PETALING JAYA: Used car dealers are seeking access to the Road Transport Department’s (JPJ) vehicle ownership database to verify information before buying and selling of vehicles.
Now that the Vehicle Ownership Certificate (VOC) has replaced the Vehicle Registration Card (RC), some of the information that was available on the RC, cannot be seen under the VOC.
VOC replaced the RC effective June 1.
Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Association of Malaysia (FMCCAM) president Datuk Tony Khor said the new VOC did not contain transaction records or bank ownership claims.
“The RC had clearly stated this information, so when car dealers are approached by potential sellers, the first thing we look at is the bank ownership claims to know where the car loan is from and how much more is owed.
“The new VOC does not have this, so we need to find other ways to get this information.
“How can we buy cars from a previous owner without determining this information beforehand?” he said in an interview yesterday.
Khor, however, was delighted with the JPJ’s transition from RC to VOC, saying that the new system allowed car dealers to transfer vehicle ownership online, instead of going to a JPJ office.
“All we need now is to appeal to JPJ to allow us to search the vehicle owners’ details online as well, using the MyKad and biometric system like in the JPJ offices,” he said.
Khor, while appreciative of the fast, paperless system, noted that the VOC also did not state road tax renewal information, thus slowing down transactions with banks and auto insurance companies.
“Banks and insurance companies need road tax renewal information, so when we submit the documents to banks for loan processing, we need to send a separate photocopy of the road tax document.
“Under the Hire Purchase Act, car dealers have to deliver vehicles to customers with the road tax included, otherwise the transaction is deemed incomplete,” he added.
Khor, who also had a meeting with JPJ director-general Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad yesterday, said Ismail had agreed to allow banks to verify ownership claims through Financial Information Services (FIS) online.
“Currently the process requires one working day, but we have put in a request to FIS to speed up the process so that it can be done on the same day,” said Khor.
The JPJ’s move to introduce the VOC “pink slip” to replace the old RC is being carried out in stages, beginning June 1 for new vehicle owners and new owners for vehicle ownership transfer.
From Sept 1, the VOC will be issued to vehicle owners renewing their road tax and those who update or amend vehicle information.
From January next year, the VOC will be issued to vehicle owners who voluntarily turn up at JPJ offices to change their RC.
The JPJ has stated that with the implementation of the VOC, it will clear the path to broaden the department’s online services, making future transactions easier and faster.
