E-commerce vehicle registration renewal site exceeds $1 million in transactions

Walter Noel, Minister of Government Services and Lands, and minister responsible for the Motor Registration Division, said today that government�s e-commerce site for vehicle registration renewals, which went on line June 19, 2001, is proving to be very successful. As of January 21, 2002, there were approximately 9,500 electronic transactions, totaling more than $1 million.

Registration renewal via the World Wide Web allows vehicle owners to renew and pay for their vehicle registration renewals on line. The site, www.eservices.gov.nf.ca provides simple step-by-step instructions to guide users through the renewal process.

Transactions during the June 19, 2001 to January 21, 2002 period included payment for approximately 6,500 vehicle registration renewals and payment of more than 800 outstanding fines. The remaining transactions, approximately 2,200, were changes of address for which there is no fee.

Electronic registration renewals accounted for approximately five per cent of all vehicles renewed during this period. Use of the e-commerce site was most popular in the St. John�s region where 7.2 per cent of all renewals were transacted, followed by Conception Bay South with 6.4 per cent. Thirty-nine per cent of the total transactions were conducted by people under 40 years of age.

Minister Noel said: "I am pleased with the public acceptance of this system and the confidence that consumers have placed in it. I expect that the number of electronic transactions will continue to rise as more and more people take advantage of this excellent and convenient service."

Media contact: Rick Callahan, Communications, (709) 729-4860.

2002 01 30                          4:15 p.m.