Campaign urges motorists not to renew vehicle licences

AMMAN — Social media users have launched a campaign calling on Jordanians to refrain from licensing their cars in objection to the new fees.

While authorities say the new charges, which went into effect on Tuesday, are to further organise the licensing process, the campaign views the categorisation based only on engine size as "unfair", according to its founder Hussein Kurdi.

Under the new decision, licences for cars with 1,600 to 2,000cc engines will cost JD64; while the rate rises to JD173 for engines with a capacity between 2,000 and 2,500cc, JD225 for 2,500-3,000cc engines and JD440 for 3,000-4,000cc vehicles.

In a phone interview with The Jordan Times, Kurdi explained that the previous licensing system depended on the value of the car. But under the new decision, the licensing fee for a jeep with a 5,000cc engine worth JD60,000 will be the same as the fee for a JD12,000 pickup truck with a similar engine.

He noted that the campaign, with a two-day old Facebook page and some 17,000 likes, demands a revision of the decision in a way that keeps its positive aspects, including the reduction of licensing fees for hybrid cars.

Kurdi, who heads the Toyota Owners Club Jordan, suggested a licensing system with a fixed minimum fee, based on the engine size.

He also called for applying the decision on cars that are yet to enter the market, as licensing fees "definitely" affect purchase choices. 

Kurdi noted that cars manufactured in 1999 and before are of low market value and often belong to people with modest financial capabilities.

"We do not wish to be anarchic, we only hope that the social media campaign will encourage decision makers to review the measure," he said, adding that the campaign will issue a list of demands on Friday and submit it later to the concerned authorities.