(Photo for representation) 2001 Honda Accord
The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has issued a circular to insurance companies asking them to comply with a rule announced by the General Directorate of Traffic at the Ministry of Interior recently, making it mandatory for vehicles older than 15 years to have technical inspection every six months.
The Peninsula got a copy of the circular which says that the instruction is based on a letter sent by the Traffic Department. The circular says that vehicles which are older than 15 years must pass technical inspection every 6 months for five years. After this period, the inspection will be every four months for the next five years, and then every three months for the coming five years. This means that a 2001 model car, for instance, must undergo repeat technical inspection every six months, while a 1996 model vehicle must go for inspection every four months.
When contacted by The Peninsula yesterday, a source at the Traffic Department refused to give details about the circular but said that some "good" amendments in the decision would be announced shortly.
"People will be happy about the new changes," said the source. A source at a leading insurance company confirmed that the company received the QCB circular last month.
“Yes, we have received the circular from Qatar Central Bank and some vehicle owners have come to us to renew their insurance for six months period (as mentioned in the circular)," he said.
He, however, said that there are not many old vehicles falling in this category. “Only two or three such cases have come to us until now because the number of vehicles on the road that are older than 15 years is not high," he added.
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