Dozens of cars imported into Bermuda breach regulations restricting the size of vehicles allowed on the road, transport authorities have discovered.

But Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell has assured owners of the 2014 Jeep Compass that their cars will not be seized, and that Government is working with the importer “to rectify the situation”.

Older models of the Compass do comply with vehicle size regulations, but authorities have now found that the 2014 model has a redesigned bumper that extends the length and width of the car.

The new model is 176 inches long and 71.4 inches wide, exceeding the statutory limits of 175 inches 71 inches.

Minister Crockwell said: “Some of the vehicle owners have raised concerns that they may face enforcement action against their vehicles which are larger than currently permitted on Bermuda roads.

“However, I can assure these owners that we are working with the importer to rectify the situation.”

He added that it has been standard practice for dealers to provide Transport Control Department officials with brochures for the current models of a vehicle being imported, but the last brochure received for the Compass was in 2011.

“Although typically the specifications were the same for models previously imported, we have learned from this experience, subsequent models can now differ enough from prior year models that they no longer comply with Bermuda’s licensing requirements,” he said.

“This practice of allowing previously approved vehicles to be imported will now cease and every application for vehicle importation will be assessed based on the particular model.”

Yesterday Richard Davidge of Prestige Autos, the car dealership that imported the Compass, said all 30 cars had been sold and were now on the road.

Mr Davidge also pointed out that although the 2014 Compass had been given a number of aesthetic upgrades to differentiate it from older cars, it was not a new model.

It was therefore assumed that its specifications were the same as earlier cars that did meet Bermuda’s size requirements.

“This isn’t a new model and in fact the vehicle looks exactly the same as earlier versions apart from some minor changes — such as new wheel chrome,” Mr Davidge said.

“But there was nothing to indicate that the front bumper had increased in size and there was no mention of it in the manufacturer’s specs so nobody knew about it.”

Mr Davidge added that he would not be importing any more Compass cars unless future models are brought back down to size.

“We are the only jurisdiction in the world that has these size regulations,” he said. “The manufacturer is aware of these restrictions, but considering Bermuda is such a small market, I don’t know if they will change back to the smaller version just for us.”