The traffic police may confiscate from Russians a car imported through parallel imports
Buying a car imported into Russia through parallel import is fraught with a number of pitfalls, which the traffic police warns about. Particular attention should be paid to the SBCTS document – a certificate of safety of the vehicle design. Failure to complete this document correctly can lead to serious problems for the owner, including the seizure of the car.
The SBCTS is issued when importing a foreign car into Russia and is the basis for registering the car with the traffic police. Unfortunately, errors or irregularities are sometimes made during its execution. This may be due to deliberate actions of sellers, for example, underestimating the power of the car. As a result, the buyer faces problems during registration, obtaining license plates, and also during resale.
If violations are detected during a roadside check, a traffic police officer may cancel the title of such a vehicle and prohibit its operation in Russia. To correct the situation, you will need to obtain a new SBCTS document that complies with all the rules. Thus, when purchasing an imported foreign car, it is important to make sure that the SBCTS is completed correctly. Otherwise, due to the negligence or dishonesty of the seller, the new owner risks facing serious restrictions on the use of the car.
