Sunday 30 / August / 2026
Muscat: Oman’s Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) has issued a new decision regulating the trading, sale, installation and use of used vehicle spare parts. The decision introduces a list of components prohibited from being sold or traded and strengthens warranty and disclosure requirements for consumers.
The decision applies to vehicle repair, maintenance, painting and bodywork workshops and centres, as well as businesses involved in trading used vehicle spare parts.
Under the new rules, suppliers are prohibited from trading in the used spare parts listed in the accompanying annex. The list includes safety- and performance-related components such as brake pads, brake linings, wheel hub bearings, clutch discs, spark plugs, air filters, and engine and gearbox oil filters.
The ban also covers certain components based on their period of use, including shock absorbers, engine mounts, gearbox mounts and catalytic converters that have been used for more than one year.
The decision requires suppliers to provide a warranty for used spare parts that are sold or installed, according to the terms agreed between the supplier and the consumer.
The warranty must cover defects arising from the part being unsuitable, failing to meet specifications, or not being fit for the agreed purpose.
During the warranty period, suppliers must, as applicable, repair the defect, replace the part or refund its value without imposing any additional financial costs on the consumer.
According to the new decision, suppliers must provide consumers with an invoice containing key information about the transaction.
The invoice must include the supplier’s name and commercial details, the name and description of the spare part and its source, as well as vehicle information including its type, year of manufacture and country of origin.
It must also state the total price, including installation costs, the warranty period, the condition of the part and any defects or damage, and the date on which the part was installed or the repair was carried out.
The new regulations also prohibit suppliers from starting repair work or replacing or installing any part without obtaining the consumer’s prior written approval.
The approval must specify the work to be carried out, the parts to be replaced, the type of spare parts to be installed, the repair cost and the estimated time required to complete the work.
If a supplier purchases a spare part from another supplier, the consumer must also be informed, with the supplier required to provide evidence of the purchase.
Violators may face an administrative fine of up to OMR 1,000, in addition to any criminal penalties provided for under Oman’s Consumer Protection Law. The administrative fine will be doubled in the event of a repeated violation.
If the violation continues, an additional administrative fine of up to OMR 50 per day may be imposed, provided that the total fines do not exceed OMR 2,000.
The annex to the decision lists 21 categories of used spare parts prohibited from trading, including:
- Shock absorbers used for more than one year
- Hydraulic suspension components
- Suspension bushes
- Engine mounts used for more than one year
- Gearbox mounts used for more than one year
- Body rubber mountings
- Half vehicle bodies
- Brake pads
- Brake linings
- Wheel hub bearings
- Front and rear engine bearings
- Cylinder head gaskets
- Engine gasket kits
- Axle protective rubber components
- Catalytic converters used for more than one year
- Engine oil filters
- Gearbox oil filters
- Engine air filters
- Spark plugs
- Central bearings
- Clutch discs
The measures are aimed at strengthening consumer protection in the vehicle repair and spare-parts sector by improving transparency, ensuring consumers are informed about the parts being installed, and establishing clear responsibilities for suppliers.
