Traffic has become a major environmental problem in Ibiza over the last decade so in a direct response the Isand Government is bringing in limits and fees for vehicles coming on to the island, targeting tourists vehicles, caravans and rental cars.
From the start of June to the end of September the limit will be 87,449 vehicles circulating the island on a daily basis. The breakdown is 67,281 by residents, 2,049 by private visitors (ie by boat) and 18,119 rental cars. So excluding residents, there will be a maximum limit of 20,168 vehicles in the first year reducing to 17,600 over the next 5 years.
The fee for authorised non resident cars entering the island will be 1 euro per car per day and it will be the responsibility of the shipping companies to pay the relative fees directly to the Consell d’Eivissa under a self-assessment regime by the end of the following calendar month.
A basic overview of exemptions to fees are as follows
- Residents vehicles as long as the vehicles are registered on the island
- For those who live on the island but their cars are registered elsewhere there is a limit of 1 vehicle per property
- Vehicles of people with reduced mobility
- Official and public service vehicles, including those of the security forces, fire service, ambulances and vehicles of the health system, civil protection, public and school transport, taxis, waste and public cleaning
- Vehicles for the transport of goods as well as commercial distribution vehicles, tractors, excavators and similar vehicles
- Vehicles in transit to or from Formentera and those “not subject to movement restrictions by the Consell Insular d’Eivissa” are also exempt from the payment of the tax
- Motorcycles are free of charge
- Caravans/motorhomes will only be permitted to enter the island with an active a reservation at campsite
Rental car companies will also face the consequences of this new law and will now be liable to pay a tax for each of the vehicles within their quota.
Fleet of 1-100 vehicles: 100€ per vehicle for the entire limitation period
101-150: 200€ per vehicle
151-450: 750€ per vehicle
451-900: 1500€ per vehicle
Any company that exceeds 900 vehicles must pay 1500€ + 61€ for each vehicle over this amount
At first glance it appears that car hire companies will bear the brunt of this new law and they will be given quotas to control the amount of vehicles circulating the island. The new fees are a big chunk of change and will be most likely passed on to the consumer.
It’s difficult to envisage how the local authorities will keep tabs on the exact amount of vehicles on the island especially in the short term and the new laws will throw up many questions and grey areas and a website should soon be active to cover all topics.
In the meantime you can contact the OAMR customer service by phone and Whatsapp on 971 19 59 06 or by email at oamr@conselldeivissa.es.
MAN IN SAN AN by Martin Makepeace 