Second-hand cars in Fiji becomes expensive after ban on cars older than 5 years
The decision by the Fiji government to ban the import of motor vehicles which are more than five years old is a good initiative but cars have become expensive, says the Consumer Council of Fiji chief executive Premila Kumar. Ms Kumar said the council has received many complaints from consumers regarding the second-hand car dealers. She claimed that second- hand car dealers sold cars that were more than 15- years - old. ” They sell it at exorbitant prices and consumers end up paying more on repairs, ” Mrs. Kumar said. Her comments come as a second- hand car dealers association stated that the business of members would collapse unless the interim Government stepped in to help them. The 22- member industry has seen five members close shop since November. Fiji Motor Traders Association president Ajay Lal said the five - year age ban was not necessarily the sole reason for the slump in sales of used cars. “There are close to 2,000 second - hand vehicles available in dealers’ display yards ready for sale but the question is, where is the customer? “There are less and less people in the market for used cars due to the general state of the market,” Mr. Lal said. Mr. Lal said the general age of cars imported into Fiji was very old & probably averaging 13 years.