A series of Government notices published on Christmas Day will see changes to traffic fines, customs duties, vehicle import rules, and registration fees taking effect on January 1, 2026.
Guardian Media recaps the biggest changes taking effect in the new year.
Births and deaths registration fees rise
Fees for registering births and deaths will increase. Registration for a child over three months but under 12 months will cost $40, while registration of a child over 12 months with written authority from the Registrar General will range from $100 to $150.
Other fees include $20 for declaring a birth in another district, $30 for correcting errors in the register, $25 to $30 for certified copies of entries, $50 for certification of birth or death certificates, and $100 for re-registration of a wrongly registered birth.
Standard customs fees have been doubled. Charges previously set at $40 will rise to $80, while fees at Container Examination Stations are also increasing sharply, with one category moving from $375 to $750 and another from $525 to $1,050.
These increases apply to goods entering the country and to container inspections, directly affecting importers, logistics companies, and businesses that rely on shipping services.
New rules also target vehicle imports. Commercial compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles with engines up to 1,599 cc, both new and used, will receive full exemption from customs duty, provided used vehicles are no older than eight years. Private electric vehicles valued at TT$400,000 or less will receive a 10 per cent reduction on customs duty, while vehicles above that threshold remain subject to the standard duty.
At the same time, the maximum age for imported vehicles in certain categories has been raised from three years to eight years, expanding eligibility for used imports. However, duty relief for electric vehicles is now strictly limited to those under the $400,000 threshold.
Farmers get a bligh
Meanwhile, in one of the few concessions, agricultural imports will also benefit from full duty remission on a wide range of items used in crop production, livestock management, and agro-processing.
The exemptions cover specific equipment and inputs, including plastic mulch, UV-treated high-density polythene, seeding trays, grow bags, plant containers for hydroponics and protected farming, as well as sharp sand and bricks for grow boxes. Beekeeping and small-scale processing supplies, such as honey buckets, spouts, and chocolate-making moulds, are also included, alongside livestock care items like hoof trimmers, shearing machines, hair clippers, and nose rings. Post-harvest and processing equipment, such as mobile refrigeration and chilling units, contact-freezers, grinding machines, and commercial-grade juicers, will also qualify. Grow lights imported specifically for agricultural purposes are covered as well.
Traffic fines and PBR tolls
The Government doubled most traffic fines under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, effective January 1, 2026. The changes affect more than 60 offences, including speeding, dangerous driving-related breaches, documentation offences, and other traffic violations.
Under the new schedule, fines previously set at $1,000 have increased to $2,000, $750 fines rise to $1,500, $300 fines jump to $600, and $450 fines go up to $900. Some higher penalties have also been raised, including $2,000 fines now set at $4,000.
Repeat offences now carry tiered penalties that have been increased across the board, with several fines more than doubling.
Separately, the toll for maxi-taxis operating on the Priority Bus Route has doubled from $300 to $600 per quarter. Permits remain payable in advance and non-refundable, with renewal required each quarter.
