Red number plates

SINGAPORE – Cars with red number plates are now sizzling hot, it appears.

One week after a revised scheme kicked in, 184 motorists have converted their normal cars to the off-peak car scheme.

The move is tantamount to more conversions in one week than in all of 2007 and 2008, when 168 car owners did so, and only slightly lower than 232, the figure for all of last year.

The new scheme allows off peak cars to be used all day on Saturday, instead of just for half a day previously, as well as on the eves of five public holidays.

Motorists who convert to red plates receive a $1,100 cash rebate for every six months their cars remain off-peak vehicles.

Some car dealers say there has been an increase in interest – with about 20 per cent more queries about buying off-peak vehicles – especially in the small-car categories.

more news at Regplates.com