As announced in Budget 2008, the Williams Government has reduced the vehicle registration fee from $180 to $140. This reduction is applicable for passenger vehicles, light trucks and vans and will result in $10 million in savings to the driving public. The reduction is also applicable to taxi registrations which have been reduced from $150 to $140.

"The province�s improved economic standing has placed us in a position where we are able to make this important reduction which affects over 240,000 vehicle owners," said the Honourable Kevin O�Brien, Minister of Government Services. "The cost of vehicle registrations is an initiative which we committed to reduce in our Blueprint and I am proud that this will now take effect as of May 1."

Anyone who has already paid for registration renewals that begin in May will automatically have a $40 refund sent to them within four weeks. There will be no need to contact the Motor Registration Division to arrange for a refund. No refunds will be issued for registration renewals that have already been processed prior to May 1, with the exception of the May renewals already processed.

In addition, the Provincial Government will continue the 10 per cent online vehicle registration discount. This means that a $140 annual vehicle registration paid online will cost $126. This initiative, which was first introduced in Budget 2007, is expected to result in an additional $800,000 in savings for vehicle owners.

"In the first year of offering this discount, customers showed their overwhelming support for online renewals," said Minister O�Brien. "There was a 100 per cent increase over the 2006-07 fiscal year, which exceeded all projections. As a result, payments at banks and over the counter at motor registration locations around the province have been reduced by approximately six per cent each, allowing for improved customer service."

- 30 -

Media contact:
Vanessa Colman-Sadd
Director of Communications
Department of Government Services
709-729-4860, 682-6593
vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca