<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Aug 30, 2009
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Off-peak scheme changes <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>LTA to give out cash rebates earlier, relax restriction hours and introduce e-licences </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Yeo Ghim Lay
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By end-January next year, drivers who convert their cars to the off-peak scheme will get cash rebates earlier instead of having to wait until their vehicles are scrapped. -- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->THE off-peak car scheme will be revised to make it more attractive for people to switch to these red-plated cars, and in the process ease congestion around the island.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Saturday announced three changes: By end-January next year, drivers who convert their cars to the off-peak scheme will get cash rebates earlier instead of having to wait until their vehicles are scrapped.
Also by end-January next year, off-peak cars will be allowed on the roads during all hours on Saturdays and the eve of five public holidays.
From Nov 23, electronic licences will replace the current paper permits which motorists must buy when they use their off-peak cars during restricted hours.
The changes are the result of a review of the 15-year-old scheme, which is targeted at easing traffic jams and also allowing people to own cars at a lower cost, if they use them during non-peak periods.
There are currently 45,500 of these cars with red licence plates. They make up about 8 per cent of the car population. The change to give out early cash rebates will probably be the one to get drivers of normal cars to consider making the switch.
By the end of January next year, those who convert their cars will be given a cash rebate of up to $1,100 for every six months that the car is registered as an off-peak vehicle, until the car reaches 10 years old.
This is provided the vehicle is kept as an off-peak car for at least six months after conversion. Currently, someone who buys a new car and registers it as an off-peak car gets a rebate of up to $17,000 off the registration taxes.
But if a driver converts his normal car to an off-peak one, he does not get a refund of the taxes. Instead, he receives a rebate that is paid only when the car is scrapped. This rebate is $2,200 for each year that the vehicle was registered as an off-peak car.
Under the revised scheme, off-peak cars can ply the roads during all hours on Saturdays and on the eve of five public holidays - New Year's Day, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas - by the end of January next year. Currently, they are allowed on the roads only before 7am or after 3pm on those days.
Read the full story in The Sunday Times. [email protected]
Are the changes attractive enough to make you convert to the off-peak car scheme? Send your comments to [email protected]
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</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Off-peak scheme changes <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>LTA to give out cash rebates earlier, relax restriction hours and introduce e-licences </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Yeo Ghim Lay
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
By end-January next year, drivers who convert their cars to the off-peak scheme will get cash rebates earlier instead of having to wait until their vehicles are scrapped. -- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->THE off-peak car scheme will be revised to make it more attractive for people to switch to these red-plated cars, and in the process ease congestion around the island.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Saturday announced three changes: By end-January next year, drivers who convert their cars to the off-peak scheme will get cash rebates earlier instead of having to wait until their vehicles are scrapped.
Also by end-January next year, off-peak cars will be allowed on the roads during all hours on Saturdays and the eve of five public holidays.
From Nov 23, electronic licences will replace the current paper permits which motorists must buy when they use their off-peak cars during restricted hours.
The changes are the result of a review of the 15-year-old scheme, which is targeted at easing traffic jams and also allowing people to own cars at a lower cost, if they use them during non-peak periods.
There are currently 45,500 of these cars with red licence plates. They make up about 8 per cent of the car population. The change to give out early cash rebates will probably be the one to get drivers of normal cars to consider making the switch.
By the end of January next year, those who convert their cars will be given a cash rebate of up to $1,100 for every six months that the car is registered as an off-peak vehicle, until the car reaches 10 years old.
This is provided the vehicle is kept as an off-peak car for at least six months after conversion. Currently, someone who buys a new car and registers it as an off-peak car gets a rebate of up to $17,000 off the registration taxes.
But if a driver converts his normal car to an off-peak one, he does not get a refund of the taxes. Instead, he receives a rebate that is paid only when the car is scrapped. This rebate is $2,200 for each year that the vehicle was registered as an off-peak car.
Under the revised scheme, off-peak cars can ply the roads during all hours on Saturdays and on the eve of five public holidays - New Year's Day, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas - by the end of January next year. Currently, they are allowed on the roads only before 7am or after 3pm on those days.
Read the full story in The Sunday Times. [email protected]
Are the changes attractive enough to make you convert to the off-peak car scheme? Send your comments to [email protected]
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