Road renewals are typically done via two means — online and offline. Of the two methods, the latter used to be the only way to renew road tax for years. But thanks to modern technology, online means is now a reality. Although online is becoming increasingly popular, there is still a large majority of people who prefer renewing their roadtax offline. Hence, we’ve compiled the pros and cons of offline methods to help you decide if it is right for you.
Pros
Can be cost-effective – Offline roadtax renewal is one of the cheaper alternatives because it doesn’t involve any delivery charges that are typically charged by online means. The biggest plus point for renewing road tax through physical counters is that you can save up on delivery and other expensive courier charges that may be charged by agents or online sites.
Get your roadtax on the spot – Another big advantage of this method is that you can collect your roadtax on the spot. Compared to an agent or online renewals, offline roadtax renewal almost always guarantees immediate deliveries of roadtax. You only need to spend a few minutes waiting to receive your physical copy, which could take days or even weeks if done via online platforms.
Instant verification – Renewing through physical counters also means that you can check your details for accuracy immediately. Instant verification and requesting corrections on roadtax stickers (if any) is not an easy thing to do online because it requires reaching out to customer support teams for assistance. However, over-the-counter services allow this to be done rather quickly as you can liaise with the officer on duty face-to-face.
Cons
May require booking – Renewal through countered services like JPJ often requires booking due to the high volume of customers who want to renew their road tax manually. Because of this, JPJ requires vehicle owners to book an appointment before visiting the nearby branches for renewal procedures.
Can be time-consuming – Offline roadtax renewal certainly means more time spent for people due to all the travelling they have to do. This applies to travelling to post offices as well as JPJ branches since they are not always accessible to many people. In most cases, you will need to drive a few kilometres to find the nearest post office or JPJ/UTC branch where renewal can be performed.
Long waiting period – Perhaps the most frustrating thing about renewing your road tax through offline means is the extended waiting periods to get things done. Offline means are notorious for long queues and renewal processes that can take up much of people’s time. Despite workarounds to improve the waiting periods at physical counters, this is by far the biggest drawback for offline renewal.
Offline roadtax renewal
Nonetheless, it is still not enough to conclude that this option is completely good or bad. The ideal method to renew road tax ultimately depends on individual preferences, needs and accessibility. We hope this sharing helps you decide whether offline renewal is worth reconsidering if you’re planning to make the switch.
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