There are four easy ways to renew road tax:
- Via One MotoringOnce you have renewed your vehicle insurance, allow at least 3 working days for the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to renew your road tax online.
- At AXS machinesAs above, allow at least 3 working days after renewing your insurance policy for your road tax to be processed and renewed.
- GIRO – download application form.Note that the GIRO setup may take up to 1 month to process before your road tax is renewed.
- SingPost and Authorised Road Tax Collection CentresBefore you head down to renew your road tax at these centres, check their road tax collection hours and payment modes to avoid a wasted trip. Take along a copy of the Certificate of Insurance which you would have received from us either by email or post. If everything is in order you should be able to renew your road tax immediately.
When does your road tax expire?
Each time you renew your road tax, you can choose to do so for a period of 6 or 12 months. Your road tax will expire at the end of the 6- or 12-month period.
Your road tax expiry date will be printed on the road tax disc mailed to you by the LTA.
When can you renew your road tax?
Thinking of renewing your road tax for a few years at a time to save yourself some admin work? Unfortunately, you cannot just renew your road tax whenever you feel like it. You can only renew road tax when it expires.
Renewal of road tax can be done up to 3 months before it expires. You will receive a reminder letter from the LTA one month before your road tax expires reminding you to renew it.
You must also fulfil certain prerequisites before paying your road tax, which are covered below.
What must you do before paying road tax?
Before the LTA will accept your attempts to pay your road tax, there are certain prerequisites that must be met, namely the following:
- Car insurance: Your vehicle must be insured for the period of road tax
- Vehicle inspection: You must have passed any upcoming vehicle inspection
- Fines: You must clear any outstanding fines
You should fulfil all the above requirements at least three working days before you wish to pay your road tax as the system takes some time to update. If the system cannot be updated in time, you might get an error message when you try to pay your road tax online.
For car insurance, you need not renew with the same provider every year.
As for vehicle inspections, these are typically required when the car reaches three years of age, and are subsequently required every two years until the car reaches the age of 10. After age 10, they must be inspected yearly. (You will receive a letter from the LTA whenever an inspection is due.)
Try not to go for your vehicle inspection at the last minute in case you fail and have to go back another day, as this could cause you to be late in paying your road tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I am late renewing my road tax?
You will have to pay a road tax late renewal fine which is dependent on your engine capacity and how late your submission is. So avoid paying your road tax late! More info about late payment fee here.
My road tax is already due. What is the fastest way to renew road tax?
If your road tax is already due, we recommend you renew at one of the road tax collection centres. You can print out a hard copy of your Certificate of Insurance to provide as proof immediately after purchasing it. Check for opening and collection times at the road tax renewal centre before you head down there. And remember to inform the centre that your insurance is underwritten by Auto & General Insurance (Singapore) Pte Ltd which is shown on your Insurance certificate.
If all is in order you should be able to renew immediately.
Note that a GIRO application takes about 1 month to process. So if you need your road tax sooner then don’t renew via GIRO.
I bought a policy from you but I was not able to renew my road tax because the insurance date is mismatched
Not to worry. You can call us for a policy end date adjustment to sync the policy period with your road tax. You have to allow another 3 working days for the record to be updated before renewing your road tax electronically.
I want to buy insurance from you but my road tax has 3 months left on it. What can I do?
The minimum insurance policy period covered by Budget Direct Insurance is 7 months and the maximum period is 18 months. Road tax is valid for either 6 months or 12 months. We can assist you by issuing an insurance policy to help you sync it with your road tax.
Will it affect my NCD if I change my policy period to 9 or 15 months instead of the usual 12 months period?
We advise you to take 15 months so that you can enjoy a higher level of NCD upon its renewal. Otherwise your No Claim Discount (NCD) will not step up if your policy period is less than 12 months.
Can I renew road tax without insurance?
No, you will need to have a valid vehicle insurance policy and meet the renewal requirements laid out by LTA and found here.
How long do I have to wait before I can renew my road tax?
Once you have your insurance policy and you meet LTA requirements found here you can submit your road tax renewal immediately.
If you plan to renew your road tax electronically, it will take at least 3 working days to be processed. If your road tax is already due, we recommend you renew your road tax at one of the road tax collection centres.
How early can I get my road tax renewed?
You will receive a road tax payment schedule from LTA about 1 month before your road tax expires. At Budget Direct Insurance, you can renew your car insurance 60 days before it expires.
What do I need before I can renew my road tax?
Before you renew your road tax either online, electronically at a road tax collection centre/SingPost or via GIRO, make sure you have the following in place:
Vehicle insurance coverage
Make sure your vehicle is covered by insurance for the entire period you are paying road tax. The vehicle insurance must be minimum coverage of third-party liability for deaths and bodily injury.
Vehicle inspection (if one is due)
If your vehicle is due for inspection, you will receive an inspection notice about 3 months before your road tax expires. If you have misplaced your inspection notice, you can still get your vehicle inspected at the LTA-authorised inspection centres without it.
Outstanding fines from LTA, HDB, URA and Traffic Police (TP)
If your vehicle has outstanding fines or warrants from LTA, HDB, URA and TP, it may prevent you from renewing your road tax. To renew your road tax smoothly, ensure that your vehicle has no outstanding fines or warrants with these agencies.
For Weekend Cars / Off Peak Cars / Revised Off Peak Cars
If you own a Weekend Car, Off Peak Car or Revised Off Peak Car then inspect your vehicle number plate seals at an LTA-authorised inspection centre. More info here.