As vehicle owners prepare for the renewal of their 2026 road tax, approximately 11,000 vehicles are barred from the process due to unresolved faulty airbag replacements. This situation arises as the online portal for renewing road tax opened on January 7, 2026, catering to around 750,000 vehicles.
Road tax: Faulty Airbags and Renewal Restrictions
According to Constantinos Kouppis, an officer from the road transport department, a total of 100,500 vehicles have been flagged for mandatory replacement of defective Takata airbags. Despite ongoing efforts, several thousand vehicles remain outstanding, resulting in their ineligibility for road tax renewal.
Grace Period and Ongoing Issues
Kouppis revealed that about 7,000 active vehicles are still awaiting the necessary airbag replacements from the initial batch of 81,000 vehicles announced in February 2025. With the expiration of the eight-month grace period, these vehicles are now classified as immobilised, complicating matters for their owners.
Challenges in Owner Communication
Many vehicle owners cannot be located, complicating the recall process. Kouppis noted, “We stand at 90 per cent of implementation. It is a dynamic process, as more vehicles are being continually added for recalls.”
Additional Vehicles Added to Recall List
Since February 2025, an additional 19,500 vehicles have been included in the recall list, with 4,000 of those still pending replacements. This highlights the ongoing challenge of ensuring all affected vehicles are addressed adequately.
Renewal Process and Deadlines
The online portal for road tax renewal will remain open until March 11 at midnight, with no planned extensions. Vehicle owners have the choice to renew their road tax for the entire year or in quarterly installments, provided they possess a valid MOT and insurance. Failure to renew by the deadline will result in a surcharge, adding further urgency to the situation for those affected by the airbag recall.
