Deepavali 2026 car prep: Saman, fuel & road checklist

Before you balik kampung for Deepavali 2026 (7–9 November), clear any unpaid saman, check the fuel price for that week, plan around traffic cameras and checkpoints, and spend 15 minutes on your tyres, oil, coolant, brakes, lights and wipers. Do all of it by Friday, 6 November.

Deepavali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026, and Monday, 9 November is a replacement holiday in most states. That gives you a Saturday-to-Monday break, but Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak don’t observe the Monday holiday, so check your state before you plan your return. Motorist App helps you check the road-side items (saman, fuel price, cameras and checkpoints) in one place, so a long weekend doesn’t start with a surprise fine or an empty tank.

Key takeaways

• Check your saman before you leave. An unpaid saman left long enough can lead to a blacklist, which blocks road tax and driving licence renewal.
• Check the fuel price on Wednesday, 4 Nov. The weekly price runs Thursday to Wednesday, so the announcement that day sets what you pay for the whole long weekend.
• Know your route. Check speed limits and traffic camera areas, and if you’re crossing to Singapore, view the JB–Singapore checkpoint cameras before you set off.
• Carry valid documents. Bring your driving licence and MyKad, and make sure your road tax is valid.
• Spend 15 minutes on the car. Tyres, oil, coolant, brakes, lights and wipers cover most breakdown risks.

Deepavali 2026 long weekend at a glance

The dates. Deepavali is on Sunday, 8 November. Monday, 9 November is a replacement holiday in most states. Saturday, 7 November is the start of the break, so expect the heaviest outbound traffic on Friday evening and Saturday morning, and the heaviest return traffic on Sunday night and Monday.

Who is affected. Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu rest on Friday and Saturday, so Deepavali itself is already their day off. Sarawak does not observe Deepavali as a public holiday.

Step 1: Check your saman before you go

Check every type. Police saman is handled through MyBayar PDRM, while JPJ and AES camera saman is handled through MyJPJ or the MySIKAP portal. Checking early matters because an old saman can turn into a bigger problem than a simple fine.

Know the new rules. Since 1 January 2026, the old festive discount campaigns have ended. Instead, the government applies a “The Less You Delay, The Less You Pay” structure. Paying within 1 to 15 days gets a 50% discount, 16 to 30 days gets 33%, and 31 to 60 days means the full compound amount. After 61 days, expect court action or a blacklist.

Why it matters for this trip. A blacklist blocks you from renewing road tax and your driving licence. If you have an unpaid saman, clear it now rather than discovering it later. You can check your saman status in the Motorist App.

Step 2: Check the fuel price before you fill up

The price is set weekly. Fuel prices run from Thursday to Wednesday and are announced on Wednesday through the Automatic Pricing Mechanism. For the Deepavali weekend, the relevant announcement is on Wednesday, 4 November, covering Thursday, 5 to Wednesday, 11 November.

What to expect. BUDI95 RON95 has stayed at RM1.99 per litre throughout 2026 for eligible Malaysians. Unsubsidised RON95, RON97 and diesel change weekly. For example, in the week of 23 to 29 July 2026, unsubsidised RON95 was RM3.62 per litre and RON97 was RM4.20 per litre. Check the current week’s price before you budget.

Work out your trip cost. A car using 8 litres per 100 km needs about 24 litres for a 300 km one-way drive. At RM1.99 per litre, that is about RM47.76 each way. At RM3.62 per litre, it is about RM86.88 each way. These are illustrative figures, so plug in your own car’s consumption.

Step 3: Plan around the JB–Singapore checkpoints

Check the live cameras first. Before you leave, view the traffic cameras at the Causeway (Woodlands) and the Second Link (Tuas) to see which crossing has the shorter queue. You can check them in the Motorist App.

Expect heavy traffic. Deepavali weekend is busy at both crossings, so leave early on Saturday morning and check the cameras again before you reach the checkpoint.

Have your documents ready. Keep your passport within reach and complete any entry requirements on the Singapore ICA website beforehand, such as the SG Arrival Card.

Step 4: Check your documents

Carry the essentials. Bring your valid driving licence and your MyKad. Check that your road tax has not expired. You can check and renew road tax and driving licence in the Motorist App. If you plan to use BUDI95 subsidised fuel, keep your MyKad on hand.

Step 5: The 15-minute car check

Do it cold. Park on level ground with the engine off and cool. Then work through the car in one loop.

• Tyres (3 minutes): Check pressure against the sticker inside the driver’s door jamb. Check tread against the wear indicator bars and look for bulges, cracks or nails. Check the spare too.
• Engine oil (2 minutes): Pull the dipstick and make sure the level sits between the minimum and maximum marks. If you’re close to your service interval, change it before the trip.
• Coolant (2 minutes): Check the reservoir level only when the engine is cold. Never open the radiator cap on a hot engine.
• Brakes (3 minutes): Check the brake fluid level, then listen for grinding or squealing on a short test drive. A soft or sinking pedal means a workshop visit before you leave.
• Lights (3 minutes): Test low and high beam, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights and reverse lights. A blown bulb is a cheap fix that also avoids a fine.
• Wipers (2 minutes): Run them on a wet windscreen and replace the blades if they smear or leave patches. Top up the washer fluid, as November is monsoon season.

Your Deepavali prep timeline

• Wed, 4 Nov: Check the new fuel price announcement. If prices are going up on Thursday, consider filling up that night.
• Thu, 5 Nov: Check and clear any saman. Do your 15-minute car check.
• Fri, 6 Nov: Check your route, toll plazas and documents. Fix anything the car check turned up.
• Sat, 7 Nov: Leave early to beat the heaviest traffic.
• Mon, 9 Nov: Plan your return time. Remember Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak are not on holiday.

Old Way vs Motorist App

Expert tip

Use the Wednesday announcement to time your fill-up. Fuel prices change at the start of each Thursday, and the new price holds until the following Wednesday. On Wednesday, 4 November, check whether prices are rising or falling. If they are rising, fill up that night before the change. If they are falling, wait until Thursday. This applies to unsubsidised fuel, as BUDI95 has stayed at RM1.99.

Common mistake

Waiting for a saman discount that no longer exists. Many drivers delay paying saman because they expect a festive discount campaign. Since 1 January 2026, those campaigns have been replaced by a sliding scale, where the earlier you pay, the less you pay. The longer you wait, the closer you get to losing the discount and risking a blacklist.

Conclusion

Clear your saman, check the fuel price on Wednesday, 4 November, know your route’s cameras and checkpoints, carry valid documents and spend 15 minutes on the car. Do it by Friday, 6 November and the Deepavali drive should be far less stressful. Have a safe trip and a happy Deepavali.

FAQs

1. Is 9 November 2026 a public holiday in all states?
No. Monday, 9 November is a replacement holiday in most states, but not in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak. Sarawak does not observe Deepavali as a public holiday at all.

2. How do I check my saman online in Malaysia?
Check police saman on MyBayar PDRM, and JPJ or AES camera saman on MyJPJ or the MySIKAP portal. You can also check your saman status in the Motorist App.

3. Is there a saman discount for Deepavali 2026?
No. The old festive discount campaigns ended on 1 January 2026. Instead, you pay less the earlier you settle: 50% off within 1 to 15 days, 33% within 16 to 30 days, and the full amount from 31 to 60 days.

4. What happens if I don’t pay my saman?
After 61 days, expect court action or a blacklist. A blacklist blocks you from renewing your road tax and driving licence.

5. When does the fuel price change?
Fuel prices are set weekly, from Thursday to Wednesday, and announced on Wednesday. For the Deepavali weekend, the announcement on Wednesday, 4 November covers 5 to 11 November.

6. What is the RON95 price in Malaysia?
Subsidised BUDI95 RON95 has stayed at RM1.99 per litre for eligible Malaysians in 2026. Unsubsidised RON95 changes weekly, so check the current week’s price before you fill up.

7. How much will fuel cost for a 300 km drive?
A car using 8 litres per 100 km needs about 24 litres, which is about RM47.76 at RM1.99 per litre. At RM3.62 per litre, the same trip costs about RM86.88.

8. Will there be police checkpoints during Deepavali?
Police often run festive road safety operations around major holidays, so expect checkpoints. Carry your driving licence and MyKad, and check PDRM announcements for dates and locations.

9. What documents should I carry on a long drive?
Carry your valid driving licence and MyKad, and make sure your road tax has not expired. Keep your MyKad handy if you plan to use BUDI95 subsidised fuel.

10. How long does a pre-trip car check take?
About 15 minutes if you check tyres, oil, coolant, brakes, lights and wipers in one loop. Allow extra time if you need to top up fluids or inflate tyres.

11. Do traffic cameras issue saman automatically?
Yes. AES (AwAS) cameras issue saman automatically, and the notice can arrive after your trip. Stay within the speed limit, especially on unfamiliar roads.

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