THE ROAD transport department has been flooded with applications for their “cash-for-clunkers” scheme with over a thousand phone calls and 2,300 applications submitted by 1pm yesterday, the second day of the scheme.
Senior road transport engineer Yiannis Nicolaides said: “When we arrived (at work) this morning we had received over 1,800 applications. We now have 2,334 applications.”
Asked how many of these applications would be accepted for the scheme, Nicolaides said: “It’s a case of arithmetic, we have a budget of €2 million and if we give €1,800 to everyone it will mean about 1,111 new cars.”
With so many applications in the first days, it is likely that most, if not all, will fall into the highest cashback category.
Those who are yet to submit their applications can relax, however, as the scheme is not being run on a first-come first-serve basis. “We will continue to receive applications for two months (until December 13) then we will start with the oldest cars first.”
Nicolaides asked for applicants to remain patient during the first few days of the scheme, and if possible look to the internet and citizens’ advice office first before calling the road transport department.
He said that it was “practically impossible” to answer all phone requests for information and that the hundred or so members of staff who have been taking calls in addition to their regular duties.
This is the fourth scheme of its kind but differs in that the money applicants receive for their old car can only be used to pay for a brand new car.
Asked about the benefits of the scheme, he said the new car rule meant this scheme was better for road safety, the environment and the economy than the previous three.
“It is also self sustaining because some applicants are people who wouldn’t otherwise buy a new car. Therefore there is additional revenue that we would not have received otherwise.”
On Monday there were mixed views from the political parties on the rebirth of the scheme.
DIKO’s Angelos Votsis seemed happy enough with the scheme declaring: “We once again welcome the government’s decision to pursue this measure and urge the owners of old cars to take advantage of the sponsorship by submitting applications.”
The Green Party, in a written statement claimed to be unhappy at the government’s delay in introducing the bill and called the scheme “limited”. They also expressed their disappointment that the total grant was only €2 million.
DISY MP Ionas Nicolaou, said when a person did not have the money to buy a new car, the cash incentive should have been greater. “€1,800 is not a sufficient amount to be an incentive to withdraw your car,” he said.
In order to be approved for withdrawal, vehicles must have been registered and have had active road tax for any period of time during the last 12 months. In addition the old vehicle must have been registered in any country for at least 15 years and in Cyprus for the last 10 years.
Claimants should only apply for the withdrawal of one vehicle. If multiple applications are submitted by the same individual only the application of the oldest vehicle will be considered and all other claims will be considered automatically void, the ministry said.
Funding will be given only on the condition that the applicant will register a new M1 category vehicle in his name. An M1 category vehicle is one that has four wheels and no more than eight seats.
For more information and to apply, visit http://www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/rtd/rtd.nsf no later than December 13 this year.
