Change of owner fees could hit second-hand car dealers

SECOND-HAND car dealerships will have to pay thousands of pounds extra a year, under the Environment Department's plans for a change of ownership fee, businesses have warned.

It is currently free to change the name of a vehicle's owner, but the States Assembly will next month discuss introducing a £25 charge each time the owner is changed.

Guernsey Motor Trades Association joint chairman Dale Crowsley said he was not surprised that a charge was being introduced. But he felt the GMTA should have been consulted on the change and he was concerned that more details had not been released.

'Does this mean that every time we make a part-exchange, and the name has to change, we will have to pay twice?' he said.