Vehicle seized in Turkey due to theft and ‘change’ suspicions

Gökberk Arabacılar, a resident of Kocaeli, had his vehicle seized by law enforcement nine months after purchasing it through a legal trade-in and notary sale. Despite completing all official procedures, including paying motor vehicle taxes and passing technical inspections, the vehicle was confiscated due to suspicions that it is a ‘change’ vehicle (a vehicle with altered identification) and potentially stolen.

Arabacılar reported that the vehicle, a 2000 model BMW 5.20, had been used for months without issue. He noted discrepancies in the vehicle's recorded color, stating that while the registration lists it as grey, the physical color is also a point of investigation. The owner expressed significant distress, noting that he is unable to use the vehicle for transportation or recover his investment while the case awaits criminal examination in Bursa.

Sami Tarcan, an auto expertise official, explained that a ‘change’ refers to alterations made to the chassis number area, noting that such legal disputes typically proceed through the court system.