The transport ministry urged drivers to renew their road tax between January 7 and March 11 this year to avoid penalties.

Renewals for the road tax will commence on Tuesday, 7 January 2025, and end at midnight on Tuesday, 11 March 2025. After the deadline, a late fee of €10 plus an additional 10 per cent of the licence fee will apply.

To renew a vehicle licence, owners must provide a valid certificate of suitability (MOT) and proof of vehicle insurance.

Licences can be renewed online through the road transport department’s website. Owners can choose renewal periods of three, six, nine or twelve months.

For vehicles under special status, such as those belonging to embassies, quarries, large families, vintage cars or UN vehicles, renewals must be completed in person at the department’s offices.

Owners who do not intend to renew their vehicle licences must submit a formal immobilisation notice. Failure to do so will result in continued liability for licence fees.

Vehicles without a renewed licence for 2024 and without an immobilisation notice will be removed from the department’s registry if outstanding obligations are not settled by March 11, 2025.

The road transport department advised vehicle owners to avoid waiting until the last minute to prevent system overload. It also encouraged people to update their contact information in the registry to ensure timely notifications about their vehicles.