Road tax for 2026 had been paid for 677,133 vehicles by 8 March this year, compared to 680,670 by the same date in 2025, the Road Transport Department has said.
In a press release, the department reminded the public that the last day for renewing 2026 road tax without a surcharge will be Wednesday, 11 March, 2026, at 24:00 (midnight), while renewals began on Wednesday, 7 January.
It is noted that for renewals made after Wednesday, 11 March, a surcharge of €10 will apply, as well as an amount equal to ten per cent (10%) of the vehicle road tax for the current year.
The department advises vehicle owners to ensure that their vehicle road tax is renewed in good time and not to wait until the final days, in order to avoid a possible system overload and inconvenience.
Road tax may be renewed for periods of three, six, nine and 12 months while the vehicle's MOT and insurance must be current.
It is recalled that those who had renewed their vehicle licence for 2025 but do not intend to renew it for 2026 must submit a vehicle immobilisation notice to the department. Immobilisation can also be declared online through the department's website. Otherwise, the obligation to pay the amount corresponding to the road tax continues to apply.
According to the press release, vehicles for which the licence was not renewed for 2025 and which have not been declared immobilised will be deleted from the register unless the amount due for 2025 is paid and their 2026 licence is renewed by midnight on Wednesday, 11 March, 2026.
(Source: CNA)
