The number of vehicles that were scrapped was down by almost half last year when compared to the previous year.

Figures given by Transport Malta in its annual report  shows the number of scrapped vehicles at 5,617 compared to 10,138 in 2012.

Times of Malta had reported last September that little interest was being shown in the car scrappage scheme of the time, which attracted only a third of the targeted number of cars in four months.

Contrary to the previous two schemes, which offered up to €2,000 for owners who scrapped their old cars and bought new vehicles, the new scheme offered a €500 flat rate, attracting very little interest.

The MT annual report also shows that the number of vehicles which were garaged also dropped to 8,003 from 9,125 the year before.

The figures show that the number of registered vehicles increased by 1% to 15,087 last year. There were 44,843 owner transfers, up 2% from the year before.

316,280 road licences were issued last year, from 329,093 on the year before.

The number of number plates issued was up 15% to 56,677.

7,167 new driving licences were issued, up by 25% from the year before.