Road Tax Expired For Over A Year? Here's When You Actually Need a Puspakom Inspection
Summary: Road tax that has lapsed for 1 to 3 years can still be renewed directly at JPJ — no inspection needed. A Puspakom inspection only becomes compulsory once your road tax has been expired for more than 3 years (36 months). Driving on expired road tax is illegal regardless of how long it's lapsed, so renew as soon as you can.
When Do You Actually Need a Puspakom Inspection?
Since 4 September 2020, JPJ no longer requires an inspection just because your road tax expired for more than a year. The real cut-off is 3 years:
Expired less than 3 years: You can renew your road tax as usual at JPJ, a post office, or online, once your car insurance is active. No inspection required.
Expired more than 3 years (36 months): Your vehicle must pass a Puspakom inspection before JPJ will renew the road tax.
What to Do If Your Road Tax Has Lapsed More Than 3 Years
Make sure your car insurance is active. JPJ requires valid insurance coverage before you can proceed with renewal or apply for a travel permit.
Apply for a temporary travel permit (if you need to drive the car to Puspakom for inspection).
Book and attend your Puspakom inspection. This checks that your car is still roadworthy — brakes, lights, suspension, emissions, and so on. A pass gets you a B2 inspection report.
Bring your documents to JPJ. You (or a representative) need the B2 report and the original vehicle registration certificate.
Renew your road tax at the JPJ counter.
Tip: If your car has been sitting unused for a long time, check its current road tax expiry date first. This tells you straightaway whether you fall into the "under 3 years" or "over 3 years" category.
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Drive+ is a membership programme by PolicyStreet with three tiers — Lite (RM49.90), Standard (RM79.90), and Premium (RM109.90).
Depending on your tier, members get up to RM120 off road tax renewal, plus other cash vouchers (battery replacement, service maintenance, dashcam, car tinting, car rental), and priority support for car insurance renewals and claims guidance.
Full terms are on our Terms and Conditions page.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. My road tax has been expired for just over a year. Do I need to go to Puspakom?
No. As of the current rule, you only need a Puspakom inspection once your road tax has lapsed for more than 3 years. Between 1 and 3 years, you can renew directly.
2. Can I renew road tax if it has expired for more than 3 years?
Yes, but only after your vehicle passes a Puspakom inspection and you obtain the B2 report.
3. What is the B2 report?
It is the official Puspakom inspection report required before JPJ will renew road tax for a vehicle that has lapsed more than 3 years.
3. Do I need valid car insurance before going for the inspection or applying for a travel permit?
Yes. Your car insurance must be active before you can proceed with renewal or apply for a temporary travel permit to drive to Puspakom.
5. Is it illegal to drive with expired road tax even if it's only been a few months?
Yes. Driving with expired road tax is an offence regardless of how long it has lapsed, so it's best to renew before it expires or as soon as possible after.
