Salvage title vehicles - those are the damaged ones bought on the cheap at US auctions and brought down to Belize to be sold by local pre-owned car dealers. These vehicles comprise a shocking number of cars, trucks and fancy SUV's which you see on the road daily. And they also populate the fleets of a good number of car rental agencies. We asked the Tourism Minister about it - and he said salvage vehicles should not be on the road:
Jules Vasquez
"So you spoke about car rentals. You know we have a curious situation in our country - and Mr Menzies will know this well - where at least 66% of the vehicles are salvaged titles. We are a dumping ground for America's salvaged vehicles, many of these salvage title vehicles make it into the fleet of rental vehicles and I've seen on one or 2 occasions we have had one spontaneously combust. The other day on John Smith road there was another fire as well. These are the things that happen from time to time with salvaged titles. It is a huge problem and it starts at the licensing stage. You know it is not a simple problem to take on because these salvage title vehicles are everywhere. Explain to me if you could fix it, is it something worth attempting to make sure vehicles in rental fleets are original owners?"
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations
"I think so, I think so a lot of those vehicles are not road worthy or should not be on the road, and so we have to if we want to continue to grow and develop as an industry and as a nation then we have to do the right things and I don't think any salvaged vehicle should be used as an auto rental none, and that is my personal view now that is going to take some time for that to be adjusted because it has been a long standing practice but I dont think salvaged vehicles should be on the road."
