An optional scheme through which high emission vehicles to be used only on weekends and holidays would pay a reduced registration tax has been launched by Transport Malta.

The scheme was announced in the last budget.

The authority said today it would be receiving applications to register high emission vehicles and motorcycles to be used during weekends and public/national holidays only.
Through the scheme, such vehicles would only pay 40 per cent of the full registration tax. The annual circulation licence fee would be paid annually in full.

The scheme was also intended at vehicle enthusiasts who wanted to register high end vehicles, which would normally be high powered and with high emissions, to be used exclusively on weekends and public holidays.

Enthusiasts who only used their cars for particular occasions, events or shows would also benefit from the new scheme.

Such vehicles would be registered and licensed through the normal system, but the registration plates would be red to differentiate from the current fleet.

The scheme was open for vehicles used for the carriage of persons and which might carry up to eight people apart from the driver.

Vehicles registered under this scheme must be garaged and may not be used and/or parked on the public roads Mondays to Fridays.

To deter abuses, the scheme included penalties for vehicle owners caught driving such vehicles Mondays to Fridays. The fines could amount to double the registration tax with a minimum of €2,500 together with the registration tax due.

Applications for such schemes are available from the Vehicle Licensing Unit, Hornsworks Ditch, Floriana.