Got a question about cars, COEs or car loans? Get expert tips in ST’s live blog special

The Straits Times’ senior transport correspondent Christopher Tan, Motor Traders Association president and chief executive of Cycle & Carriages Mr Cheah Kim Teck and Mr Leong Sze Hian, past president of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. — FILE PHOTO: TORQUE/BIG FISH PUBLISHING/ST’S TERENCE TAN

Cars. Car loans. COEs.

Is it time to buy a car or sell it? Should you get a second-hand vehicle? How much loan should you take?

If you have a question about recent policy changes to the car market, get expert advice on Monday, March 4, between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

The Straits Times’ senior transport correspondent Christopher Tan will be giving his views in a live blogging session on The Straits Times’ website here.

He will be joined by Motor Traders Association president Cheah Kim Teck, who is also chief executive of Cycle & Carriage’s automotive business, and Mr Leong Sze Hian, past president of the Society of Financial Service Professionals.

You can send your car-related questions from today till 1pm on Monday. Please

* E-mail stcarblog@sph.com.sg or

* Tweet to #stcarblog or

* Leave them on The Straits Times’ Facebook page

Car buyers were hit by a double whammy on Monday.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore said that they must now place down payments of at least 40 per cent of the purchase price and also settle car loans within five years. Before this, the market was unregulated for a decade.

Meanwhile, during the release of Singapore Budget 2013, the Government announced a tiered Additional Registration Fee (ARF) which can add $100,000 or more to the sticker price of a top-end car.

In the tiered scheme, a car with an open market value (OMV, which is the approximate cost price) of up to $20,000 will be taxed at the current rate of 100 per cent. The next $30,000 will be taxed at 140 per cent, and any OMV above $50,000 at 180 per cent.

srt-tips-sts-live-blo#sthash.tQ2wL0Wu.dpuf

About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.