As Malaysia and Singapore are geographically close to each other, it makes sense that there are connections between the two countries. These connections make travelling to and from each country convenient and easy.
Can Malaysians Drive Their Cars to Singapore?
With approximately 350,000 to 450,000 people crossing the Malaysia-Singapore border daily, it’s no wonder many Malaysians are curious about driving their cars to Singapore. The good news is that Malaysian-registered cars are allowed into Singapore, but there are certain requirements that need to be met.
To drive a Malaysian-registered car into Singapore, you’ll need a valid Autopass card with an email of approval from the Land Transport Authority (LTA), road tax for the vehicle, and valid insurance. But who exactly can drive from Malaysia to Singapore?
Who Can Drive from Malaysia to Singapore?
Any Malaysian citizen with a car registered in Malaysia can drive to Singapore, including those who just want to explore Singapore and those who hold a Singapore Work Pass. Malaysians who do not live in Singapore but hold a Work Pass can drive to Singapore, provided that the car they are using is registered to them.
However, there’s a catch – their vehicle must be kept or used outside Singapore for 6 hours or more every day. Aside from these specific requirements for Malaysians with a Singapore Work Pass, both types of visitors share other conditions that need to be met, which we’ll get into below.
What Do You Need to Prepare Before Driving to Singapore?
Before driving to Singapore from Malaysia, there are certain requirements for each Malaysian visitor. The following conditions are prerequisites to actually getting to drive to Singapore.
Having an Autopass Card is one of the major requirements for land travel from Malaysia to Singapore. It’s a stored-value card that has two purposes: first, it can be used to pay entry, exit, and toll fees; second, it records your vehicle’s entry into Singapore.
The Autopass Card also acts as a non-transferable electronic Vehicle Entry Permit for all foreign vehicles that enter Singapore. When you get your card, you should also receive an approval email from the LTA.
Autopass Card Requirements
When you apply for an Autopass Card, it is automatically tied to your vehicle. You should apply for this at least 2 weeks before your trip, so that you may collect it before you need to drive to Singapore.
Getting an Autopass Card costs S$10, but take note that this amount is only valid for a one-day trip. If you need to stay in Singapore for longer, you can top up your card with the NETS App, cash, credit cards, or even debit cards.
Vehicle Road Tax
Another important condition for travelling to Singapore via car is vehicle road tax. Every vehicle registered in Singapore has a valid road tax, so it only makes sense that any foreign-registered vehicle entering the country has that as well.
Road tax is one of the things that make it legal for a car to drive on public roads. Any Malaysian-registered vehicle needs to have road tax that is valid for a year and is renewed on a yearly basis.
Valid Certificate of Insurance
Lastly, you will need valid insurance for the vehicle that you will use to cross to Singapore. Your insurance needs to come with third-party coverage if you are considered responsible for damages to another person or their vehicle.
Even if you aren’t driving to Singapore, it’s best to have some form of vehicle insurance. In addition to covering any liabilities, the best car insurances and motorcycle insurances in Malaysia also have a ton of perks that can come in handy.
Other Things to Take Note of When Driving from Malaysia to Singapore
Aside from everything that we discussed above, you will also need to settle any outstanding fines for your vehicle. Singapore’s AXS website will give you all the details you need – and you can even pay your fines online!
Here’s a checklist of what you need to prepare when going from Malaysia to Singapore:
Entry and Exit Fees
When driving to Singapore, there will be fees that you will need to pay for your entry into and exit from the country. As you enter through either the Woodlands or the Tuas Checkpoint, you must have your Autopass Card ready.
This is because you will be inserting your card into the immigration booth’s card reader to validate your entry into Singapore. The entry and exit fees that you need to pay will be automatically deducted from your Autopass Card as you exit Singapore.
Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) in Singapore
Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) is a road management system in Singapore. This helps alleviate traffic congestion at certain points on the road.
When you drive around in Singapore, you’ll probably see many ERP gantries all throughout. Since you’ll be driving your Malaysia-registered car into Singapore, you can opt to pay a fixed fee of S$5 to use ERP-priced roads during their hours of operation.
What is the Allowed Length of Stay in Singapore?
Malaysian visitors can stay in Singapore for up to 14 days, with an option to extend the stay for a maximum of 5 days. This period starts as soon as you enter the country and use your Autopass Card to validate your entry.
The given period of your allowed time in Singapore is because your Autopass Card, which also serves as your Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP), is valid for 14 days from the date you enter Singapore.
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