Attention those looking to sell a car: Some requirements for obtaining a vehicle sales authorization certificate have changed

With the regulation on the "Trade of Motor Land Vehicles" that was published in the Official Gazette and entered into force last week, the requirement to hold a business opening and operating license to obtain an authorization certificate has been abolished. So, what does this abolished requirement mean? Will anyone who wants to now be able to easily obtain an authorization certificate?

Speaking to Hürriyet regarding the matter, Hayrettin Ertemel, Chairman of the Board of the Istanbul Motor Vehicle Dealers Association, stated, "The requirement for a workplace opening license to obtain an authorization certificate was creating problems for our colleagues in this profession when accessing the certificate. There are 80 thousand dealers in Turkey who have made this their profession."

While approximately 40 thousand of these sellers hold an authorization certificate, about 40 thousand have been operating for years with temporary documents and were unable to obtain an authorization certificate, except for those on specialized vehicle sales websites. Now, the grievance here will be resolved, and these 40 thousand second-hand vehicle sellers will be able to obtain their authorization certificates,” he said.

Stating that conditions for second-hand vehicle dealers who have been waiting for their authorization certificates for a long time might be tightened after they receive them, Ertemel said, "In the next phase, various criteria will be introduced. With the conditions being made more difficult, not just anyone will be able to obtain an authorization certificate and sell vehicles. Those who truly practice this as a profession will be certified."

Aykut Bakşi, a member of the Board of Directors of the Marmara Motor Vehicle Dealers Association, summarized the situation by saying, "The Ministry of Trade has facilitated access to authorization certificates for those who wish to practice this profession by removing the requirement of 'possessing a business opening and operating license' from the conditions for obtaining an authorization certificate, in order to prevent informal trade and stop what is referred to as 'under-the-counter' trade. Commercial activities without an authorization certificate have been prohibited. With businesses being brought into the formal record, a major step has been taken in the fight against informal trade."