The PSNI has been warned not to cut patrol cars after senior officers said they wanted to axe 10 per cent of their fleet.
Some armoured Land Rovers face being decommissioned as the level of paramilitary threat diminishes.
Managers believe their vehicles are under-used and want reductions over the next three years with more so-called softskin vehicles.
Policing Board member Jeffrey Donaldson said members would be looking very closely at any proposals following the PSNI review.
"Whilst I recognise that the chief constable and his colleagues have to look at how they make the best use of their resources, at the same time the visibility of policing on the ground is important,. particularly in rural areas where there's no other way to patrol," the DUP MP for Lagan Valley said. "It is essential that this in no way reduces the ability of the police to maintain a high-profile presence across all communities."
There has been a large reduction in the number of police officers following the severance programme ordered by the 1999 Patten Report. A total of 320 vehicles, many deteriorating through age, are to be taken from the pool of 3,200.
A PSNI spokesman said vehicles being eliminated had not yet been identified. "As 'normalisation' progresses there has been a change in direction for vehicles moving from armoured to softskin and the development of vehicles suited to single officer patrolling," he said.
"As the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and formerly the Royal Ulster Constabulary, has seen a large reduction in officers, it is considered good practice to identify those vehicles which are unsuitable, not necessary or are not cost effective due to age or state of repair.
"Following the completion of a benchmarking exercise, the Police Service of Northern Ireland vehicle numbers are high, and average mileage low, when compared to other Police Services in the UK."
PA