Gyeonggi Province Conducts Crackdown on Approximately 21,100 Suspected Illegal Title Transfer Vehicles in Suwon and Other Cities

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] Gyeonggi Province conducted a crackdown on approximately 21,117 suspected illegal title transfer vehicles, commonly known as 'title-transfer cars,' that are operated without transfer of ownership or without liability insurance coverage.

As a result, delinquent taxes totaling 8.144 billion won were collected from delinquents in Suwon and other areas, and enforcement measures including license plate confiscation, compulsory towing, and public auction were implemented.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 20th, from March to October, in a joint operation by municipalities and counties, among vehicles with delinquent automobile taxes for one year or more, 21,117 suspected title-transfer vehicles were identified by cross-referencing liability insurance coverage through cooperation with the Insurance Development Institute.

The province encouraged payment of delinquent taxes from these suspected title-transfer vehicles and collected 8.144 billion won in delinquent taxes from 12,685 vehicles. For vehicles that could not be reached, measures were taken including license plate confiscation (1,150 vehicles), compulsory towing (47 vehicles), and public auction (80 vehicles). Remaining vehicles and related matters are under detailed investigation by municipalities and counties.

During the investigation, 110 vehicles confirmed to have no liability insurance coverage were issued operating suspension orders, as they may be used for criminal purposes.

In a major case, a vehicle (Genesis and others, 2 vehicles) owned by delinquent A, a resident of Suwon, had an operating suspension order received on the vehicle registration certificate since 2019. The Gyeonggi Province Regional Tax Delinquency Team, through early morning field visits over several days, confirmed the vehicle's location in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, and implemented compulsory towing followed by public auction.

The vehicle's possessor was confirmed to have illegally operated the vehicle without a change of ownership after purchasing it from a title-transfer car specialist dealer in Seoul in 2020.

In another case, the province confiscated the license plate of a vehicle owned by Corporation B, which had delinquent automobile taxes and other levies totaling 36 million won in Gapyeong County, and attempted to tow the vehicle the next day, but the vehicle disappeared.

Upon investigation by the province, the vehicle was concealed nearby by the creditor of the corporation's representative. The province located the vehicle and implemented compulsory towing and public auction measures.

Ryu Young-yong, head of the Gyeonggi Province Tax Justice Division, stated, "So-called 'title-transfer cars' can threaten the lives and safety of the public, and active management is necessary," and added, "I hope this crackdown has helped prevent various crimes in advance."