Cuttack: Automobile dealers cannot charge any amount from a customer without giving a proper receipt. An order on this effect has been issued to all the RTOs with an instruction to take action against the defaulting dealers.
In a press note, State Transport Authority, Odisha has informed that starting Jan 1st, 2022, Odisha Transport Department is issuing Driving License and Registration Certificate of vehicles in digital mode. Resultantly, the fee of registration of vehicles payable by the purchaser has been reduced from Rs.282 to Rs.140 vide Commerce & Transport (Transport) Department Notification No.10900/T dtd.21.12.2021. However, it is learnt that some dealers are not passing on this benefit to the customers and continue to charge the earlier fees. Therefore this order has been issued.
It has been alleged that some vehicle dealers are charging extra amount from customers who are buying two or four-wheelers. The government charges only registration and the tax amount for new vehicles and hence, distributors should charge only that and not take any extra amount in the name of handling charges etc. If they need to charge any amount for a value-added service a proper receipt has to be issued for the same.
The order further says that it is mandatory for all the dealers to display details of payment to be made by purchasers for each category of the vehicle on a notice board on a conspicuous place in their showroom clearly visible to customers. It should be mentioned on the board that no extra payment need to be made other than the ones mentioned on the display board.
All the charges whether essential or optional must be clearly mentioned on the display board. For all charges so taken the dealer must issue a receipt.
The RTOs will inspect the automobile showrooms to ensure that they have complied with the above instructions on the notice board/display board.
