Updated 2026-10-11 · Wrenchmap
Short answer: Cars under 3 years old need no periodic inspection. From 3 to 10 years old a car is inspected every 2 years, and after 10 years every year. You can go any time in the 3 months before the due date; an inspection earlier than that does not count for road tax. The fee published in April 2024 was S$68.67, with S$34.34 for a re-inspection.
The schedule, by the age of the car
LTA sets the periodic inspection frequency for private cars by age (LTA OneMotoring):
| Age of car | How often |
|---|---|
| Below 3 years | No periodic inspection |
| 3 to 10 years | Every 2 years |
| Above 10 years | Every year |
Other vehicle types run on different schedules. Tuition cars are inspected annually at any age, and chauffeured private hire cars above 10 years old moved to 6-monthly inspections from 1 January 2025. Cars caught with illegal engine or exhaust modifications go onto the Enhanced Inspection Regime: every 6 months for 2 years for a second-time offender, every 3 months for 2 years for a third.
Not sure when yours is due? Our inspection due-date checker works it out from the registration date, and the exact date is on OneMotoring under the digital services.
The 3-month window
LTA sends the inspection notice within the 3 months before the due date. You do not need the notice to go, and you do not have to wait for it. What matters is timing: an inspection done more than 3 months before the due date does not count for road tax renewal. Inside the window, go whenever suits you.
Where to go
The authorised inspection centres on LTA’s list are run by VICOM, STA Inspection and JIC Inspection Services:
- VICOM: Bukit Batok, Changi, Kaki Bukit, Sin Ming and Yishun
- STA Inspection: Boon Lay and Sin Ming
- JIC Inspection Services: Jalan Papan
All are closed on Sundays and public holidays. SingSaver’s guide notes that no booking is needed, the inspection takes about 15 minutes, and waits are longer between 11am and 2pm (SingSaver).
What it costs
The VICOM fee table published by Motorist (updated April 2024) lists S$68.67 for a car inspection and S$34.34 for a re-inspection, inclusive of 9% GST (Motorist). Fees are revised from time to time, so check the current figure with the centre.
What the inspection checks
LTA lists seven areas (LTA OneMotoring):
- Structural integrity of the chassis frame
- Wheel system: tyres, suspension, shock absorbers, wheel bearings, wheel alignment
- Braking system: service and parking brakes
- Steering system, including drive shafts
- Body condition: body, seat belts, windscreen, door latches and hinges
- Visual and indication system: headlamps, reflectors, mirrors, indicators, wipers, horn
- Propulsion system: the exhaust, against NEA’s emission and noise standards
A 10-minute check before you go
Most fails on small items are avoidable. Walk round the car and check:
- Every light: headlamps (high and low), indicators, brake lights, reverse lights, number plate light
- Horn, wipers and washer
- Tyres: tread depth (the legal minimum is 1.6 mm) and no bulges or cracks on the sidewalls
- Warning lights on the dashboard after the engine starts
- Seat belts lock and release
If anything is borderline, or the exhaust is loud or smoky, a workshop check before the inspection costs less than a failed inspection and a second trip. Workshops customers mention for inspection prep are listed by estate, and every estate page names the inspection centres in its region.
Want a workshop to quote?
Free. Tell us what the car needs and where you are; a workshop calls you back.
Request received.
A workshop will call you on the number you gave. If the car is somewhere unsafe, call your insurer's hotline or a tow service first.
More questions
Do I need to bring the LTA inspection notice?
No. LTA says you do not need to produce the notice, and the centres already have your vehicle details.
Can I inspect my car more than 3 months early?
You can, but an inspection done more than 3 months before the due date is not valid for road tax renewal.
Are inspection centres open on Sunday?
No. The authorised centres are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Saturday mornings and the 11am to 2pm window tend to be busier.
What happens if my car fails?
You fix the failed items and return for a re-inspection, which costs less than the first inspection (S$34.34 in the April 2024 fee table).