Increased fees for drivers in Antigua and Barbuda

The Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board is advising drivers who do not renew their licence on or before it expires that they could be charged a penalty, as much as $500.

According to the proposal – which the Antigua Observer reports have been put on hold – drivers who default in renewing their licence on time (late by one to 30 days) will be charged $20.

Hubert Jarvis, general manager of the transport board, said on Monday that if a licence is not renewed within nine months of expiry it will be cancelled.

Penalties for expired licences will vary according to the time elapsed, with Jarvis confirming that the amount increases up to $500 for anyone whose driver licence is expired for more than 271 days.

Cancel or automatic renewal

A two-page ‘miscellaneous revenue measures’ memo to managers detailed increases was circulated last week.

Licences that elapsed between 31 and 90 days will attract a fee of $150, while anyone who fails to renew between 91 to 180 days must pay $250; up to 270 days will have to pay $350 and anything after that will be $500.

“The law says that after nine months Transport Board must cancel, but we have not been doing that and that is what we are seeking to do,” said Jarvis.

“So, it is either we cancel it or you pay the processing fee to have it automatically renewed.

“Does a person prefer to go over the whole process which will cost the same as the processing fee?”

Drivers who default for nine months would need do over the entire process which means they would need to get a new doctor’s certificate, pay $30 for the permit, another $50 for the video module, then the road test and pay for the new licence.

Original source: Antigua Observer