Things to Note Before Driving from Malaysia into Singapore

(Photo Credit: TODAY)

Driving into Singapore soon? Here are some things to take note to ensure a smooth, fuss-free entry into the little red dot.

The checkpoints between Malaysia and Singapore are said to be some of the busiest in the world. With some media reports placing the number at 300,000 people crossing daily, the last thing you could possibly want is be one of those people holding up everyone in the vehicle queue over one small thing.

To avoid that, here are some requirements to take note of.

Before Driving into Singapore

(Photo Credit: LTA)

In order to drive a Malaysian-registered car or motorcycle into Singapore, you must be either a social visitor or hold a Singapore Work Pass. For the former, you must have a valid insurance certificate to drive the vehicle on Singapore roads, and apply for and purchase a valid Autopass Card.

For the latter, you must reside permanently outside of Singapore, have a valid insurance certificate to drive the vehicle on Singapore roads, ensure that the vehicle is registered in your name, ensure the vehicle is kept or used outside Singapore at least six hours every day and you need to apply for and purchase a valid Autopass Card.

Two of the most important items to obtain to drive in Singapore is an Autopass Card and a valid insurance.

An Autopass Card is used to record your vehicle’s entry into Singapore and to pay all entry and exit fees when you drive out of Singapore. Do note that your Autopass card in non-transferrable is directly linked to your vehicle and insurance expiry date. That means you cannot use an Autopass card from another vehicle. Click here to learn more about the Autopass card and to apply for one.

You must have a valid insurance to drive your vehicle in Singapore. If you have just purchased a new motor insurance cover, you need to update your insurance expiry date in your Autopass Card at the LTA office located at the Tuas and Woodlands Checkpoints to avoid card errors when entering Singapore.

Entering Singapore

There are two land checkpoints linking Malaysia and Singapore that vehicles can use, the Tuas and Woodlands Checkpoint.

When clearing immigration on the Singapore side, you need to insert the Autopass Card into the reader at the immigration booth to validate your entry. Your entry and exit fees will be paid when you exit Singapore.

Malaysian vehicles are allowed to be in Singapore for a maximum of 14 days per entry, or up to the expiry of your vehicle’s insurance, whichever is earlier. Should you need to extend your stay, you can apply for an extension of stay by bringing your vehicle, Autopass Card, Vehicle registration card, Insurance Certificate and Cash for payment to the LTA Customer Service Centre at 10 Sin Ming Drive.

Driving in Singapore

(Photo Credit: Straits Times)

While driving in Singapore, you will most probably encounter Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries where you have to pay a fee during the gantry’s operational hours.

For Malaysian-registered cars, their drivers can pay a fixed fee of RM15 (S$5) daily to use ERP-priced roads during ERP operating hours, regardless of the number of times you pass through the ERP gantries. This fixed fee will be deducted from your Autopass Card when you exit Singapore.

Other options include renting a temporary IU at the Tuas or Woodlands Checkpoint to pay your ERP charges, or permanently install an IU in your car by visiting any authorised IU Service Centre (click here for a list of centres).

The IU rental costs RM15.66 (S$5.15) a day with a rental duration of between two days and two weeks. You will also need to pay a refundable deposit of RM378.94 ($124.65). To use the IU, you will need to insert a stored-value card like a NETS CashCard, EZ-Link CEPAS Card or NETS FlashPay CEPAS Card.

When Leaving Singapore

When you leave Singapore, make sure that you have sufficient value in your Autopass Card to pay all the fees incurred during your stay in Singapore. At the immigration booth, you have to insert your Autopass Card into the card reader to pay a few different fees.

You won’t need to pay Entry Tolls if you drove in via Woodlands Checkpoint, whereas it is RM7.60 ($2.50) for peak hours between 5am to 10am and 3pm to 11pm, and $1.30 for off-peak hours between 11pm to 5am and 10am to 3pm.

Another fee you might need to pay is the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP). It was waived for the first 10 days, after which you will need to pay VEP every calendar year, and RM106.40 ($35) every subsequent day that your car is in Singapore thereafter.

You do not need to pay for VEP on Saturdays, Sundays, Singapore Public Holidays, if you enter Singapore from 5pm and leave by 2am the following day and during Singapore's June and December school holidays, if you enter Singapore from 12pm and leave by 2am the following day.

Other charges include the Reciprocal Road Charge, which is RM19.46 (S$6.40) per entry, and ERP charges (if you choose to pay a fix ERP fee) which is RM15.20 (S$5) a day.

Last but certainly not least, please follow all the traffic rules and drive safely on the roads!

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