26-09-2017, 10:09 AM
Victorians will be able to pay their car registration in quarterly or half-yearly instalments from January, two years after the Government flagged introducing the measure to help low-income families struggling with their bills.
The option will be available for cars, utes, vans, motorcycles and other light vehicles, and can be taken up by anyone regardless of income.
Consumer rights groups have been urging the Victorian Government to consider changes for years, and in 2015 the Andrews Government flagged introducing quarterly payments for low-income families.
Victorian Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the VicRoads IT system had to be upgraded before the instalment option could be introduced.
"It'll be ready to go on January 1, 2018, but we needed to upgrade the IT system to accommodate the approximately five million transaction per year," he said.
The Government said there would a $2.45 administration fee per transaction to cover costs for people who take up the option.
Mr Donnellan said smaller registration payments every three or six months would help Victorians struggling to make ends meet.
"Cars are very important in terms of mobility, in terms of job opportunities, and in terms of running a family," he said.
"People can actually in a sense budget for this and this is very much something they'll welcome because $200 and 20 cents is a lot more affordable than paying 800 and 80 cents all at once."
The Victorian Council of Social Services is one group that has pushed for change.
VCOSS CEO Emma King stands in front of a VicRoads office
Its CEO Emma King said the annual registration bill was s source of dread for many families.
"It's like an annual wrecking ball through the family budget â most people don't have that sort of cash laying around," she said.
"Being able to pay in small, regular and manageable instalments makes sense.
"Many other government payments can be made by instalments. The car rego shouldn't be any different."
The Government said there would a $2.45 administration fee per transaction to cover costs for people who take up the option.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-24/vi...ve/8979012
The option will be available for cars, utes, vans, motorcycles and other light vehicles, and can be taken up by anyone regardless of income.
Consumer rights groups have been urging the Victorian Government to consider changes for years, and in 2015 the Andrews Government flagged introducing quarterly payments for low-income families.
Victorian Roads Minister Luke Donnellan said the VicRoads IT system had to be upgraded before the instalment option could be introduced.
"It'll be ready to go on January 1, 2018, but we needed to upgrade the IT system to accommodate the approximately five million transaction per year," he said.
The Government said there would a $2.45 administration fee per transaction to cover costs for people who take up the option.
Mr Donnellan said smaller registration payments every three or six months would help Victorians struggling to make ends meet.
"Cars are very important in terms of mobility, in terms of job opportunities, and in terms of running a family," he said.
"People can actually in a sense budget for this and this is very much something they'll welcome because $200 and 20 cents is a lot more affordable than paying 800 and 80 cents all at once."
The Victorian Council of Social Services is one group that has pushed for change.
VCOSS CEO Emma King stands in front of a VicRoads office
Its CEO Emma King said the annual registration bill was s source of dread for many families.
"It's like an annual wrecking ball through the family budget â most people don't have that sort of cash laying around," she said.
"Being able to pay in small, regular and manageable instalments makes sense.
"Many other government payments can be made by instalments. The car rego shouldn't be any different."
The Government said there would a $2.45 administration fee per transaction to cover costs for people who take up the option.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-24/vi...ve/8979012