Key Takeaways
Road tax rises with power rating, and the rate per kW jumps from $3.75 to $10 above 230kW.
With the $700 yearly AFC, a 150kW EV pays about $1,795 a year, over double a 1.6-litre petrol car's $742.
Renew via OneMotoring, AXS or GIRO, as driving with lapsed road tax risks a fine of up to $2,000.
Valid car insurance is a renewal prerequisite, so compare car insurance in Singapore before your road tax falls due.
Road tax is the compulsory charge you pay every 6 or 12 months to keep a vehicle on Singapore's roads. It's separate from the Certificate of Entitlement (COE), Additional Registration Fee (ARF), Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) and car insurance.
For electric vehicle (EV) road tax, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) uses the motor's power rating in kilowatts (kW) instead of engine capacity, and adds an Additional Flat Component (AFC) in place of the fuel excise duty petrol drivers pay at the pump.
Since you pay it in lump sums, road tax is easy to under-budget. This guide covers how it's calculated, how to renew it and how it compares with petrol cars.
How EV Road Tax is Calculated
LTA sets the road tax rules for every vehicle type, and OneMotoring, LTA's online portal, is where you check and pay. For electric cars, the six-monthly road tax depends on which power band the motor falls into:
Power rating (PR) | Starting amount | Six-monthly road tax formula |
|---|
Up to 7.5kW | $200 (flat) | $200 x 0.782 |
Above 7.5kW to 30kW | $200 | [$200 + $2 x (PR - 7.5)] x 0.782 |
Above 30kW to 230kW | $250 | [$250 + $3.75 x (PR - 30)] x 0.782 |
Above 230kW | $1,525 | [$1,525 + $10 x (PR - 230)] x 0.782 |
Source: LTA OneMotoring, Vehicle Tax Structure; LTA, Revised Road Tax Schedule for Fully Electric and Petrol-Electric Cars (w.e.f. 1 January 2022). 0.782 is the multiplier LTA applies to all road tax formulas.
The $350 six-monthly AFC is then added on top of the formula result.
Here's how that works for a mid-range EV rated at 150kW and a performance EV rated at 300kW:
Calculation | 150kW EV (30-230kW band) | 300kW EV (above 230kW band) |
Six-monthly road tax | [$250 + $3.75 x (150 - 30)] x 0.782 = $547.40 | [$1,525 + $10 x (300 - 230)] x 0.782 = $1,739.95 |
Six-monthly AFC | $350 | $350 |
Six-monthly total | $547.40 + $350 = $897.40 | $1,739.95 + $350 = $2,089.95 |
Annual total | About $1,795 | About $4,180 |
Doubling the power more than doubles the bill, because the rate per kW jumps from $3.75 to $10 above 230kW. That's why high-powered EVs often attract the biggest road tax bills.
A few other factors can change what you pay:
Vehicle age: Cars over 10 years old pay a road tax surcharge on top.
Vehicle type: Commercial EVs such as heavy goods vehicles and buses follow separate rules, including their own AFC.
Policy changes: LTA revised the EV schedule from 1 January 2022, merging the former 30-90kW and 90-230kW bands into a single 30-230kW band that uses the 30-90kW formula. Budget announcements can bring further changes, so check OneMotoring's current formula before you buy.
How to Check and Renew Your EV Road Tax
Here's how to stay on top of your road tax:
Check your road tax expiry date and amount payable on OneMotoring, and set a reminder a few weeks before.
Renew for 6 or 12 months via OneMotoring, at AXS or at a Road Tax Collection Centre.
Automate renewal with eGIRO, which deducts payment 5 working days before expiry by default. LTA sends the payment schedule, with your prerequisite deadline, about a month ahead.
Before you renew, meet these prerequisites at least one working day ahead:
✅ Your car insurance covers the entire road tax period, including third-party liability for death and bodily injury.
✅ Your car has passed inspection, if due. LTA sends a notice about three months before expiry.
✅ You have no outstanding fines or warrants from LTA, HDB, URA or the Traffic Police.
MoneySmart Tips
Driving with expired road tax is illegal. You'll pay late renewal fees and risk a fine of up to $2,000 and court charges for keeping an unlicensed vehicle.
EV vs Petrol Car Road Tax: The Bigger Cost Picture
EV road tax is often higher than for a mass-market petrol car. A typical 1.6-litre (1,598cc) petrol car pays about $742 a year, against about $1,795 for the 150kW EV above. Much of that gap is the $700 AFC, but road tax is only part of the cost:
Cost | Electric cars | Petrol cars |
|---|
Road tax | Power-rating bands, plus $700 AFC a year | Engine-capacity bands only |
Energy per 100km | About $5 charging at home; $11-12 at public chargers | About $22-23 for 95-octane petrol |
Maintenance | Lower; fewer moving parts, no oil changes | Higher; regular engine servicing |
Car insurance | May cost more, as EV repairs and parts can be pricier | Based on standard repair costs |
⭐ Best for | Daily driving with easy access to charging | Long trips or limited access to charging |
Disclaimer: Energy costs assume 16kWh per 100km for an EV and 6.4L per 100km for a petrol car, as in LTA's Electric Vehicle Guide for Drivers. Rates used: SP Group's household tariff of 31.16 cents/kWh with GST (1 October to 31 December 2026), median public charging prices of $0.66-0.74/kWh (MOT, September 2025) and Caltex's 95-octane price of $3.39-3.57/L (8 October 2026).
At these rates, an EV's cheaper energy compensates for its extra road tax (~$1,050) once you drive about 6,000km a year if you charge at home, or about 9,000-11,000km on public chargers.
Otherwise, compare the total cost of ownership carefully before choosing an EV.
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