Over 3,500 new vehicle licences in second quarter

Cars remain the main means of transport for many Maltese and in fact a total of 3,521 new vehicle licences were issued in the second quarter of this year, according to the National Statistics Office.

At the end of June the stock of licensed motor vehicles (all types) stood at 274,355, with 75.5 per cent of them being private vehicles.

The stock of self-drive cars increased by 403 vehicles over the first quarter of the year but showed a decrease of 89 vehicles when compared to the same period last year.

Private vehicles accounted for 2,438 new licences, or 69.2 per cent of the total. In the quarter under review, private vehicles falling within class 1 (under 1300cc) registered the highest increase.

This class also accounted for 1,605 new licences in April and June while vehicles in class 2 (1301-1449 cc) accounted for 334.

Compared to the first quarter, the total number of newly licensed motor vehicles registered a significant increase of 221, or 10 per cent.

The total number of newly licensed used motor vehicles registered a sizeable increase of 320 vehicles, or 25.9 per cent, when compared with the previous period.