Buckle up and get ready to put your 'loaner' into gear, said Government yesterday as it announced a scheme by which drivers will be able to borrow a distinctively marked car, truck or taxi from their garage or car dealership when they put their vehicle in for a tune up.

Legislation for the Loaner Vehicle Programme will be tabled later this year and will allow motor car dealers to apply for a permit to keep as many as five cars, five commercial vehicles and two taxis, with special loaner vehicle licence plates, for use by drivers who would otherwise be left without transportation while their vehicles being serviced.

The loaner vehicles will be subject to the same licensing, inspection and insurance requirements as all other vehicles and the programme will prescribe that they must be lent, free-of-charge, to customers whose vehicles are in the garage undergoing repairs.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown (pictured) said: "The benefit of this proposal is that there is no net increase of vehicles on the roads and the travelling public are less inconvenienced and will be able to go about their daily routines uninterrupted."

He said problems were especially apparent because, in cases where the vehicle is a taxi or a truck, the owner can suffer financial cost while waiting for repairs to be completed. "I cannot stress the importance of the fact that commercial vehicle owners will lose no income and will be able to continue to serve the public whilst their vehicle is being serviced." Dr. Brown continued: "I cannot tell you the amount of times I have spoken to people who have taken their cars, bikes or taxis to be repaired or serviced and had to endure days - hopefully not weeks - without transport; and without fail it seems to happen during the hottest or the rainiest weeks of the year." He added that the changes had the support of the Island's motor insurers and motor car dealers.