Can You Renew Road Tax Without Renewing Car Insurance?

No. In Malaysia, you need valid motor insurance before you can renew your road tax. Your insurance must meet JPJ’s requirements for the road tax period you are applying for. If your insurance has expired, renew it first before applying for road tax.

Road tax, officially known as Lesen Kenderaan Motor (LKM), allows your vehicle to be used on public roads for the approved period. Since JPJ requires valid insurance before issuing road tax, it is important to check both expiry dates and renew your insurance first if necessary.

Can You Renew Road Tax Without Insurance in Malaysia?

No. Whether you renew online or at a counter, your vehicle must have valid motor insurance before road tax can be issued.

Your situation	Can you renew road tax?	What should you do?
Both insurance and road tax are still valid	Yes, when eligible for renewal	Check the expiry dates and renew when due.
Insurance has expired, but road tax is still valid	Not until valid insurance is in place	Renew your insurance first.
Both insurance and road tax have expired	Yes, once the requirements are met	Renew insurance first, then road tax.
Insurance is valid, but road tax has expired	Generally, yes, if other requirements are met	Apply for road tax renewal before driving.
Your vehicle is blacklisted	Not until the issue is resolved	Check with JPJ and settle the relevant outstanding matters.

Why Must You Renew Car Insurance Before Road Tax?

Car insurance and road tax serve different purposes, but they are linked during the renewal process.

• Car insurance provides financial protection according to your policy, including its coverage, terms and exclusions.
• Road tax (LKM) is the vehicle licence issued by JPJ for using your vehicle on public roads during the approved period.

Under Section 90 of the Road Transport Act 1987, a vehicle generally must have the required third-party insurance to be used on public roads. Valid insurance is also required for road tax renewal.

In short, you cannot renew your road tax first and arrange your insurance later. Make sure your insurance is active before applying for road tax.

What Should You Do If Your Car Insurance Has Expired?

If your insurance has expired, follow these steps before driving your car again.

1. Check your insurance expiry date

Check your existing policy or contact your insurer or takaful operator to confirm whether your coverage is still active. Do not assume your insurance is valid just because you have not received an expiry reminder.

2. Renew your car insurance

Compare available insurance and takaful options, then choose coverage that suits your vehicle and needs. Check the policy’s effective date to make sure your protection is active before you drive.

You can compare car insurance options on BJAK to explore the available choices.

3. Renew your road tax

Once your insurance is active and the required details are available in JPJ’s system, apply for road tax renewal through an available channel, such as MyJPJ, a JPJ office or a participating renewal service.

For more guidance, read BJAK’s article on How to Renew Car Insurance and Road Tax Together.

4. Check your road tax status

After completing the renewal, check your digital road tax status through the MyJPJ app or the relevant JPJ service. Keep your renewal receipt or confirmation for reference.

Important: Do not drive on public roads if your insurance is invalid or your road tax has expired. If you need to move the vehicle, check the applicable requirements with JPJ first.

Can You Renew Road Tax and Car Insurance at the Same Time?

Yes. You can arrange both renewals through a service that supports car insurance and road tax renewal.

However, your insurance must be active before JPJ can issue your road tax. Using one service for both may make the process more convenient, but it does not remove the insurance requirement.

Before making payment, check:

• Your vehicle registration details.
• Your insurance coverage and effective date.
• The road tax renewal period and applicable charges.
• Whether any outstanding issues could prevent renewal.

For a step-by-step guide, read How to Renew Car Insurance and Road Tax Together.

What Happens If Your Car Insurance or Road Tax Expires?

Letting either one expire can cause problems, even if you do not use your car every day.

What has expired?	What it means
Car insurance	You may no longer have valid insurance protection. Driving without the required insurance is an offence.
Road tax	Your LKM is no longer valid, so you should not drive the vehicle on public roads until it is renewed.
Both	Arrange valid insurance first, then renew your road tax before driving again.

If you do not plan to use your car for a while, you should still avoid driving it until the required insurance and road tax are valid. Keeping the car parked at home does not allow you to drive it on public roads after these requirements have expired.

Renew Your Car Insurance Before Your Road Tax

You cannot renew road tax in Malaysia without valid motor insurance. If your policy has expired, renew your insurance first, complete the road tax renewal and check that your new LKM is active before driving.

To make the process easier, compare car insurance options on BJAK and check whether you can arrange road tax renewal in the same transaction.