Special arrangement for renewal of vehicle and driving licenses

The special arrangement for the renewal of expiring and expired vehicle and driving licences for past years' pre-budget days has proved very effective and will be adopted again this year to avoid a pre-budget rush.

A spokesman for the Transport Department said today (March 7): "The special arrangement had proved to be effective in maintaining the number of applications for vehicle and driving licences renewal during the few days before the Budget announcement at more and less the normal level. There were no abnormal queues, and the arrangement was well received by the public. In view of the satisfactory results over the past years, the special arrangement will again be adopted this year."

Details of the arrangement for this year are as follows:

* All vehicle licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (March 16, 2005), i.e. vehicles that are registered at the time of renewal and with licence expiry dates falling on or before July 15, 2005, can be renewed at the present rate, whether for four months or 12 months, at any time up to and including July 15, 2005.

* All full Hong Kong driving licences and driving instructor's licences eligible for renewal on or before Budget Day (March 16, 2005), i.e. those with expiry dates falling on or before July 15, 2005 and those which have expired for less than three years at the time of renewal up to July 15, 2005, can be renewed at the present rate at any time up to and including July 15, 2005.

The above arrangement applies only to the renewal of expiring and expired vehicle licences, full driving licences and driving instructor's licences. It does not apply to any other licensing services.

There is no need for eligible licence holders to rush to Transport Department counters to have their licences renewed on speculation that those licence fees may be increased in the coming Budget.

The arrangement is solely made to deal with the problem of long queues. The contents of the Budget are a separate question on which the Department has no information," the spokesman stressed.

At present, applications for renewal of vehicle and driving licences can be made online, through personal computers and public kiosks under the Electronic Service Delivery scheme. Applications may also be made by post. The public is encouraged to renew their licences through these channels.

Ends/Monday, March 7, 2005