The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has proposed a waiver on penalties imposed on owners of automobiles whose vehicle inspection is 15 days overdue, due to major overloading at car registration centers.

Such vehicles are still allowed to travel to registration centers for inspections despite failing to meet the inspection deadline. However, they are not permitted to carry passengers or goods until an inspection is completed.

This is within a raft of measures recommended by the ministry to help facilitate automobile inspections as many registration centers nationwide have temporarily suspended operations due to violations or a pending investigation.

A number of automobile registration centers have recently experienced serious overloading, particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, after many others had their operations suspended. Some car owners have queued overnight in front of registration centers, while others have chosen to drive to neighboring localities to have their vehicles inspected.

Registration centers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City that are in operation can cater to just 40-50 per cent of demand.

The operations of 61 of 281 automobile registration centers around the country have been suspended as a result of violations.