However, when one takes the car price before any taxes are slapped on it, the price is equal or even cheaper when compared to our European counterparts.

Certain car makes like Citroen do offer cheaper prices, but the vast majority are much more expensive when compared to other EU states. However, the report reveals that Malta is not the most expensive European country when it comes to cars. That honour goes to Denmark which has an even higher registration tax than in Malta... although it must be added that the standard of living there is also much higher.

Before registration tax, an Alfa Romeo 147 in Malta costs €15,073 which is just 102.8 per cent of the average price. After tax, the price rises to a whopping €26,732, or 149 per cent of the average retail price. For this particular model, Malta is way higher than any EU-25 country, with the runners up being Ireland (135 per cent), Austria (129 per cent) and Cyprus (124.6 per cent).

An Audi A3 2.0 TDI Attraction costs €17,689 before tax, which is 105.2 per cent of the average price. After tax the price rises to €31,643 or 154.9 per cent: again the highest price of the EU-25, together with Cyprus which is at the same level. After Malta and Cyprus come Finland (145.4 per cent) and Portugal (147.4 per cent).

In Denmark, an A4 1.9 TDI would set you back by a staggering €107,789 (312.4 per cent). This is by far the most expensive in Europe, again followed by Malta and Cyprus at 133.1 per cent each after tax.

An Audi TTR 1.8/225 costs €61,014 or 176.8 per cent in Malta, Finland and in Cyprus, whilst in the UK it is less than half the price at €30,770 or 89 per cent.

Conversely, Citroen cars are distinctly cheaper in Malta, even after tax. Before tax, a Citroen C2 1.4HDI costs €6,898, or 67.3 per cent of the average price. After tax its costs €11,985 or 94.1 per cent which is cheaper than the EU-15 and most other countries in the EU-25. A C3 1.4HDI is priced at €13,330 or 100.4 per cent after tax. Again this is cheaper than most EU-25 countries with Slovakia, Latvia, Poland, Greece and Lithuania only slightly cheaper. A Xsara 1.4 costs €14,190 in Malta or 96.7 per cent, again considerably cheaper than most other EU-25 countries.

A Honda Accord 2.0 Sport costs €27,727 after tax which is 119.5 per cent of the average price. Denmark is way ahead of the other EU-25 countries with a price of €49,013 or 211.2 per cent for the same product. Portugal, Ireland, Cyprus and Finland are the other countries which have a higher price than Malta for this model.

The real jolts, however, come with Mercedes Benz models. A C180 Kompressor costs Lm15,882 in Malta or €37,263 after tax. That’s 134.5 per cent of the average price and is the highest of the EU-25, with Cyprus at 128.8 per cent a close second. An E 220 CDI costs €60,886 in Malta or 167.3 per cent, again the most expensive with Greece in second place at €58400 at 160.4 per cent. In Malta an S 350 costs €111,183 (172.6 per cent), which puts us in second place behind Cyprus’ 186.7 per cent as regards expense.

All three models cost much more in Denmark which is being counted as a separate case as the prices there are astronomical.

Nissan cars are also pretty expensive in Malta. A 1.2 Micra costs €15,568 which is the third most expensive of the EU-25 with only Ireland and Denmark more expensive. A Nissan Almera costs €20,361 in Malta or 147.5 per cent which makes it the most expensive apart from Denmark. A Nissan Almera is also quite expensive in Malta, costing €25,585 or 132.1 per cent of the average price, again the second most expensive after Denmark.

Opel cars are also at the top of their price range in Malta. An Opel/Vauxhall costs €16,620 (159.1 per cent) and this is again the second most expensive after Denmark. Further Opel models are in second or third place as regards price after tax in Malta with the variation being pretty considerable and as much as a third more expensive especially when compared to the UK. It is the same story for Peugeot cars, with Malta placing in the top three for pricing with a 206 model the fourth most expensive after Denmark, Finland and The Netherlands. A Peugeot 307 costs €19,345, making us the sixth most expensive after Austria, Denmark, Finland, Portugal and The Netherlands. A 607 will set you back €58,124 in Malta, as usual second only to Denmark which remains the most pricey country for almost any model. Prospective car buyers are certainly not advised to purchase their vehicle in the land of Hans Christian Andersen.

Renault is also expensive in Malta with a Clio costing €12452, second only to, you’ve guessed it by now, Denmark. A Megane is slightly more competitive in Malta, placing fifth behind Denmark, Portugal, Finland and the Netherlands. A Laguna is similarly priced behind the same countries. Seat cars are in the same boat with an Ibiza and a Cordoba second behind Denmark for price.

Skodas are quite competitive in Malta with the price for a Fabia coming down at around the middle figure for EU-25 although, with the exception of Cyprus, it is the more expensive in the 10 new member States.

Subaru and Suzuki cars remain very expensive in Malta and apart from Denmark and possibly Cyprus they are the priciest locally.

Toyotas are similarly expensive here, placing second and third for the various models, while a Volkswagen Golf is tied with Ireland for second place after Denmark for the more expensive model in the EU-25. Volvos and Saabs are also costly in Malta, although Cyprus and Denmark are slightly more expensive.

Considering the cost of living, salary scales and other factors, cars in Malta are way over-priced although they continue to be sold in large numbers. This report only confirms that the registration tax slapped on cars make them almost twice as expensive after tax, an almost impossible figure to contemplate.