Ministry conducts strict audit of automotive market following SCT hike: 103 million TL in fines issued

The Ministry of Trade has announced that it is closely monitoring price movements in the automotive market following the recent changes to Special Consumption Tax (SCT) rates. The Ministry stated that regulations and audits are being carried out with determination to maintain a fair and competitive market structure in motor vehicle trade.

In its statement, the Ministry emphasized that strict investigations are being conducted against manipulative price increases and market-disrupting activities, and that administrative fines are being imposed for identified violations. Furthermore, it was stated that various measures have been taken to prevent informal trade and protect consumer rights.

It was reiterated that second-hand vehicle trading can only be conducted by businesses holding an authorization certificate and that the sale of more than three vehicles within a year is considered a commercial activity. In this context, it was reported that a total of 103 million lira in fines was issued to 220 individuals trading without an authorization certificate. It was noted that citizens can report unauthorized activities via e-Devlet.

It was recalled that excessive price increases in the sector were curbed through the 6-month/6,000-kilometer restriction and advertisement price limitations introduced against practices such as price manipulation and hoarding that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced that a total of millions of lira in fines were issued to dealerships and galleries that violated these regulations.

It was stated that fraud risks in second-hand vehicle sales have been eliminated through the Secure Payment System created in cooperation with the Turkish Notaries Union. Additionally, it was noted that identity and authorization verification has been made mandatory with the Electronic Advertisement Verification System (EİDS), preventing unauthorized galleries from posting advertisements.