With the border between Malaysia and Singapore due to be opened for free movement between the two countries from April 1, 2022 (that’s next Friday), many may be making plans to drive down. It has been two years since the border was closed off when the COVID-19 pandemic started and apart from shopping, many would also want to go and see relatives and friends.
Apart from the usual immigration requirements, the regulations for driving a vehicle into Singapore have not changed. You still need a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) for each vehicle and unlike before when you could drive up to the checkpoint at Tuas or Woodlands, you must now do so prior to arrival and you can only do it online. This is to be done at the OneMotoring, the website of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) which also has all the information required for entry and driving around Singapore. Those who are unable to show the confirmation email from the LTA will be denied entry.
It goes without saying that your vehicle’s roadtax and insurance must be valid, and with regards to insurance, Singapore law requires passenger liability insurance to be included. This is usually an ‘add-on’ option for motorists in Malaysia so you will need to contact your insurance company and ask for the inclusion (which will carry a small charge). If you regularly drive to Singapore, then it would be a good idea to just make it part of your policy renewal each year. Details of insurance and roadtax will have to be provided and kept updated at the LTA website.
VEPs have validity period of 14 days which starts on the date of the vehicle’s entry into Singapore, and thereafter on the date of payment during VEP renewal. To extend your vehicle’s stay in Singapore, you will need to renew your VEP.
VEP fees are waived for the first 10 days in each calendar year and on Saturdays, Sundays and Singapore public holidays, or if you enter Singapore from 5 pm and exit by 2 am the next day. During Singapore’s June and December school holidays, if you enter Singapore from 12 noon and exit by 2 am the next day, you also do not have to pay VEP fees. If VEP fees are applicable, the charge is S$35 a day for cars and $4 a day for motorcycles.
You also need an Autopass card to pay for parking and charges for their Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) scheme. The Autopass card is like our Touch’Ngo card and has a stored value which can be reloaded at convenience stores. It can also be used for purchases at many places.
Unlike before when you would be given an Autopass card (which has a validity of a certain number of years) at the entry point, the LTA now instructs motorists to collect their Autopass card (if they do not have one and have applied for it via the website) on the Johor side. The LTA has a service centre in Johor Bahru at 34, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak Susur 1, 80000 Johor Bahru which handles this.
There are certain areas in Singapore which motorists must pay charges to use (ERP) and these charges vary according to the time of the day. The LTA offers two ways to make the electronic payments – either a flat rate for an entire day or rental of a unit like a SmartTAG (which uses the Autopass card. The flat rate option is convenient as nothing needs to be done and no fee (S$5.15/day + refundable deposit of S$124.65) has to be paid for the device. Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras will detect your vehicle when you pass under the gantries and the charge will be made which is to be settled when departing. The flat rate allows for any number of passages through ERP areas which is very convenient for those who are not familiar with the roads.
It is important to note that Singapore is very serious about settlement of fines for offences, and they are very efficient at record-keeping (‘don’t play-play‘, as the Phua Chu Kang always advises). So if you committed an offence 2 years ago or are not sure if you have any outstanding fines to pay, you can check at this website. If you have committed an offence, you would normally be stopped before departure (it’s a small country) but if you managed to ‘escape’, the record is still there and if you return with the same vehicle, you will be asked to pay the fine and if you do not, you will be detained until you do.
In anticipation of a significant increase in the volume of VEP applications, the LTA has been carrying out a system upgrade on its website since March 24 and the expected downtime will be until March 30, 2022. Vehicle owners will be able to access the system from March 31, 2022.
Travellers are advised to plan at least 2 weeks ahead of their intended travel dates to allow sufficient time for VEP application and approval. The LTA says that processing may take a longer during this period so it hopes that those who are only going to Singapore for a holiday can defer their plans so that others who have more important needs can have faster processing.
Naturally, all travellers must also be fully vaccinated and adhere to whatever pandemic-related procedures are in force in Singapore. Full vaccination means having at least 3 doses and if you have not gotten the third booster dose, do so even if you are not going out of the country. After March 31, 2022, the Health Ministry has warned that the status of those who have not had their third booster dose will be downgraded to partially vaccinated which might prevent them from entering certain places.
Have a safe journey and remember, social distancing and facemasks are still required.
