The government has issued refunds on vehicles which were purchased between 1 May and 31 December 2004. In a statement, the Department of Information said that those affected were sent a cheque to rfund the difference.

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said that the government was delivering on a pre-electoral pledge to refund registration tax on vehicles purchased between 2004 and 2008.

"Besides delivering on our promise, we are putting €2,300,000 back into people's pockets which should also help to stimulate the economy.

A total of 3,294 new applications were processed along with another 68 applications which were already submitted.