Singapore Road Tax: Petrol, Hybrid, EV and Older-Car Checks
Use the correct powertrain formula and vehicle age, distinguish annual from six-monthly figures, and check renewal prerequisites before payment.
Road tax is a recurring ownership cost separate from COE. Calculate it using the vehicle’s registered specifications and the applicable scheme, then check the actual LTA bill before payment.
Petrol-car examples
| Engine capacity | Annual tax before age surcharge |
|---|---|
| 600cc | S$313 |
| 1,000cc | S$391 |
| 1,600cc | S$743 |
| 2,000cc | S$1,212 |
| 3,000cc | S$2,385 |
Petrol examples use the same rate catalog as the road-tax calculator. Hybrid, electric, diesel and older-vehicle rules require their own treatment.
The shared table shows annual examples before age surcharge. LTA’s petrol-car formulas are stated on a six-monthly basis and include the 0.782 multiplier. For a 1,600cc petrol car, the annual arithmetic is $475 × 0.782 × 2 = $742.90 before any surcharge or other applicable treatment.
Do not interchange 1,598cc and 1,600cc or quote a rounded marketing engine size as an exact tax input. Nor should a petrol example be applied unchanged to diesel, hybrid or electric vehicles.
EV and hybrid treatment
A fully electric car uses the direct power-in-kW bands plus the additional flat component. At 110kW, the annual arithmetic before age-related treatment is ($250 + 3.75 × 80) × 0.782 × 2 + $700 = $1,560.20. This is why an EV should not automatically be described as having lower road tax.
For a petrol-electric car, calculate using engine capacity and maximum electric power under the applicable schedules and use the higher amount. Do not convert the motor rating into a guessed petrol engine size.
Older cars and off-peak schemes
The older-car surcharge increases in steps after age ten, reaching 50% above age fourteen. Use the exact age band and vehicle basis. Off-peak scheme benefits are separate, and the active Revised Off-Peak Car scheme should not be confused with legacy scheme rules or described as closed to all new registrations.
Renewal prerequisites
Ensure insurance covers the renewal period, any inspection due has been passed, and other required clearances are met. Private-car inspection is generally every two years from ages three to ten and annually above ten; different uses can have different schedules. An inspection is not required before every six-month road-tax payment merely because the car is over three.
LTA lists online and other supported payment channels. GIRO requires successful setup and sufficient funds; it is not a guarantee that a missed prerequisite cannot interrupt renewal.
When the vehicle leaves ownership
Unused road tax is dealt with separately under LTA’s refund rules. The PARF calculator does not calculate every refund associated with deregistration. Check the actual record and insurer’s cancellation terms rather than assuming all refunds arrive together.
For motorcycles and commercial vehicles, use their own published schedules. A simplified petrol-car table should not be extended to all engine sizes or vehicle classes.
Sources and review date
Reviewed on 13 September 2026. Historical results retain their exercise dates; worked budgets are assumptions, not quotations.