AUTOVIN CERTIFICATE TO CONFIRM SEPARATION OF REGISTRATION NUMBER FROM VIN OF RE-REGISTERED VEHICLE

We so far can understand from the first part of this article (click here to read it)  that a person who purchased a locally used vehicle (or received the same as a gift) is not allowed by law to process its re-registration (such as change of ownership) documents using the License Plate of the previous owner.

Hence the need to remove the same registration number of the previous owner from VIN and other details (particulars) of the vehicle while updating all relevant databases with the same vehicle’s ownership history and more.

The removed (license plate) registration number earlier matching the VIN is replaced with another belonging to the current vehicle owner during the above mentioned update.

When all the above separation process has been carried out in a unified database system at the Lagos state Vehicle Inspection Service, AutoVIN Certificate to confirm the same and is a prerequisite before Certificate of Roadworthiness for the same vehicle to bear the name and (license plate) registration number of the current owner.

WHAT IF THERE IS NO AUTOVIN CERTIFICATE

The absence of AutoVIN Certificate simply implies that the stipulated re-registration process flow may have been compromised resulting that some database has not been updated as explained above which could result in the incident in our introduction story and more consequences which include but not limited to the following:

• Confusion during vehicle document electronic verification
• Traffic Camera misdirection of fine for traffic offense: based on above detecting license plate on a given vehicle and directing fine to another vehicle that previously used the license plate
• Misleading identification for those responsible for traffic offense and crimes
• Re-registration of stolen vehicle by scrupulous criminals
• Buy of stolen vehicles by unsuspecting public

THE COUPLE’S NARROW ESCAPE, SURVIVAL INSTINCT

The men of the arm forces were not satisfied with the stories of Mr. Samuel Okon purchasing the vehicle and processing Auto Re-registration (Change of Ownership) with consequent change of the vehicle’s registration number to the one on the license plate the police are seeing on the vehicle about 5 months ago earlier than 7 days ago the crime mentioned by the police took place.

They suspected amidst the glaring vehicle documents confirming the claims of the couple that they may have fraudulently changed the Number Plate for the purpose of the crime but luck was against them as their re-registration documents did not include AUTOVIN CERTIFICATE.

Furthermore, they argued that some vehicle owners after selling their vehicle do leave their License Plate in custody of the buyer to assist them to be driving temporarily with it before they could afford or find time to process the vehicle’s re-registration (change of ownership).

The Bride’s Intervention Inspired Possibly By Survival Instinct

The wife of Mr Samuel Okon at this point possibly by survival instinct presented an Alibi to the Police, a video from her phone confirming they (the couple) were in another state attending a function on the date of crime. They travelled with the same vehicle and hence, neither them nor their vehicle could have been the one caught by the security camera.

She was about to call their lawyer when the police suggested that that would not be necessary as they must have been already late for their wedding.

They were released after signing documents as their commitment to be available for further investigation on the matter if need be.

The couple met and joined the wedding programme half way but were very grateful to God for such great deliverance granted to them from the men of arm forces.

It was a narrow escape.

CONCLUSION

The Lagos State VIS will not carry out the separation of registration number from vehicle’s VIN in their unified database system without first confirming through appropriate documents already generated during same re-registration process that same separation process has been done in other relevant databases such Central Motor Registration (CMR) database, Autoreg database, etc, then followed with issuance of AUTOVIN CERTIFICATE to enable generation of Roadworthiness Certificate reflecting same separation as as earlier stated.

Always audit (check through) your documents after every vehicle re- registration to confirm that AutoVIN Certificate and other documents certify complete processing to avoid the above couple’s or similar experience.

Feel free to comment on how helpful you find this article.

P.S.

We are BEN’S AND BETHEL INTEGRATED CONCEPT (as well known as BBIC NG), a Corporate Client Representative, CR recognized and regulated by Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) of Lagos State Ministry of Transportation.

Click here to contact us for further enquiry or for your Auto Registration, Auto Re-registration, Vehicle Documents Renewals, Drivers Licence, and Motor Insurance needs.