Motorists’ club want car taxation reduced

A collection of signatures for a petition to reduce vehicle taxation will start on Thursday evening at the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa, in the course of the first even annual general meeting of the Malta Automobile Club.

"Vehicle taxation in Malta as a percentage of total taxation is the highest among the 27 EU Member States, and the Club believes there is no justification for such a high burden on car owners and drivers," MAC spokesperson Alfred Farrugia said.

In its petition, the MAC is requesting that the vehicle registration tax be reduced to 10% of the car pre-tax price, if not completely abolished - as had been proposed in several European Commission proposals.

The MAC is also requesting that the Annual Circulation Tax (ACT), or annual circulation licence fees be considerably reduced where they are too high. "There are cases where the local vehicle licence fee is 10 times of what is paid overseas, and it keeps increasing, while the foreign ones are constant. The environment cannot be used as an excuse for excessive and double taxation. Strict emissions tests should be enough to protect the environment. Air pollution from the energy and construction sectors is more pronounced than from the transport sector," Farrugia said.

The MAC also said that the level of car tax was not translating itself in better roads. "It is not known what is happening with €92 million that Transport Malta collects from vehicle registration tax, the annual circulation licence fees, driving licences, and number plate fees, that are not spent on road construction and improvements."

Apart from the petition to reduce vehicle taxation, the Malta Automobile Club will be discussing its plans to introduce driver education for young drivers, based on the most recent publications of the American Automobile Association (AAA).

The Club will also be discussing how senior citizens could be supported to drive safer and longer. "Thousands of Maltese residents abroad drive safely and in accordance with the regulations. So there is nothing to stop Maltese drivers to drive properly at home. The Malta Automobile Club wishes to give it contribution to bring a safer and higher standard of driving on our roads," Farrugia said.

Car owners and drivers who are interested in the petition to reduce vehicle taxation, and in a better and safer driving environment in Malta, are invited to participate in the Club's General Meeting on Thursday evening at the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa, starting at 6.30 pm.

The personal data of those signing the petition will be exactly the same as the data requested by the European Parliament when submitting a petition. This will make it easier for the MAC to submit the petition to the European Parliament if no progress is achieved within a reasonable time.

https://www.secure.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/petition.html