Motoring-friendly measures taken by the government in the 2011 Budget were yesterday welcomed by two motoring federations.

The Malta Old Vehicle Federation (FMVA) and the Malta Motorsport Federation praised the introduction of the new “V plate” system, under which a special licence plate will be issued for classic, vintage and historic vehicles.

Just one plate will be issued and one fee levied on collections, a measure of significance to vehicle collectors who own numerous certified classic cars.

“The FMVA had carried out discussions with Malta’s leading insurers of classic vehicles to ensure that such a measure would be acceptable from their point of view,” said spokesman Stephen Zerafa.

The MMF praised the abolition of the 6.5 per cent import tax, which motorsport enthusiasts used to have to pay for racing or non road-legal vehicles.

The new measures serve to mitigate the blow to classic car owners of a recent Enemalta announcement that leaded petrol will be phased out by the end of this year. Old cars cannot use unleaded fuel.

Enemalta later said the owners could seek a permit from the Malta Resources Authority to import a limited and controlled amount of leaded fuel in the same way as racing fuel was being imported.

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