MPs Push to Slash Car Registration Fees to Ease Financial Burden on Citizens

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

MPs are pushing to cut car registration fees for vehicles over five years old from 1,000 dinars to just 300, aiming to relieve the financial pressure on low-income citizens before the October deadline. During today’s Parliament session, a group of MPs tabled an urgent proposal to reduce fees for cars bearing Gulf plates that entered Bahrain before October 2024. This initiative includes a 30-day grace period to allow citizens to rectify their vehicle registrations.

The proposal, led by MP Hanan Fardan and supported by several colleagues, seeks to assist car owners grappling with the burden of high registration costs. On top of the fees, citizens currently face an additional 15% of the vehicle’s total value in taxes and customs duties, which has driven many to contemplate taking their cars out of the kingdom.

MPs pointed out that those most affected by these charges are often low-income individuals who have been unable to convert their vehicle plates to Bahraini due to excessive costs. Fardan stressed that the proposal aims to consider the circumstances of citizens and ease their financial strain.