Government | Friday 6 February, 2015 6:52 am |

The Traffic Department has denied press reports that it would not renew licenses of cars older than 1990.
“The report is totally false,” said Brig. Ali Dhobyan Al-Roshaidi, spokesman of the department.

He urged journalists to check their facts before publishing stories. “The media should not publish rumors carried by social networks,” he said.
According to the report, published by some newspapers, the department would no longer renew istimaras, or the licenses of vehicles, registered before and during 1990.
The report said the measure was taken to phase out old vehicles from the Kingdom’s roads to avoid breakdowns and reduce pollution.

Quoting a department source, the report also said that owners of such old vehicles would be allowed to cancel their number plates once their vehicles are scrapped.
Meanwhile, the department said drivers can now renew their licenses through the Abshir e-service of the Ministry of Interior.

The vehicle owner should present a valid motor vehicle periodic inspection (MVPI) certificate, which is automatically entered in the system when an MVPI is completed, and valid car insurance. They should also pay the registration fee and traffic fines, if any.