The order: insurance, inspection, then tax

• 1. Compulsory insurance (Por Ror Bor). Must be valid before the tax can be renewed.
• 2. Inspection, for cars 7 years old or more. Private cars from 7 years old must pass an inspection at a private vehicle inspection center (tor ror or) before the tax can be renewed. For motorcycles the rule starts at 5 years.
• 3. Annual tax. Paid to the Department of Land Transport (DLT). You receive a tax sticker to display on the windshield.

Cars younger than 7 years skip step 2 and go straight from insurance to tax.

Compulsory insurance (Por Ror Bor)

Por Ror Bor is required by law for every vehicle. It covers injury and death of people in an accident, up to set limits. It does not pay for damage to your car or to someone else's car.

That is why most owners also buy voluntary insurance, which comes in classes from first class, covering your own car, down to cover for other people's property only. If you drive every day, driving with compulsory insurance alone is a big risk.

The vehicle inspection

The inspection checks things like brakes, lights, emissions and the general condition of the car. A car that fails has to be repaired and inspected again before the tax can be renewed.

Take the registration book with you. The inspection center sends the result to the DLT, and then you can pay the tax.

Paying the annual tax

You can pay at a DLT office, and online renewal is also available. Whether online renewal works for you can depend on your documents, so check the DLT website or ask at an office.

Do not let the tax lapse. Driving without a valid tax sticker can get you fined. If tax goes unpaid for a long time, more steps are needed before you can renew, and a long lapse can lead to the registration being suspended. Check the current rules with the DLT if your tax is overdue.

We do not list fees or tax amounts on this page. They depend on the car and they change. The DLT office or website has the current figures.

What to check when buying a used car

• The date on the tax sticker, and that it matches the registration book. Overdue tax has to be paid before the car can be transferred.
• For a car 7 years or older, when it last passed inspection. Ask the seller.
• Whether the voluntary insurance will continue or be cancelled after the transfer, so you know if you need a new policy from day one.

These questions belong in your first message to the seller, before you travel to see the car. The full list is in Questions to ask the seller before viewing a used car. For the full yearly running cost of a car, see What a car costs to own each year.