The Federazzjoni Maltija Vetturi Antiki (FMVA) and the Malta Motorsport Federation expressed relief as the government explained that a budget measure on classic cars was a mistake.

The Federazzjoni Maltija Vetturi Antiki (FMVA) welcomed the news that the measure restricting vintage vehicle use, announced on a government website, has been withdrawn.

In a statement, the FMVA referred to a DOI press release issued early this afternoon which claimed that the published budget measure was, in fact, just a recommendation in a working document that had not been accepted for the final Budget document.

The Federation therefore wishes to put classic vehicle enthusiasts’ minds at rest that all current vintage vehicle concessions are still in force.

The FMVA also states that since it considers this issue resolved, its members on Transport Malta’s Vintage Vehicle Classification Committee will now attend the weekly certification meetings.

In a statement, The Malta Motorsport Federation said it received a call from government in which it was explained that the Vintage Vehicle measure announcing that classic cars would have been prohibited from the roads on weekdays was in the Budget working document but not in the Budget speech. Therefore this measure will not be implemented and has also been deleted from the Budget document, the MMF said. 

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Earlier

The Federazzjoni Maltija Vetturi Antiki (FMVA) today strongly condemned the budget measure that restricts certified classic vehicles to use on weekends only.

In a statement, FMVA said this measure, which was never discussed let alone agreed to, will undo all the sterling achievements obtained since 2003 when the first classic-friendly measures were introduced.

The FMVA said it is adamant that restricting vintage vehicles to weekend use will do nothing to ameliorate Malta’s traffic or emissions problems. On the contrary it will only make matters worse on weekends.

The FMVA reminded the authorities that credible international studies show that classic vehicle use amounts to only around 0.07% of the total annual mileage covered by vehicles on European roads. It is simply not true that classic vehicles are contributing in any way to Malta’s traffic problems.

As regards the alleged substantial increase in the number of classic vehicles certified since the last budget, the FMVA underlines that concrete measures were introduced that had already started bearing fruit. It stresses that the certification of classic vehicles is now so tightly controlled, that in one single month around 20 owners opted to de-classify their vehicles as classics and return them to mainstream use.

The federation called upon the government to remove this misguided and unwarranted clause before it is introduced and to discuss with it any perceived problems. In the meantime, as a gesture of protest and disapproval, FMVA members on Transport Malta’s Vintage Vehicle Classification Committee, will not attend any meetings until further notice.

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In similar vein, the Malta Motorsport Federation (MMF) said that while it values the measures to induce more Safety on our roads, it was disappointed about the measure in relation to Vintage and Classic Vehicles, whereby such vehicles can only be used on public roads on weekends and public holidays.

The MMF expressed its dissatisfaction with this measure on a numbers of counts:

•        The number of Vintage and Classic Vehicles seen on the road on normal weekdays is minimal to negligible, and in the majority of cases restricted to the owners taking their vehicle out for a drive on a day off from work or those who are pensioners.

•        The measure as reported in the Budget document refers to ‘abbuz’. While such abuse was known in the commercial vehicles sector, the government was putting this under control by the newly introduced ‘green plates’ a month ago. Therefore it is premature to roll out such an extensive measure in absence of analysed results from the introduction of ‘green plate’ scheme.

•        No consultation whatsoever was made with the Federation with regards to this measure.

•        Transport Malta has never asked our TM representative to try and understand if other issues exist and / or what can be put in place to control or resolve such issue.

•        The average age of vehicles on the island surely is affected by an increase in Vintage and Classic vehicles; however, since these are non-regular vehicles, therefore these should not be factored in for government statistics of vehicle age thus effecting the ‘scrapping scheme’ incentives.

•        Government should embrace such vehicles as these have created a national attraction as the vast number of impeccable vehicles we have in these island thanks to our members has produced a gem recognised worldwide, which are extensively used in the Tourism promos.

•        Paying a full licence for a vehicle possibly used during weekdays a couple of times a year, on average, is an abusive tax to the community that by and large will also effect charitable institutes as they used these vehicles to create various shows/festivals as an add-ons to their events throughout the year around the island.

The MMF strongly recommend that the government reconsider the budget measure to a more palatable one for the motoring community and will not exclude any further actions to voice out our members and enthusiasts concerns.

Wrong document published