10 Year-Old Renault Duster Diesel Seized; Owner Gets SUV Back From RTO: Here’s how he did it

We all are aware of the ban on diesel cars older than 10 years in Delhi. Over the recent months, we have heard numerous stories of cars getting snatched away from their owners. These cars, after being towed away, are scrapped. However, recently, a story of a determined owner of a Renault Duster has been shared online. He explained his side of the story where he successfully retrieved his car from the hands of the Delhi Municipal Authorities.

The Seizure of the 10-Year-Old Duster

This particular incident of a 10-year-old Renault Duster named Sandy being seized has been shared on Team BHP’s forum. The owner reported that his beloved silver Duster was seized and taken to the Nirvana Scrappers scrapyard in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. In his narration, he mentioned that the vehicle’s registration had expired.

Recovery Process

The owner of the car in his post explained the entire process of him successfully retrieving his car. He stated that because of Delhi’s policy against older diesel vehicles, after the seizure, he had to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 to the authorities.

He revealed that he first engaged with senior officers from both the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Transport Department. As per the owner, at the SDMC office, one of the MCD Administrative Officers provided him a patient hearing. This then led to the acceptance of his affidavit.

Following the submission of his affidavit, in the next 15 minutes of paying the fine, a release order was granted to him. He added that an officer from the Delhi Transport Department assured him that applying for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) later was possible.

Retrieval from Scrapyard

After finishing off the paperwork, the owner stated that he had to pay an additional Rs 2,500 for towing and Rs 6,400 in parking charges to the Nirvana Scrappers team. He then mentioned that he went to the scrapyard with his brother the next day.

In his post, the owner states that the entire process of retrieving the car took about 30 minutes. Following this, he was relieved to find his vehicle well-kept with no visible damage to the battery, chassis, or tires. After this, he expressed his gratitude to the Nirvana Scrappers team for their diligent care.

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

Reflecting on his experience, the owner has shared valuable advice with fellow vehicle owners from Delhi. He stated that car owners of such old vehicles should timely transfer their vehicles. He suggests that everyone should move their petrol or diesel vehicles out of Delhi before the registration expires, ideally six months in advance.

Next up, he stated that the owners of these old cars should apply for the NOC early by filling out Form 28 online. He added that it can be done by providing necessary documents like the vehicle’s registration certificate and the transferee’s Aadhaar card details. Lastly, he stated that owners should ensure the vehicle is transferred within 30 days of obtaining the NOC.

Policy Suggestions by the Owner of This Duster

The owner, although grateful to the authorities for their cooperation, stated that the government of Delhi can implement seizure notices on vehicle windshields. He stated that rather than immediately seizing the vehicle, they can give owners 4-6 weeks to remove their vehicles before they are scrapped.

He added that they can also develop an online platform for handling affidavits to ease the workload on the MCD. Apart from these suggestions, he added that the government should consider reducing parking fees to make them more affordable.

Lastly, he concluded by stating that more clear information on discounts for new vehicle purchases when old ones are scrapped should be provided by the Delhi government.