Motorbike owners that have not transferred the ownership of their vehicles will face a fine of VND100,000 (USD4.47) to VND400,000 starting from 2017.

Starting from January 1, individuals will face VND100,000-200,000 fine and organisations will be fined VND200,000-400,000 for failing to transfer their vehicles' ownership. Car owners will face fines of VND2m-4m.

The Traffic Police Department has asked authorities at all levels and the media to convey the information to the public.

Decree 15 issued in April 2015 by the Ministry of Public Security states that individuals or organisations who have motorbike, three-wheeled or electric bikes sold or given to them but change of ownership hadn't been completed must complete the procedure by the end of December 31, 2016.

The Traffic Police Department also asked vehicle registration agencies worldwide to speed up the process.

The decision to fine owners who fail to transfer vehicle ownership was proposed in 2012 with fines as high as VND1m (USD45) for motorbike owners and VND8m for car owners. Another decree issued in 2013 lowered the fines to VND200,000 and VND4m. According to Colonel Dao Vinh Thang, head of Hanoi traffic police, the move is expected to help aid criminal investigations, especially traffic accidents, and tighten traffic and road management.

However, the proposal was met with opposition. Many people who oppose the regulation said that there was no laws that demand the driver's name and the name on the certificate must be the same. In 2013, former Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang decided to withdrew the proposal.

Dtinews