Government eases financial burden for seasonal car users

Armenia's government has eased the regulations for vehicle registration in an attempt to minimize expenditures.

In a cabinet meeting today the government amended an earlier decision, and from now on car owners will not have to pay the 5,000-dram fee for car registration procedures.

"This way, favorable conditions are being created for thousands of people," Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said as he spoke about the decision.

The move was prompted by complaints by those car owners who use their vehicles for a short period throughout the year but had to have the mandatory car insurance for the whole year.

The government's move is seen as an attempt to help people especially in rural areas, who make a seasonal use of their cars.

Armenia introduced mandatory car insurance this year. The deadline for the insurance is December 31, 2010. All car owners who will not have the insurance by then will be fined by 50,000 drams (approx. $150).