Kolkata, Sept. 21 -- The West Bengal Transport Department has stopped renewal of sub-dealer licences where Form 16A is not enclosed and ordered immediate deactivation of the login credentials of sub-dealers who have not been awarded the certificate by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Form 16A is the dealership authorisation certificate issued by a vehicle manufacturer, certifying that a particular business has been appointed as its authorised dealer for the sale and service of its vehicles. The department has also directed such sub-dealers to return all vehicles in their possession to the concerned authorised dealer engaged by the OEM through Form 16A within seven days of the order.
The directives were issued after the department observed that vehicles sold by sub-dealers were being delivered to buyers without fixing High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) and before completion of the registration process.
The notification said the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, as amended in 2022, do not recognise the category of "sub-dealer". It also said a sub-dealer is not entitled to hold an independent trade certificate or trade registration mark merely by virtue of a licence under Rule 75(4) of the West Bengal Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
The department said the amended rules provide for a digital trade certificate exclusively for OEM-authorised dealers through Form 16A. Accordingly, renewal of sub-dealer licences will be stopped where Form 16A is not enclosed, while the login credentials of sub-dealers who have not been awarded Form 16A by the OEM will be deactivated.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.