Deepavali 2026: AWAS cameras, outstanding saman & driving while blacklisted

An unpaid saman won't stop you driving home for Deepavali, but a JPJ blacklist can: after 60 days unpaid, you cannot renew your road tax or driving licence, and driving on an expired one risks a court fine of up to RM3,000, jail, and a rejected insurance claim.

That's the trap thousands of Malaysians walk into every festive season. With Deepavali falling on Sunday, 8 November 2026 (and a replacement holiday on Monday, 9 November in most states), highways will be packed, AWAS cameras will be busy, and roadblocks will be checking far more than your speed. Here's what the Motorist App team wants every driver to know before the balik kampung drive.

Key takeaways

• Deepavali 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November; Monday, 9 November is a replacement holiday everywhere except Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak.
• An AWAS speeding or red-light summons costs RM150 if paid within 15 days, RM200 within 30 days and RM300 within 60 days.
• After 60 days unpaid, JPJ can blacklist you, which blocks road tax and driving licence renewal, and the case can go to court (RM300 to RM2,000).
• Being blacklisted is not itself a driving offence, but driving with expired road tax, an expired licence or no insurance is, and those are not compoundable at a discount.
• Check and clear every saman on MyJPJ or MyBayar PDRM at least 3 days before you travel, then renew road tax on the Motorist App.

How AWAS cameras catch Deepavali drivers

AWAS catches more than speed. JPJ's Automated Awareness Safety System records speeding, running red lights, illegal lane changes across double lines, driving in the emergency lane, tailgating, overloading, and heavy vehicles breaking festive-period road bans. There's no officer and no roadblock: the camera logs your plate and the summons is posted to the registered owner.

Festive traffic means festive summonses. JPJ says the Menora Tunnel in Perak alone averages about 3,000 AWAS summonses a day during school holidays and festive seasons. Selangor, Perak and Johor record the most AWAS offences, which are the same corridors carrying the Deepavali exodus to Ipoh, Penang and Johor Bahru.

Most people don't pay. By late 2025, JPJ reported 1,458,577 unpaid AWAS summonses nationwide, out of 1.92 million unpaid JPJ notices. Many drivers only find out when their road tax renewal is rejected.

What an AWAS summons costs in 2026

Since 1 January 2026, JPJ and PDRM use one standard "pay early, pay less" scale.

The discount clock doesn't wait for the postman. The summons is often online in MyJPJ days before the letter arrives, so a speeding snap on 7 November can slip out of the RM150 bracket while it's still in the mail. Check the app, not your mailbox.

What happens if you have outstanding saman

Day 61 is where it turns serious. Once a compoundable saman passes 60 days unpaid, the discount is gone and JPJ or PDRM can blacklist your IC and vehicle registration, or refer the case to court. PDRM and JPJ records are now linked, so an old police saman can block a JPJ renewal too.

Unpaid saman past 60 days can lead to five problems:

• You can't renew your road tax (LKM)
• You can't renew your driving licence (CDL)
• You can't transfer or sell your car through JPJ
• KEJARA demerit points are logged against your licence
• A court summons, and a warrant of arrest if you miss the hearing

Paying clears it, but not instantly. After you settle every outstanding saman, the blacklist usually lifts within 24 to 48 hours as JPJ's system syncs. If it doesn't, you'll need to visit a JPJ enforcement counter with your receipts, which is not how anyone wants to spend the week before Deepavali.

Can you drive while blacklisted?

Technically yes, until something expires. A blacklist is an administrative block on renewals, not a driving ban. If your road tax, licence and insurance are all still valid on the day you drive, the blacklist alone isn't an offence. The problem is that you can't renew any of them, so the day one lapses, every trip becomes illegal.

Festive roadblocks check documents, not just speed. During Ops Deepavali, JPJ and PDRM officers screen road tax, licence and insurance status in real time. Here's what you face if you're stopped with an expired document:

Your insurance may not save you. Road tax can only be renewed with valid insurance, and insurers can challenge or reduce a claim if you were breaking the law at the time of an accident. An unlicensed driver in a crash may be personally sued for the other party's losses.

Common mistake: paying the saman the night before you leave. Payment is instant, but the blacklist can take 24 to 48 hours to lift, and road tax renewal only goes through after it does. Drivers who pay on Friday night and try to renew on Saturday morning often find the system still blocked, then drive home on expired road tax anyway. Pay by Wednesday, 4 November 2026 at the latest.

How to check and clear your saman before Deepavali

Start 10 days out. Aim to finish by Wednesday, 4 November 2026, so any blacklist has time to lift before the weekend rush.

1. Check JPJ and AWAS summonses on the MyJPJ app using your IC number.
2. Check police summonses on MyBayar PDRM; PDRM saman don't always appear in MyJPJ.
3. Pay everything in the same apps, or at a JPJ or PDRM counter. Keep every receipt.
4. Wait 24 to 48 hours, then check that your blacklist status is cleared in MyJPJ.
5. Renew your road tax on the Motorist App once your insurance and blacklist status are clear.

Expert tip: check the owner's IC, not just yours. AWAS summonses go to the registered owner, not the driver. If you're driving a car registered to a parent, sibling or company this Deepavali, look up their IC in MyJPJ too. Their blacklist blocks that car's road tax, even if your own record is clean.

Conclusion

An outstanding saman is cheap to fix today and expensive after day 60, when a blacklist blocks your road tax and licence. Clear it early, give the system 48 hours, and your Deepavali drive home stays about family, not roadblocks.

Renew your road tax on the Motorist App. Get expiry reminders, renew with instant confirmation and drive home for Deepavali worry-free. Download the Motorist App

Frequently asked questions

1. When is Deepavali 2026 in Malaysia?

Deepavali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November. Monday, 9 November is a replacement holiday in every state except Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak, which doesn't observe Deepavali as a public holiday.

2. How much is an AWAS summons in 2026?

An AWAS speeding or red-light summons is RM150 if paid within 15 days, RM200 within 30 days and RM300 within 60 days. After that, a court can fine you RM300 to RM2,000.

3. When does an unpaid saman get you blacklisted?

Under the 2026 standard compound rules, a compoundable saman left unpaid for more than 60 days can lead to a JPJ blacklist or court action.

4. Can I drive if I'm blacklisted by JPJ?

Yes, as long as your road tax, driving licence and insurance are still valid. You can't renew any of them while blacklisted, so once one expires, driving becomes an offence.

5. Can I renew my road tax with outstanding saman?

Not if the saman has triggered a blacklist. You must pay every outstanding summons first, then renew once the block lifts.

6. How long does it take for a JPJ blacklist to be removed after payment?

Most blacklists lift within 24 to 48 hours of payment. If yours doesn't, bring your payment receipts to a JPJ enforcement counter.

7. What is the fine for driving with expired road tax in Malaysia?

The compound is RM150 to RM300. If charged in court, a first offence can be fined up to RM3,000, and repeat offenders face up to RM5,000 or 2 years' jail.

8. How do I check my AWAS and police saman?

Check JPJ and AWAS summonses on the MyJPJ app with your IC number, and police summonses on MyBayar PDRM. The Motorist App also sends fine alerts.

9. Who pays the AWAS summons if someone else was driving my car?

The AWAS notice goes to the registered owner, who is responsible for paying or disputing it. An unpaid notice blocks that vehicle's road tax renewal regardless of who was driving.

10. Is driving without insurance a compoundable offence?

No. Driving without insurance is not eligible for compound discounts and carries a fine of up to RM1,000, up to 3 months' jail, or both under Section 90 of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Read More: JPJ blacklist before Deepavali 2026: 5 traps to clear now

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