Romania Auto Registry Says Blame For Used Cars Overload Misplaced

Romanian cars are thoroughly tested for technical requirements, and the Romanian Automobile Registry (RAR) even proposed checkups of cars over 7 years old be operated annually, but the authorities had no reaction to the proposition, RAR said Tuesday.

The authority said in reply to accusations launched by Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu that the Ministries of Finance, Transportation and Environment failed respond to RAR's proposition to set up yearly tests for old cars.

On Monday, Tariceanu said he will have the transportation minister verify whether RAR observes test requirements of used cars, following information that the authority issued conformity certificates for technically unfit cars.

However, RAR officials said the institution cannot be blamed for the imports of old used cars.

"It is not our fault that so many junk cars are imported. It wasn't RAR the institution that made the tax (environment tax - e.n.) as it is," RAR spokeswoman Lorena Stroe said.

Romania's Government plans to suspend for three to six months the pollution tax for the acquisition of new cars in order to limit the imports of used cars.

Mediafax