With start of new law, Cubans register 14,600 cars

Dec 6, 2011, 18:51 GMT

Havana - Cubans have registered more than 14,000 vehicles in the two months since legislation came into effect allowing them to buy and sell cars for the first time in more than 50 years, state media reported Tuesday.

Cuban state media reported that registry offices had issued 14,630 vehicle titles as of November 25.

New legislation allowing private individuals to buy and sell cars, in place since October 1, is part of a broader economic reform package implemented by the communist government of Cuban President Raul Castro.

Most Cubans do not actually have title deeds for their cars, since the free trade in them was banned shortly after rebels led by Fidel Castro ousted dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Vehicles were either registered in the name of their original owner from decades ago, or had no legal documents at all.

Until now, in order to get a car, Cubans needed government approval. The paperwork took a long time, and the vehicles in question could not be legally sold or given to anyone else.

According to Cuban Communist Party daily Granma, around 300 people have visited the Havana registry office to enquire about the new vehicle rules.

Similar legislation allowing Cubans to buy and sell homes has been in place for close to a month.

The profound reforms of the past two years have opened the door to private initiative on the island of 11 million people, after decades of state monopoly.