PHILIPSBURG--Motor vehicles will be sporting aqua-green number plates in 2016. A total of 30,737 pairs of aqua-green plates have been ordered for next year. A total of 1,000 of the plates ordered are for bikes.
The plates have an aerial shot of St. Maarten in the background and bear the words “The Friendly Island” at the top and “St. Maarten” at the bottom. They are expected to arrive in time for the New Year.
Receiver Minerva Gumbs told The Daily Herald on Thursday that a total of 29,333 plates had been sold thus far for this year,
Motorists may be paying a higher road tax next year. Draft legislation has been submitted to Parliament to increase the annual motor vehicle tax by 18.18 per cent per category.
The draft legislation was prepared by the former Gumbs Cabinet. It proposes that the tax for motor vehicles with number plates M, P, SXM, MR (ministers) and PAR (Parliament), which currently stands at NAf. 275 for gasoline-operated vehicles, be increased to NAf. 325 and for diesel fuel-operated ones from NAf. 750 to NAf. 885.
It is proposed that the tax for vehicles with R (rental) plates that currently stands at NAf. 300 for gasoline-operated vehicles be increased to NAf. 355 and for diesel fuel-operated vehicles go up from NAf. 750 to NAf. 885 per annum.
The tax for vehicles with TAXI, BUS, G (group), or T (tour buses with 35 passengers or less) plates is proposed to be increased from NAf. 275 for gasoline-operated vehicles to NAf. 325 and from NAf. 550 to NAf. 650 for diesel fuel-operated vehicles.
Tax for vehicles with V and Z plates that weigh more than 3,500kg is proposed to go up from NAf. 1,250 to NAf. 1,475 per annum for gasoline- or diesel fuel-operated vehicles.
The tax for vehicles with V plates that weigh less than 3,500kg is proposed to go up from NAf. 275 for gasoline-operated vehicles to NAf. 325 and from NAf. 750 for diesel fuel-operated vehicles to NAf. 885.
The fee for MF (motorbike) plates is proposed to go up from NAf. 200 to NAf. 235 and MF (mopeds) is proposed to be increased from NAf. 50 to NAf. 60.
The draft legislation is proposed to be retroactive to January 1, 2016. It could not be ascertained whether the draft legislation will be handled in Parliament and when it is estimated to go into effect.
The price for the number plates is expected to remain the same at NAf. 12.50 for all types of vehicles and NAf. 7.50 for motorbikes.
