BENTONG: Insurance requirements for all cars and motorcycles with expired road tax – but only for those below three years past validity – will be relaxed for the next three months, says Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pic).

In the first such "whitening" exercise nationwide, the Transport Minister said owners of such vehicles could renew their insurance without going through Puspakom inspections, among other procedures.

Liow said they would only need to pay for the insurance charges, and even then at a discounted rate.

"Once that is done, they can go to any JPJ office to renew the road tax.

"This exercise is applicable for the next three months until June.

"I urge all owners with expired road tax not exceeding three years to seize this opportunity to get valid ones," he said during the launching of the Transport Ministry's carnival in Dataran Bentong here on Saturday.

The move is expected to benefit many in the lower income group driving or riding with expired road tax.

Statistics from the Road Transport Department show that there are about 29 million registered vehicles.

Out of this, only 19 million vehicles renew road tax every year and about 95% of those with expired road tax are motorcycles.

Citing an example of a 125cc motorcycle, Liow said those which road tax had expired needed to undergo Puspakom inspection and pay an insurance fee of between RM100 and RM140.

But now, he said , this has been reduced to only RM80.

"So it is now cheaper and there is less hassle. But do not delay as this exercise will not go on forever," he said.

Earlier, Liow, who is also Bentong MP, joined thousands of people at the carnival for a light workout and a 5km fun run.