The Land Transport Authority (LTA) vehicle inspection is a mandatory vehicle roadworthiness test that all Singapore motorists must take periodically.
This inspection ensures that only roadworthy vehicles zoom in and around Singapore. However, scheduling inspections, cost management, and ensuring an LTA-compliant fleet can be a hassle.
Find out how you can simplify your fleet’s annual inspection with fleet management solutions that ensure your vehicles are LTA-approved every time.
In 2002, the Land and Transport Authority introduced mandatory inspections for all land travelling vehicles in Singapore. This list includes motorcycles/scooters, cars, buses, taxis, trailers, and all other heavy goods vehicles, whether private vehicles or commercial fleets.
Our population and number of vehicles have increased over the years. In 2023, the LTA recorded a total number of 996,732 vehicles on the road; this is the highest motor vehicle population ever recorded in Singapore. With almost 1 million cars on the road, the LTA inspection is more important now than ever. This inspection ensures that all the vehicles on our roads are roadworthy and helps reduce the number of unsafe vehicles.
Since the implementation of the LTA inspection, we’ve experienced fewer accidents and vehicle breakdowns on the road as well as a decreased amount of harmful CO2 emissions from poorly-maintained vehicles and vehicles with larger exhausts.
These are the typical checks involved in an LTA inspection:
The vehicle checks differ depending on the vehicle type. For example, the footrest, tilting stand, and chain guard are examined in a motorcycle/scooter inspection, but this is not necessary for cars.
The good news about the vehicle inspection is that the process will only take a few minutes, depending on your vehicle's condition, type, and age.
Did you know that if your fleet is involved in a collision, your vehicle's safety provision and vehicle regulatory compliance will affect the fault and liability results? One of the biggest benefits of an inspection is that you can avoid a complex legal situation if your fleet is involved in an accident; by showing that your vehicle is certified as roadworthy.
Although getting your vehicle inspected may seem like a hassle, there are plenty of benefits for your fleet, from simply having your vehicles checked every few months or yearly.
The benefits include:
Let’s quickly dive into the five benefits of vehicle inspections for your fleet’s safety and regulatory compliance.
Each check in the vehicle examination ensures that your vehicle has the proper safety provisions to prevent accidents and protect drivers and passengers.
The inspection ensures that your vehicle's mechanical safety features are working properly. This helps to prevent collisions and the severity of accidents. For example, if there is a problem with your truck's braking system, your drivers may not safely stop the vehicle, which can cause serious accidents. Passing the inspection guarantees that your vehicle safety provisions are secured.
For fleet managers checking basic vehicle safety, such as tyres, seatbelts, and front/rear lights, should be part of the pre-trip inspection or at least checked regularly. The great thing about the LTA vehicle inspection is that it ensures that not only your fleet vehicle has functional safety provisions but also that other vehicles on the road do too. This can at least give you and your drivers peace of mind knowing that the likeliness of a fatal accident is lower.
These quick and simple checks have a positive impact on your fleet's overall compliance with regulations set by the LTA and other road regulatory bodies.
Did you know driving a vehicle without insurance coverage is a serious offence? The penalties for this offence can include a fine, imprisonment, or licence disqualification. This makes your fleet's compliance even more important. Failing a vehicle inspection can negatively affect your insurance coverage. However, passing the vehicle inspection can reduce your insurance coverage rate and ensure your fleet vehicles’ insurance stays valid.
One prerequisite for renewing your road tax is suitable car insurance coverage. Your vehicle's road tax must be renewed every 6 to 12 months, but to do this, you must also pass the vehicle inspection. If there are any outstanding fines, these may prevent you from renewing your road tax. Getting your vehicle inspected makes renewing your road tax and insurance coverage easy.
Cars registered after 1 April 2014, and motor vehicles registered after 1 July 2003 also need to take the Hydrocarbon Emission Test to ensure that they meet the emission regulation standards set by the National Environment Agency (NEA) in Singapore. The vehicle inspection test ensures your fleet complies with these emission standards.
Having your vehicles inspected periodically has plenty of benefits for you. Here’s how you can get started.
When the time comes for your vehicle's LTA inspection, here’s a quick Cartrack guide to get you ready.
According to the LTA official website, if your vehicle is due for an inspection, you don’t need to wait for a notice to have your vehicle checked.
This table explains the inspection frequency for different vehicle types and ages.
(Table provided by the LTA official website).
The LTA has a list of Authorised Motor Vehicle Inspection Agencies (AMVIA) that are companies accredited by the LTA to carry out inspections. The list of LTA-approved inspection centres can be found on the LTA official website and includes the location details of VICOM, STA and JIC inspection centres around Singapore. You can have your vehicle checked at any approved centre.
Here’s a heads-up! Your periodic inspection will include the following checks for each fleet vehicle.
The cost of your fleet's inspection will vary based on the vehicle type. Inspections for exhaust systems or private hire cars are charged additionally. You should note that there are other vehicle inspection service costs for special vehicle checks.
The table below gives the costs for vehicle inspection. Note that the costs are subject to change and increase.
(Table information provided by STA vehicle inspection)
Well, there you have it━everything you need to know to get your fleet vehicles inspected in Singapore. Although 95% of all vehicle inspections are successful, you never want your fleet to make up the 5% of vehicles not granted a certificate.
Cartrack’s fleet management system helps businesses prepare for annual LTA inspections.
To ensure your fleet is granted a certificate after every inspection, Cartrack’s telematics integrated fleet system helps you with maintenance reminders, cost management and other administrative aspects of your fleet.
There are no quick fixes when it comes to your fleet, but here are 3 strategic ways for you to prepare your fleet for inspections:
Proactive maintenance is a strategy to avoid breakdowns and ensure your fleet vehicles are roadworthy before your LTA vehicle inspection. Cartrack’s fleet maintenance strategy includes:
Running a fleet costs money, keep up with your various vehicle costs with Cartrack’s MiFleet system that helps you:
Select from a range of over 40 standard reports on our fleet management platform, including mileage, driver scorecards, speeding, and productivity reports.
Your fleet’s overall compliance does not end after the inspection, there are a few things you should take care of. Here are 3 simple post-inspection actions for your fleet
As mentioned before, all vehicles in Singapore must have motor insurance. Your insurance can be renewed for a coverage period of 12 to 18 months. Getting valid insurance coverage safeguards your business, drivers, and fleet. Although the insurance fees will differ for your vehicles, failing an LTA vehicle inspection may affect your insurance. After your vehicle examination, remember to renew your insurance coverage.
Your vehicle’s road tax must be renewed every 6 or 12 months. The prerequisite for renewing your tax is that your car must have passed its LTA periodic inspection. Another prerequisite is that it should be insured for the period the road tax is valid. Since the reminder for your vehicle inspection is typically sent 3 months before your road tax expires, one of the smartest decisions you can make is to renew your road tax immediately after the inspection.
The LTA sends inspection reminders three months before the inspection deadline. However, you do not have to wait to receive these reminders before getting your car inspected. If you know your vehicle is due for an inspection, visit an LTA-approved testing centre. Remember to set reminders for your next inspection so you can have more planned vehicle downtime.
Cartrack can assist in the pre-and post-inspection process. Remember to upload the insurance certificate, road tax, and LTA inspection documents on Cartrack’s fleet management system for your digital record-keeping. You can also easily upload expiration dates for these certifications and set reminders to renew them.
Cartrack takes the stress out of preparing for an LTA inspection, allowing you to focus on what matters most—running your business.
Contact us for a demo here and see how easy it is to use our fleet system for LTA inspections.
Tired of the hassle of vehicle inspections? Our guide reveals everything you need to know to ace your inspection, every time.
