Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs says St. Maarten is preparing a series of changes to the vehicle road-tax system over the next several years.
A new standard licence plate is expected in 2027, with government hoping the change will make it easier to identify vehicles that have not paid road tax.
Gumbs says road-tax collections improved in 2026 compared with last year, but enforcement can still be strengthened through closer cooperation between the Ministries of Finance and Justice.
Government is also planning to introduce personalized licence plates in 2028. Vehicle owners would pay an additional fee for custom plates, creating a new source of revenue.
A further change is being targeted for 2029, when road tax could be calculated according to vehicle weight.
Gumbs says the current system can result in owners of small cars paying the same as owners of much heavier vehicles, which she considers unfair.
The weight-based system will require legislative changes before it can be introduced.