Kurt Sansone
Used car valuations go online
'Small mistakes' to be ironed out
The vehicle registration website detailing the values on which the registration tax for used cars is calculated has finally gone online but there are still some "teething problems" with the system.
The President of the Used Vehicles Importers Association (UVIA) Oliver Brownrigg welcomed the website, which should see them back in business after what he described as a bad two months since the budget.
The website is necessary because it gives users the amount of registration tax due on any particular car model. Without it, they had been unable to put a price on their cars since the new regime came into force on January 1.
"The system has some minor mistakes, which should be rectified by Monday. We are working hand in hand with the ministry and hopefully we're back in business by Monday. Without the valuation system we could not give customers correct prices," Mr Brownrigg said.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Finance confirmed that officials from the ministry were in contact with car importers to rectify the "small mistakes" in the system.
"The website details the value of some 70,000 vehicles. There are some small mistakes in the valuation of some models but hopefully these will be solved by Monday," the spokesman said.
A second problem with the new system is linked to Japanese used car imports. The ministry spokesman confirmed that the Transport Authority was still not accepting the registration of cars from Japan because the certificate of conformity now has to include the level of CO2 emissions.
"We are waiting for data from the used car importers on the matter and once this is in hand the Transport Authority would be able to register the vehicles," the ministry spokes-person said.
The website can be accessed on: www.vehicleregistration.gov.mt.
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Peter Ciarlo`
Jan 18th 2009, 16:14
Are the authorities aware that at the registration office, owners of private vehicles who are entitled to an exemption (view FAQs at point A13) are being refused the free registration? How on earth is it possible for this to happen, in a "civilized" country! Applying certain rules (favourable) and refusing to apply others (much less convenient) is extremely unfair! To add to this, these owners are being told that in the meantime they should not use their vehicles, although insurance and road tax is paid, as the previous law required! Is it not a complete abuse of power? Wait till one of the conditions for exeptions expires? In an effort (unilateral) to solve this "temporary" problem, it was offered to pay the registration as shown in the chart, on condition that when the exeption rule would be applied, a refund would be issued. This offer was not even considered! Just like the request for a temporary permit (as used be issued before) until the new rules (issued 1st January 2009) are applied in full, was rejected! At this point only one thing is sure, the maltese authorities believe that the foreigners working here are money cows to be milked!
victor vella
Jan 18th 2009, 15:23
@ J Fiorentino, I went to renew my insurance recently and the clerk askked me the value of the car.I told him that notwithstanding what I think I will abide by the insurance company valuation. While I think that they undervalued my car I still paid the amount they said.Now in case of an accident they would have to pay me that amount and not what the goverment sayd becasue they declared that amount themselves.
Ivan Visanich
Jan 18th 2009, 14:42
The registration value is just a guide,what matters is just the Registration Tax,that will be the final value to be paid,not a euro more and not a euro less,basically the more modern and less CO2 the car emitts the less tax you pay,if according to the ADT website a car is valued a X euro and registation tax is B euro and you buy the car for more or less than the X value the B euro amount will always be paid.Quite simple really.
Shawn Abela
Jan 18th 2009, 11:59
I think you are not understanding the concept. Since most cars are imported from the UK, the registration value reflects the PRICE IN UK not the value in Malta. Cars in Malta will still be valued higher.
Graham Crocker
Jan 16th 2009, 20:03
Get this my car value from the Insurance was lm1400, and after a couple of days from this website I realized my car was now worth Euro1400. Obviously there is a big problem considering somebody bought the same model as mine just 2 years newer for Euro 4000, which is more like the actual market value.
Small mistakes? What getting the currency wrong is a small mistake?
J. Borg
Jan 16th 2009, 19:45
And what about vehicles manufactured before the year 2000?
& pls - give the poor chap on the Customer Service telephone line some additional support - apparently MTA can only afford one person - no wonder one cannot get through, and messages are not returned.
James Young
Jan 16th 2009, 16:47
Judgeing by the table above the registration value is still quite steep, i see so many big cars on the Maltese roads with foreign number plates, looking at the table above the owners of these big tankers is going to cost them an arm and leg, rather them then me, i ride a push bike, i think i better invest in another bike for my better half (the misses) lets hope the Maltese gov.will not put a registration tax on our bikes that will really upset me good and proper. J.Young (need the exercise)
J. Fiorentino
Jan 16th 2009, 15:46
If when a used car is imported its value is estimated at 800 Euros how come that if I own the same make of care, with the same date of production, my insurance company insists in giving it a value which is much higher than 800 Euros?
And if I have an accident and my car is a total loss? I bet that for compensation purposes my insurance company will use the value being quoted on the Government website!
PAUL BUSUTTIL
Jan 16th 2009, 12:07
I WONDER WHAT EXCHANGE RATE IS TAKEN WHEN FOR EXAMPLE CONVERTING STERLING TO EURO , BANK RATE WHICH WHICH FAVOURS THE BANK OR PERSON CONVERTING OR ACTUAL GOING RATE WHICH FAVOURS THE BUYER ?
OR IS THERE A SET RATE SET BY ADT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE?