Vehicles in the Kingdom are required to undergo the Motor Vehicles Periodic Inspection (MVPI) to determine their road fitness and guarantee safety for the motorists, their families and other road users. The inspection is done prior to renewing the vehicle’s road license as per traffic department regulations.

The test costs SR73 and in case of failure, the inspector will determine the parts that need changing in the vehicle and ask the driver to return for another MVPI which will cost only SR25 the second time.

However, unscrupulous automobile repair shop owners located near the MVPI station, seeing an opportunity to make a profit are charging double the rates and fixing vehicles using their own techniques instead of changing the defective car parts.

The MVPI management, noting the foul practice has placed a notice warning motorists not to be fooled by individuals standing just outside the office.

In Riyadh, it is common practice for expatriates working in automobile shops on the Dammam Road to try and stop vehicles even before they can enter the MVPI premises.

Witnesses say that they approach motorists aggressively and the competition is fierce with different repair shop workers claiming that they can do a better job at fixing the vehicle quickly.

Arab News visited the site yesterday to check out the complaints of several motorists. A foreigner, who did not wish to be named, told the daily that his vehicle failed the first test as his front shock absorbers and suspension were damaged.

“When I tried to leave the station, a group of workers surrounded me belligerently offering their services,” he said. He added that he preferred to go to a Filipino mechanic instead. But when it came to negotiating the payment for his services, the worker had to refer to his Yemeni supervisor who has the final word on the price.

“The total cost came to SR400 for less than an hour’s work in addition to another SR400 for the parts that I had to purchase from the same shop,” the foreigner told Arab News.

According to an economist, the workers take advantage of the motorist’s situation by doubling the price knowing that he needs to have his car fixed by a certain date.

When Arab News asked about the legal status of the workers in the automobile repair shops and whether the police patrol did their rounds in the area, they were told that the patrols were very infrequent.

However, the worker they spoke to said: “Since I have an Iqama with my profession and I am working with my sponsor, I have nothing to worry about.”