Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 24: Karnataka has increasingly become a dumping yard for luxury cars from Delhi that are nearing their legal operational limit. Due to severe air pollution, Delhi mandates a 10-year lifespan for diesel vehicles and 15 years for petrol. This has resulted in high-end brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Jaguar, and Fortuner being sold in Karnataka for as little as Rs 12 to 25 lac.

While residents in Delhi are forced to scrap or sell these vehicles after a decade, Karnataka and several other states allow vehicles to ply for up to 15 years. Capitalising on this, hundreds of middlemen purchase these cars in Delhi at near-scrap prices and transport them to the state.

After obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Delhi, brokers move these vehicles to major cities like Bengaluru. Once they arrive, photos and videos are flooded across social media and online marketplaces. Car enthusiasts in Karnataka are often lured by the prospect of owning a luxury vehicle originally worth Rs 1 crore to Rs 2.5 crore for a mere Rs 12 to 25 lac.

The secondary market for Delhi-registered cars is fraught with risks. Allegations of odometer tampering are rampant, where mechanics help brokers make a car that has run 5 lac km appear as though it has only covered 1 lac km. Additionally, there are organized rackets involved in fitting fake number plates, altering chassis numbers, and creating forged documents for stolen vehicles. 

Unsuspecting customers, particularly in rural parts of the state, often fall prey to these scams. Experts warn that unless buyers are extremely vigilant with document verification, they run a high risk of being cheated or purchasing a mechanically unsound vehicle.

There is significant demand for brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Scorpio, Fortuner, Rolls-Royce, Range Rover, and Land Rover Discovery. Following these luxury brands, there is also a steady market for older models of Innova, Maruti Suzuki, and Hyundai. While Bengaluru serves as the primary hub for this trade, cities like Mangaluru, Mysuru, Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Ballari are also seeing a surge in sales.

Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy commented on the trend, stating, "Second-hand cars from Delhi are being sold in Karnataka because they cannot be used there after 10 years. However, strict action will be initiated if any instances of creating fake documents for such sales are discovered."