Motor vehicle dealers to pass on increased fees

Persons seeking to buy motor vehicles will have to pay more as dealers have indicated they will be passing on the increases in certain fees charged by the Trade Board.

Among the fees set to go up today are those for import and export licences, registration as a motor vehicle dealer and processing fees.

Chairman of the Automobile Dealers' Association, Kent LaCroix, says his members are disappointed that there was no consultation with stakeholders before the fees were adjusted.

LaCroix further says consumers will have to bear the cost of the upward movement in the fees.

The import and export licensing fees have both moved from $3,519 to $5,500.

New dealers and those re-registering will now pay $90,000, up from $60,000.

Dealers will also begin paying a charge of $25,000 to register an additional lot.

A late fee of $50,000 has also been introduced.

The Automobile Dealers' Association chairman has questioned the Government’s move to increase fees at the Trade Board.

According to him, the move shows that while the government has not increased taxes it may be using other means to collect more from the public through the backdoor.