AIA: Calls on Lebanese Authorities to Enforce the Law and Ban the Importation of Unroadworthy Vehicles

The Association of Automobile Importers (AIA), which includes accredited representatives in Lebanon for all automotive manufacturers worldwide, urgently calls on the relevant Lebanese authorities — particularly the Directorate General of Customs and the Ministry of Economy and Trade — to strictly apply Article 348 of the Lebanese Traffic Law, which prohibits the importation of unroadworthy vehicles (such as damaged ones), as well as the importation of half-cut vehicles (whether front or rear sections).

A significant number of vehicles imported into Lebanon have been involved prior to importation in major accidents such as collisions or submersions, making their importation prohibited as they constitute a risk to public safety and to the rights and safety of consumers.

In this context, AIA calls for full compliance with the provisions of the above-mentioned law, which stipulates the necessity of thorough inspection of all vehicles prior to their entry into Lebanon. The association reminds that, until private mechanical inspection centers are established at all sea and land border entry points to verify vehicles’ compliance with specifications, all importers must present both the vehicle's registration certificate and a certificate from a mechanical inspection center in the country of export. This certificate must not be dated more than two months prior to the actual shipping date, confirming the vehicle’s roadworthiness.