CIRCULAR

REGULATING TECHNICAL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF ROAD VEHICLES

Pursuant to the Law on Road traffic dated November 13, 2008;

Pursuant to Decree No. 107/2012/ND-CP dated December 20, 2012 of the Government defining the functions, tasks, entitlements and organizational structure of the Ministry of Transport;

At the request of Director General of Science and Technology and Director of Vietnam Register,

Minister of Transport promulgates Circular regulating technical maintenance and repair of road vehicles.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope

1. This Circular regulates technical maintenance (hereinafter referred to as maintenance) and repair of road vehicles (hereinafter referred to as vehicles) on road traffic.

2. This Circular does not apply to:

a) Motorcycles, mopeds, tractors;

b) Vehicles used for national defense and security of Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Public Security.

Article 2. Regulated entities

This Circular applies to organizations or individuals related to the use, maintenance and repair of vehicles on road traffic.

Article 3. Interpretation of terms

In this Circular, the following terms are construed as follows:

1. Maintenance means predetermined preventive works that have to be performed after a certain operating interval in order to maintain the best technical conditions of vehicles.

2. Maintenance interval means distance interval or time interval between two times of maintenance.

3. Repair means every technical activity or method to restore normal working capacity of vehicles by recovering or replacing parts, systems, components that have been damaged or likely to be damaged.

Article 4. General regulations on maintenance and repair of vehicles

1. Vehicles must have their technical features and conditions maintained through mandatory maintenance tasks or requested repair.

2. Vehicles must be examined in order to give suitable solution before maintaining or repairing.

3. Vehicles must be maintained after every maintenance interval as prescribed.

4. Vehicle maintenance interval must be determined on the basis of the requirements of manufacturers and their operating conditions (terrain of operation, territory zones, climate, and technical requirements).

Chapter II

REGULATIONS ON MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF VEHICLES

Article 5. Regular maintenance

1. Regular maintenance must be performed daily or before, after and during every trip.

2. Regular maintenance must be performed by the vehicle owner or driver to ensure technical conditions before starting.

3. Regular maintenance tasks are specified in Appendix I issued together with this Circular.

Article 5. Periodic maintenance

1. Periodic maintenance must be performed in accordance with maintenance interval with different maintenance levels.

2. Periodic maintenance must be performed at repair shops as follows:

a) If maintenance instructions are provided by the manufacturer, such instructions shall be complied with;

b) If manufacturer’s instructions are not available: Repair shops must have maintenance tasks suitable for each type of vehicles. Maintenance interval must be performed in accordance with Appendix II issued together with this Circular.

3. For specialized equipment installed in the vehicles, the determination of maintenance interval and tasks for specialized systems and equipment besides the parts defined in this Circular shall be based on the usage characteristics and instructions of manufacturers.

4. After finishing periodic maintenance for vehicles, technical officers of repair shops shall carry out an inspection to ensure work quality.

5. There must be a maintenance completion note which specifies warranty terms and warranty period after maintenance is completed. The warranty period shall be at least 02 months or 1,500 km, whichever comes first, from the date on maintenance completion.

Article 7. Planning and management on periodic maintenance procedures of vehicles

1. Repair shops shall base on maintenance tasks and interval to develop suitable maintenance procedures.

2. Every step in maintenance procedures must be performed by technicians with appropriate qualifications.

Article 8. Check on vehicles

1. There must be a record on inspection and confirmation of technical conditions before and after performing periodic maintenance.

2. The results of periodic maintenance must be recorded in the maintenance and repair booklet.

Article 9. Repair of vehicles

1. Vehicles which break down or do not ensure technical safety and environmental safety must be repaired before they are allowed on public roads.

2. The repair must be performed in accordance with technical regulations and standards and requirements of manufacturers.

3. After finishing repairing damage of vehicles repair shops shall examine and test run the vehicles, ensure the stable and safe operation of vehicles before allowing them to be used on public roads.

4. Repair shops are responsible for the warranty of repair tasks in a period of at least 02 months or 1,500 km, whichever comes first, from the date on maintenance completion.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 10. Responsibilities of transportation agencies, vehicle owners, drivers

1. Examine conditions of parts, systems, components to ensure technical safety and environmental safety of vehicles before moving on road traffic.

2. Carry out inspections and maintenance regularly before and after every trip or after each day of operation to know well about technical conditions of vehicles. Promptly detect and repair the damage, ensure the operation stability and safety of vehicles.

3. Adequately implement the tasks defined in this Circular.

4. Stick to the maintenance schedule in order to maintain technical conditions of vehicles consistent with technical regulations and standards when moving on road traffic.

Article 11. Responsibilities of maintenance and repair affiliates

1. Have full competence and necessary equipment to ensure the quality of maintenance and repair work.

2. Develop and follow procedures for maintenance and repair consistent with each type of vehicles.

3. Satisfy the quality of periodic vehicle maintenance and repair in conformity with technical regulations and standards of technical safety and environmental protection.

4. Use specialized equipment and advanced technical methods to ensure labor safety, quality in vehicle maintenance and repair work.

5. Take measures to collect and dispose of waste and scrap (fats, oils, rubber…), ensure not to cause environment pollution.

Chapter V

EFFECT AND IMPLEMENTATION

Article 12. Effect

This Circular takes effect on December 01, 2014 and replaces Decision No. 992/2003/QD-BGTVT dated April 09, 2003 of Minister of Transport promulgating “Regulations on technical maintenance and repair of automobiles”.

Article 13. Implementation

Chief of the Ministry Office, Chief of Ministry Inspector, Directors, General Director of Directorate for Roads of Vietnam, Director of Vietnam Register, Director of Department of Transport of provinces, Heads of related agencies, organizations and individuals shall implement this Circular ./.

APPENDIX I

REGULAR MAINTENANCE TASKS
(Issued together with Circular No. 53/2014/TT-BGTVT dated October 20, 2014 of the Minister of Transport)

REGULAR MAINTENANCE CONTENT

1. Checking before starting

a) Before starting the engine

- Check the outside conditions of vehicle, number plate, devices together with vehicle, fire-extinguisher, emergency hammer, documents and other equipment;

- Check the outer sides of tires, tire pressure, wheel installment (including those of spare tires);

- Check engine coolant, glass cleaner, fuel, engine oil, air compressor, air filter, and belt;

- Check electrical wires, power generator, starter, rechargeable battery (refill the water if needed);

- Check the alignment of parts, pipes;

- Check the travel of the steering wheel, clutch pedal, and brake pedal.

a) After starting the engine

- Listen to know normal operation of the engines and related systems;

- Check the operation and indicated value of meters, indicator lights on the dashboard;

- Check the operation of the footbrake and handbrake;

- Check the conditions and the operation of front lights, signal lights, brake lights, windshield wipers, windshield washer;

- Observe the chassis to detect the leak of liquid, compressed air.

2. Checking when starting and while driving on public roads

a) When the vehicle starts moving

Check the operation of the clutch, brake, steering wheel.

b) While driving

- Pay attention to the sounds coming from the engine, moving systems and bodywork, barrel to promptly detect strange noises;

- Keep track of the indicators of meters, signal lights;

- Pay attention to the operation of footbrake and steering system.

3. Checking and maintaining after the trip

- Clean the outside and under the chassis of vehicle to detect any damage after the operation;

- Check the level of fuel, engine oil, engine coolant, glass cleaner (refill if needed);

- Check the tires, tire pressure (including that of spare tires);

- Check the alignment of suspension system, cross drive shaft (propeller shaft); tighten wheel nuts, differential gears, and navigation gears;

- Check the fan blades, belts;

- Check the connector of pipes;

- Check the steering axis, the travel of the steering wheel, clutch pedal, and brake pedal.

- Check the operation of footbrake and handbrake;

- Check the conditions of front lights, signal lights, brake lights, windshield wipers, windshield washer.

APPENDIX II

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
(Issued together with Circular No. 53/2014/TT-BGTVT dated October 20, 2014 of the Minister of Transport)

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE FREQUENCY

Notes:

1. Periodic maintenance interval is defined by distance interval or time interval, whichever comes first.

2. The value of time interval or distance interval is the maximum value for vehicle to be maintained periodically.

3. Small value in periodic maintenance interval shall apply to commercial vehicles, vehicles running in highlands, islands; large value shall apply to non-commercial vehicles, vehicles running in lowlands.

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