The motorcycle cylinder game

The Ministry of Treasury and Financehas set its sights on motorcycle engine displacements. It has emerged that a customs scheme that defies belief lies behind this.

According to a report by Neşe Karanfil from Hürriyet,some motorcycles on the market with 125cc engine displacements are being imported with engine displacements under 50cc. While information indicates that these vehicles are imported into Turkey as motorcycles with engine displacements under 50cc, it was noted that parts such as piston kits and cylinders, which would increase the motorcycle's capacity above 100cc, are imported separately. It was pointed out that technical modifications, such as assembly and upgrades, are subsequently performed on the vehicles through unofficial methods to increase their engine displacement.

It was emphasized that since motorcycles under 100cc are not subject to Motor Vehicle Tax (MTV), sales are being made in the market through this scheme.

UPGRADES ARE BEING PERFORMED

The Ministry of Treasury and Finance, which has been conducting intensive audits on issues such as IBAN payments and low VAT for some time, has now focused on the issue of motorcycles being imported with low engine displacements. Sources emphasized that the Ministry of Treasury and Finance is determined to prevent these vehicles from being offered for sale on the market through engine displacement increases via 'upgrades.' Furthermore, it was stated that the practice of importing motorcycles under 50cc and then increasing them to over 100cc through simple upgrades before putting them on the market is a method known to players in the motorcycle industry.

NEITHER INSURANCE NOR MTV

One of the most important reasons why motorcycles with an engine displacement of 50cc or less are preferred is that these vehicles are not subject to mandatory traffic insurance. According to sources who spoke to Hürriyet, the Motor Vehicle Tax (MTV) legislation also does not cover motorcycles under 100cc. These two factors lead to these vehicles being sold at prices below the market average. Sources stated that the limited scope of inspections during vehicle check-ups for these motorcycles, which can also be ridden with a Class B driver's license, makes it difficult to detect updates to the cylinder displacement, commenting, "This is why they are preferred more."

MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN, INSPECTIONS WILL BE INCREASED

According to the information provided, the process of increasing a motorcycle imported with an engine displacement under 50cc to a 125cc capacity is not performed by authorized personnel. Pointing out that the relevant authorities are bypassed, sources emphasized that these operations are unregistered. It was noted that these motorcycles appear as under 50cc in both their type approval certificates and traffic records, highlighting that illegal income is being generated. Sources stated that all necessary measures will be taken and inspections will be increased by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, warning, "Thus, in order to put an end to illegal practices, criminal proceedings will be applied to those who import them, those who perform the conversions without reporting them, and the motorcycle owners who have this done."