China offers "one-stop" service to farmers buying subsidized vehicles

Chinese policemen are going to the countryside to give farmers easier access to driving license examinations as the government's subsidies on car and motorcycle purchasing take effect, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

The ministry said in a notice Monday that it would send policemen to organize exams and set up mobile offices for vehicle registration in rural parts of China. Normally, these practices only take place at authorized driving schools or police stations in cities.

More farmers could be buying cars or motorcycles as the government last week announced details on subsidizing vehicle purchases in the countryside, the ministry said.

From March 1 to Dec. 31, 2009, each rural household is entitled to replacing its old motorized tricycle with one light truck or passenger car. They would get a subsidy of 10 percent of the new vehicle's purchasing price, according to the State Council, or China's Cabinet. Each household can buy two motorcycles, from Feb.1, 2009 to Jan. 31, 2013, with subsidies of 13 percent of the new vehicle's price.

Central finance would pay for 80 percent of the subsidies and the provincial finance 20 percent, the State Council said.

    Motorcycles are now a major transport in most of China's villages, but passenger cars are still rare.

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