To regulate the land transport sector, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has laid out specific guidelines for vehicle rental companies, especially their contractual relationship with clients or customers.
The regulation stipulates that the operator of vehicle rental services must obtain an operating card for each vehicle in his fleet via the Naql platform and that the vehicle’s seats should not exceed eight, including the driver.
It also directs the company to provide enough workers to manage and supervise its activities.
The data regarding the lessee and the leased vehicle must be submitted to the Royal Oman Police (ROP); a mechanism must be in place to ensure that the lessee pays the financial fines incurred by him due to traffic violations. All documents related to transactions and general terms of the vehicle rental contract must be kept at a prominent place and in an orderly manner.
The operator must periodically inspect and maintain the vehicle and ensure its technical and operational readiness, save and report lost items left by their owners inside the vehicle and ensure that the lessee is able to pay the rental costs and holds a valid driver’s licence. They should ensure that fines incurred due to traffic violations are paid on time.
The regulation stresses the need to write the vehicle rental contract in Arabic, and it may be in English in addition to that. In the event of a dispute over the terms of the contract, the Arabic text shall prevail.
The licensee who is licensed to lease means of land transportation must include the lease contract in the name of the lessee, his ID number or passport, the driver’s licence, its issuance, and expiry date, the rental tariff, the general terms of the contract, the contract period, the place and time of delivery and return of the vehicle, the condition of the vehicle at the time of delivery, insurance and coverage of damages resulting from accidents, clarification if the agreement includes the use of the vehicle outside the Sultanate of Oman.
The agreement states that it is permissible for the customer to return the vehicle before the end of the contract term without charging the lessee the cost of the remaining period.
The ministry called on vehicle rental offices to urgently join the Naql platform to get the vehicle operating cards and abide by the requirements of the executive regulations of the Land Transport Law to avoid the violations stipulated in the mentioned regulation.
It has been conducting inspections on the activities of land transport of passengers and goods, whether owned by individuals or institutions, ensure the requirements of their practice and the issuance of vehicle operating cards and their validity as specified by the executive regulations of the Land Transport Law, and to take legal measures against violators.
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