewhat better but definitely not like Prado.

[dayrider]

Whats your budget

[sufyan.j]

great analysis and good advise