All vehicle registrations due by the end of the month have been extended by five working days, the Ministry of Police Prisons and Corrections Services has announced. 

The announcement of vehicle registration deadline extension was made by the Acting Commissioner of Police, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo on Friday through a Ministry-issued public notice. 

"Due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency lockdown, all vehicle registrations due by Monday, 31 January 2022 will be extended for five working days," reads the notice.

Furthermore, the notice emphasised that the five working days will begin from Tuesday 1 February to Monday 7 February 2022 without attracting late fee penalties.

Members of the public are advised to contact the Police for further enquiries on telephone numbers: 22222, 28556 for Upolu and Savaii on 53516 and 51378. 

The new Government announced last year that motorists will pay 20 per cent less for their driver’s license fees and vehicle registration as part of a new Government policy to help cushion the country from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The discounts are part of a broader package to stimulate the economy. The deduction of 20 per cent from vehicle registration fee has already been approved and it is in the Government’s budget.

Last year, Cabinet also approved the change in policy to return the responsibility for vehicle registrations and licenses from the Ministry of Police to the Land Transport Authority (L.T.A.). 

The change authorised by the Cabinet last year comes two years after the previous Administration removed that responsibility from the authority, in a move that also led to the transfer of staff and forced the exit of a number of staff members.