Used German cars increasingly sold to Lithuanian buyers: authority

VILNIUS, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- A number of imported used cars from Germany, which are considered as waste and can't be used on Lithuanian roads, significantly increased recently, Lithuania's state enterprise Regitra responsible for registering vehicles in the country announced on Monday.

According to a statement released by Regitra, Lithuanian buyers tend to be misled by a friendly price and good external condition of used German cars, however, it appears in Lithuania that the vehicle can't be used due to certain requirements.

"Most often we consider the vehicle inappropriate for exploitation or waste in cases when the car is crashed or mechanically irregular. However, some of the vehicles being transported from Germany to Lithuania might have perfect exterior and nevertheless, be not eligible for registration as they do not meet some standards, such as European Union's carbon emission standards," Darius Jurgutis, director of Regitra, was quoted as saying in the statement.

He warned Lithuanian buyers to be cautious, and underscored that cars, which are considered as waste, are being sold illegally.

According to existing law, vehicles considered as waste in Lithuania or other countries, can't be included into official Regitra's register.

Regitra, however, did not elaborate on specific figures, such as the number of cars considered as waste that have been transported from Germany to Lithuania.

According to Jurgutis, Regitra approached the German's Federal Transport Authority in order to exchange information on possible illegal activities in Germany's used car market.

Regitra advised Lithuanian drivers who plan to acquire a used German car to carefully evaluate the vehicle's documentation and follow certain rules which indicate that the car might be not eligible for exploitation.

Regitra operates under Lithuania's Ministry of the Interior. It keeps the registration of vehicles and vehicle drivers in the country. Enditem