Clear procedure for determining model year

Sections 8.0 to 8.4 of the Revised Motor Vehicle Import Policy read as follows:

8.0 APPROVED METHODS FOR DETERMINING MODEL YEAR

8.1 The ISO Standard

Where a manufacturer conforms to the international standard (ISO 3779-1983), the accepted method for determining the model year of a motor vehicle is based on the character (alphabetic or numerical) in the VIN that designates the year. This character indicating the year may be located at the eighth characters in the 14-character VIN, or the 10th character in the 17-character VIN.

Characters used for designation of the model year are:

Year Code Year Code Year Code Year Code

1971 1 1981 B 1991 M 2001 1

1972 2 1982 C 1992 N 2002 2

1973 3 1983 D 1993 P 2003 3

1974 4 1984 E 1994 R 2004 4

1975 5 1985 F 1995 S 2005 5

1976 6 1986 G 1996 T 2006 6

1977 7 1987 H 1997 V 2007 7

1978 8 1988 J 1998 W 2008 8

1979 9 1989 K 1999 X 2009 9

1980 A 1990 L 2000 Y 2010 A

8.2 The JIS Standard

For vehicles manufactured in Japan for the export market, the model year will be determined by the Japanese International Standard (JIS D-4901-1982).

8.3 Age Verification Manual

Where a vehicle is manufactured specifically for the Japanese domestic market and not intended for export, the manufacturer does not conform to the international export standard, therefore the model year of the vehicle will be based on the vehicle's serial number and determined by the Japanese Automobile Age Verification Manual.

8.4 Competent Authority

The Island Traffic Authority (ITA) is the competent authority for determining and adjudicating on matters relating to the model year of motor vehicles imported into Jamaica.

Where the ISO, JIS and Age Verification Manual are not applicable, the ITA may use any information available to them to determine a motor vehicle's year. This may include the make, model or other features as the ITA may consider relevant.

A Certificate of First Registration will not be accepted as proof of the "model year" of a vehicle.