another one.

The major policy shift would also save valuable foreign currency by driving down car imports.

And it is also expected to boost car ownership by up to eight percent and create jobs for Transport Control Department mechanics.

Government hopes to have the legislation in place by April 1.

The announcement was made yesterday by Transport Minister the Hon. Ralph Marshall.

He said residents had long favoured the move which would make replacement cars more affordable.

Currently someone wanting to replace his car with a new one has three options if he wants to avoid a year's delay.

He can sell it as a taxi; export it; or dump it. The restriction is relaxed for those with medical problems.

Mr. Marshall reckoned he personally lost around $7,000 when he dumped his Volkswagon several years ago, in order to replace it with a Nissan Sunny.

"I even had to pay $25 to dump it,'' he told The Royal Gazette .

The issue was spotlighted recently when Miss Bermuda Islands Dianna Mitchell gave up her $25,000 prize, a gleaming Nissan NX Coupe.

TCD refused to relax their one-year wait rule. Miss Mitchell chose to take cash instead.

"In the past persons have been required to dispose of good operational vehicles for a variety of reasons,'' said Mr. Marshall.

"The law had been unable to address situations where a family has grown larger or smaller and requires another car, where a person may be given a company car to conduct business or where a person receives a car due to inheritance.

"The recycling of second-hand cars will have several benefits.'' Mr. Marshall highlighted three improvements under the planned legislation, which, he said, had been welcomed by dealers.

Residents being able to buy replacement second-hand cars at a reasonable cost; Curtailing waste of "vehicle resources'' by reducing dumping, and maximising use of imported cars; and Improving Bermuda's balance of payments by decreasing the number of imported cars.

"In the past we have tended to view it as a privilege to own a private car,'' said Mr. Marshall. "It is now being seen as a right to own a private car.'' Mr. Marshall said he expected the policy would increase the number of cars by between five and eight percent.

There are 19,000 registered -- 2,000 not licensed -- cars in Bermuda. Around a quarter of households do not have one.

"Our Ministry has not received complaints from residents about the number of cars on the road. It is tourists who complain,'' explained Mr. Marshall.

Government, however, intend laying down strict conditions for transactions of second-hand cars.

The owner must have his car inspected by TCD before selling it.

He must then find a buyer, and have the vehicle licensed to the new owner.

Mr. Marshall, who ruled out relaxing the one car per household rule, stressed TCD test standards would remain stringent to maintain Bermuda's proud record.

"For that reason, only those vehicles which meet standards of road worthiness will be approved for resale. We will also be monitoring closely the effects of a second-hand car market on the total number of private vehicles on the road.

"Our goal is not to realise a marked increase in the number of private vehicles, but to allow for better utilisation of existing vehicle resources,'' he said.

Mr. Marshall said TCD would also hire more mechanics to deal with increased testing.