The regulations for registering motor vehicles were amended on Monday to remove the requirement of a garage for taxis and specialized vehicles for persons with disabilities.
While vehicles in two categories are exempt, a document showing a garage parking space must still be submitted to register all other vehicles.
- Letter of no objection from garage owner for parking vehicle
- National ID card copy of garage owner
- Document to show the parking garage is registered
The registration requirement for the other categories was previously a garage permit or letter.
The rule change comes after efforts within parliament to repeal the regulations with several MPs calling the rules unnecessary. A resolution to scrap the garage requirement was rejected but the same resolution was later resubmitted.
Despite scrapping the garage requirement for taxis, a fee of MVR 10,000 must be paid to the Transport Ministry for registration as a taxi. The fee was charged in the past before new rules were gazetted by the current administration in March this year.
The Transport Ministry also introduced a fee of MVR 15,000 for issuing temporary registration for vehicles brought to the country for various projects. Such vehicles were previously registered free of charge.
