Circular No. 53/2014/TT-BGTVT on technical maintenance and repair of road motor vehicles

CIRCULAR

Regulations on technical maintenance and repairfor road motor vehicles

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On the basis of Decree No. 86/2012/NĐ-CP dated October 19, 2012, issued by the Government detailing and guiding implementation of certain provisions of the Metrology Law;

Pursuant to Decree No. 107/2012/NĐ-CP dated December 20, 2012 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

The Minister of Transport issues this Circular amending and supplementing certain articles of Circular No. 29/2018/TT-BGTVT dated May 14, 2018, issued by the Minister of Transport on quality inspection, technical safety, and environmental protection for railway transportation vehicles, and Circular No. 18/2019/TT-BGTVT dated May 20, 2019, issued by the Minister of Transport guiding the implementation of Decree No. 139/2018/NĐ-CP dated October 8, 2018, of the Government on business operations of vehicle inspection services.

The Minister of Transport issues this Circular to regulate technical maintenance and repair of road motor vehicles.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

1. This Circular regulates technical maintenance (hereinafter referred to as maintenance) and repair of road motor vehicles (hereinafter referred to as motor vehicles) participating in road traffic.

2. This Circular does not apply to:

a) Motorcycles, motorbikes, tractors;

b) Motor vehicles used for national defense and security purposes by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Public Security.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals related to the use, maintenance, and repair of motor vehicles participating in road traffic.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Maintenance is preventive work carried out compulsorily after a certain operating cycle during exploitation according to the prescribed tasks to maintain the good technical condition of motor vehicles.

2. Maintenance cycle is the distance traveled or the period of operation between two maintenance sessions.

3. Repair involves activities or technical measures aimed at restoring the normal operational capability of motor vehicles by restoring or replacing parts, systems, or assemblies that have been damaged or show signs of damage.

Article 4. General Provisions on Maintenance and Repair of Motor Vehicles

1. Motor vehicles must maintain their functions and technical condition through compulsory maintenance or repair as required.

2. Before carrying out maintenance or repair, the vehicle must be inspected to determine appropriate solutions.

3. Motor vehicles must undergo maintenance when they reach the maintenance cycle as stipulated.

4. The maintenance cycle of motor vehicles must be established appropriately based on the manufacturer's requirements and the specific conditions of use (operating terrain, regional division, climate, technical requirements).

Chapter II

REGULATIONS ON MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Article 5. Regular Maintenance

1. Regular maintenance is performed daily or before, after, and during each trip.

2. Regular maintenance must be conducted by the vehicle owner or driver to ensure the technical condition of the vehicle before departure.

3. The content of regular maintenance is implemented according to the provisions set forth in Appendix I attached to this Circular.

Article 6. Periodic Maintenance

1. Periodic maintenance is carried out according to the maintenance cycle with different levels of maintenance.

2. Periodic maintenance is performed at maintenance and repair facilities according to the content and cycle as follows:

a) For motor vehicles with manufacturer specifications: Follow the manufacturer's specifications strictly;

b) For motor vehicles without manufacturer specifications: The maintenance and repair facility must develop maintenance content suitable for each type of vehicle. The maintenance cycle is carried out according to the provisions set forth in Appendix II attached to this Circular.

3. For specialized equipment installed on vehicles, the cycle and content of maintenance work for these systems and specialized equipment are determined based on usage characteristics and the manufacturer's instructions, apart from the components of motor vehicles regulated in this Circular.

4. After completing periodic maintenance on motor vehicles, technical staff of the maintenance and repair facility must conduct acceptance inspections to ensure the quality of the work.

5. Motor vehicles leaving the factory after periodic maintenance must have a handover record, clearly stating the warranty period and conditions for quality assurance after service. The warranty period shall not be less than two months or 1,500 kilometers driven, whichever comes first, calculated from the date of delivery upon factory release.

Article 7. Construction and management of regular maintenance procedures for motor vehicles

1. Maintenance facilities must base on the content and maintenance cycle to establish appropriate maintenance procedures.

2. Each step in the regular maintenance procedure must be carried out by technicians with suitable professional qualifications.

Article 8. Vehicle Inspection

1. Before and after conducting regular maintenance, there must be inspection records confirming the technical condition of the vehicle.

2. The results of regular maintenance by maintenance and repair facilities must be recorded in the Maintenance and Repair Logbook.

Article 9. Repair of Motor Vehicles

1. Motor vehicles that are damaged and do not meet safety and environmental protection standards must be sent for repair to continue participating in traffic.

2. Repairs must be carried out according to technical standards and requirements of the manufacturer.

3. After completing repairs and damage rectification, the maintenance and repair facility must inspect and test-run the vehicle to ensure stable and safe operation before allowing it to leave the workshop to participate in traffic.

4. The maintenance and repair facility is responsible for warranty on the repaired content for a minimum period of two months or 1,500 kilometers, whichever comes first, from the date of delivery of the vehicle upon leaving the workshop.

Chapter IV

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Article 10. Responsibilities of Transport Units, Vehicle Owners, and Drivers

1. Conduct inspections of the operational status of components, systems, and assemblies to ensure the technical safety and environmental protection of motor vehicles before participating in traffic.

2. Inspect and perform regular maintenance before and after each trip or daily operations to understand the technical condition of motor vehicles. Promptly identify and rectify any damages to ensure safe and stable operation of motor vehicles.

3. Fully comply with all contents stipulated in this Circular.

4. Monitor and adhere to maintenance cycles to maintain the technical condition of motor vehicles in accordance with technical standards when participating in road traffic.

Article 11. Responsibilities of Maintenance and Repair Facilities

1. Possess sufficient capacity and necessary equipment to ensure the quality of maintenance and repair work.

2. Develop and implement technical procedures for maintenance and repair suitable for different types of motor vehicles.

3. Ensure the quality of regular maintenance and repair of motor vehicles in compliance with technical standards on safety and environmental protection.

4. Use specialized equipment and advanced technical measures to ensure workplace safety and quality in maintenance and repair work.

5. Implement measures to recover and process waste and scrap materials (oil, grease, rubber, etc.) to prevent environmental pollution.

Chapter V

EFFECTIVE DATE AND IMPLEMENTATION

Article 12. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from December 1, 2014, and replaces Decision No. 992/2003/QĐ-BGTVT dated April 9, 2003, issued by the Minister of Transport on "Technical Maintenance Regulations and Automobile Repair."

Article 13. Implementation Organization

The Director of the Ministry's Office, the Inspector General of the Ministry, Heads of Departments, Directors of the Vietnam Highway Administration, Directors of the Vietnam Vehicle Inspection Agency, Directors of Provincial and Municipal Transport Departments under the Central Government, Heads of relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular./.