Knowledge base Road rules Updated 26 Oct 2026 20 min read

Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) for drivers

Driver-facing ERP operating days and charges, IU/OBU requirements and payment, missed-payment steps, the ERP 2 transition, foreign-vehicle rates, and the Orchard cordon pricing rationale.

ERP IU OBU gantry congestion-pricing

Primary source: https://onemotoring.lta.gov.sg/content/onemotoring/home/driving/ERP/ERP.html

Electronic Road Pricing is used to manage road congestion in Singapore. Drivers incur ERP charges when passing through ERP gantries during operational hours. To avoid charges, OneMotoring says motorists can consider alternative routes, travelling outside operational hours, or taking public transport (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)).

Rates are reviewed every quarter and adjusted during the June and December school holidays, based on traffic conditions. Rates are generally set in half-hour periods. The period labelled 0730–0800 means the rate applies from and including 7.30 am until but excluding 8.00 am. The charge depends on vehicle type (bigger types pay more) and the time you enter the gantry (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)).

There are no ERP charges on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays. The detailed operating-hours section says ERP stops at 1 pm on the eve of New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas Day. The page’s summary still names Hari Raya Haji, so its two sections remain inconsistent; check LTA’s current operating-hours information before relying on a Hari Raya eve closure (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)).

This article records those driver-facing rules. It does not copy the downloadable gantry-by-gantry rate PDFs.

Why Orchard uses a flat ERP rate

In a written reply on the reinstated Orchard cordon ERP charge on weekdays from 11 am to 7 pm, MOT said traffic speeds over those intervals ranged from 15 to 20 km/h, too low for a meaningful differentiation in ERP rates. It said the Orchard cordon is structured to avoid diverting motorists onto smaller roads that would then become congested. MOT said reducing congestion should make journeys shorter and more predictable for people who cannot adjust their travel time, route, or mode, and noted that Orchard has multiple bus and train options (MOT, Impact of Reinstated Orchard ERP Charge on Essential Workers, Caregivers and Point-to-Point Drivers, and Rational for Flat Rate versus Dynamic Pricing).

LTA's latest published rate change reinstated weekday ERP at 11 am–7 pm in the Orchard Cordon from 7 September 2026, at $1 per Passenger Car Unit (PCU) across 11 locations. LTA said it would monitor Orchard's Saturday traffic and assess whether to resume Saturday ERP in the next quarter (LTA, Revised ERP Rates from 7 September 2026).

IU or OBU

At present, Singapore-registered vehicles must have an In-vehicle Unit (IU) or On-Board Unit (OBU) to drive through operating ERP gantries. Without either unit, the penalty is $70.00 for each operating gantry used (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)).

Install an IU or OBU at an LTA-authorised inspection and service centre. IUs have a 5-year warranty; replacement after that, or if the IU label is missing or unreadable, is payable. For a faulty IU on a Singapore-registered vehicle, OneMotoring directs motorists to book an OBU replacement at no cost via the stated go.gov.sg link (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)).

LTA is phasing out IU use by the end of 2026. From 1 January 2027, Singapore-registered vehicles must have an OBU, except vehicles not allowed on mainland public roads, vehicles under specified restricted-use schemes, non-mechanically propelled vehicles such as trailers, and Classic/Vintage vehicles. A Classic/Vintage vehicle without an OBU will instead incur the flat-rate charge described below. LTA says OBU self-installation is not permitted and is an offence under the Road Traffic Act (Electronic Road Pricing System) Rules 2015 (OneMotoring, ERP 2.0). The Ministry of Transport says the ERP 2 rollout will be completed and the ERP 1 system decommissioned on that date (MOT, Electronic Road Pricing).

OBU installation window and fee

Eligible Singapore-registered vehicles registered before 1 May 2024 can receive the OBU and installation free of charge. LTA gives each eligible motorist a six-month free-installation window stated in the first invitation letter. If that window is missed, a reminder letter gives an additional three months free; after that, installation costs $35 for motorcycles and $70 for other vehicles, excluding GST, before OBU installation becomes mandatory on 1 January 2027. Check the vehicle’s eligibility and invitation letter for its assigned dates (OneMotoring, ERP 2.0).

External Battery Device (EBD)

Some vehicles may need an External Battery Device (EBD) to provide a constant power supply for the OBU. LTA gives Tesla vehicles, electric motorcycles without auxiliary batteries, and vehicles with a battery isolator (“master switch”) as examples. Whether an EBD is needed is subject to a technical feasibility assessment by an LTA-authorised EBD installation and inspection centre. LTA says its EBD is custom-designed for OBU use and other commercially available batteries may not be suitable (OneMotoring, ERP 2.0).

Where an EBD is applicable to a newly registered vehicle, LTA lists the price of its in-house EBD as $196.20, inclusive of GST; installation charges that an authorised dealer or distributor may impose are additional. Eligible Singapore-registered vehicles that receive free OBU installation also receive free EBD installation if an EBD is required (OneMotoring, ERP 2.0).

An EBD has a 2-year warranty from its first installation, covering manufacturer’s defects subject to LTA’s stated limitations. The warranty remains with the EBD when vehicle ownership is transferred. For servicing or repairs at a workshop that is not LTA-authorised for OBU/EBD work, LTA says non-OBU/EBD vehicle work does not automatically void the warranty; any unavoidable temporary removal must be reinstated properly. Only LTA-authorised persons may install an OBU or EBD. Repositioning either unit through an unauthorised person is an offence and immediately voids the warranty (OneMotoring, ERP 2.0).

Inspection notices and vehicle seizure

Under section 34E of the Road Traffic Act, the Registrar may give the owner of a vehicle with a device or appurtenance installed for road-user charging a written notice to produce the vehicle at an appointed time and place for inspection or testing. An authorised officer may remove the device if needed to inspect or test it, and may remove and dispose of it if satisfied that the device contravenes Part 1A of the Act or rules made under section 34D. Failing to comply with a production notice is an offence (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 34E).

If the owner does not comply with the notice, the Registrar or an authorised officer may seize and detain the vehicle to carry out the inspection or test. The owner must be informed in writing immediately. If the vehicle is not claimed within 3 months after seizure, it may be sold by public auction or otherwise disposed of after one month's Gazette notice. Proceeds are applied to road-user charges due for the vehicle and costs under the section; any surplus goes to the Consolidated Fund if the owner does not claim it within 12 months (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 34E).

Enacted payment-claim time limit not yet in force

Section 67 of the Land Transport and Related Matters Act 2026 enacts a new Road Traffic Act section 34EA. It would generally bar proceedings to recover a road-use charge or another prescribed charge, cost or fee that was overpaid or paid in error through an in-vehicle device unless the claim is made within 3 months after the payment; regulations may prescribe a longer period. The provision excludes road-user charges and other amounts collected or paid before section 62 of the 2026 Act commences. As at 26 October 2026, section 67 has not been included in the published commencement dates for that Act, so this is an enacted change, not a current deadline. The SSO current-commencement index lists five commencement notifications for the Act (Singapore Statutes Online, Land Transport and Related Matters Act 2026, ss. 1 and 67; Singapore Statutes Online, Land Transport and Related Matters Act 2026 commencement entries).

New ERP 2 road markings and signs

From October 2026, LTA is progressively introducing visual cues at the existing 33 ERP charging locations ahead of the 1 January 2027 ERP 2 launch. Drivers will see two oval blue “ERP” symbols painted in each lane on arterial and slip roads, and three in each lane on expressways. An “ERP Charge Zone” sign marks the start of each charging location. These cues complement OBU notifications: they help alert motorists before a charging location, show the prevailing charge, and indicate the amount charged when a vehicle passes the location (LTA, New Road Markings and Signs to Support Transition to ERP 2 from October 2026; LTA, Annex A: Illustrations of ERP 2 Road Marking and Road Sign).

ERP 2 uses Global Navigation Satellite System technology. From 1 January 2027, physical gantries will no longer mark charging locations; the OBU detects when the vehicle passes a location and calculates the applicable charge. LTA says the existing congestion-pricing framework will not change as part of the transition (LTA, New Road Markings and Signs to Support Transition to ERP 2 from October 2026; OneMotoring, ERP 2.0).

Gantries are being removed in phases. LTA says the first phase removes 62 non-operational gantries; the remaining 33 operational gantries will be removed after gantry-based charging ceases on 31 December 2026. Some gantry frames may remain with roadside units, and modification or removal of all 95 gantries is expected to finish by June 2027 (LTA, New Road Markings and Signs to Support Transition to ERP 2 from October 2026).

Paying at the gantry

You can pay via a stored-value card inserted into the IU, or via backend payment services. With a card, the fee is deducted immediately; ensure sufficient value (examples given: NETS CashCard or CEPAS Card). Auto top-up or backend payment avoids insufficient-value violations (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)).

Backend providers named on the page are AXS Drive, EZ-Link Motoring Service, and NETS vCashCard (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)).

First-generation IUs use NETS CashCard (with chip). Second-generation IUs use CEPAS cards (examples: NETS Motoring Card, EZ-Link Motoring Card). Before driving, remove and reinsert the card; you should hear a beep and see the value on the IU display (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)).

Missed payment — five-day grace period

From 1 October 2024, if you did not pay the ERP charge at the gantry, LTA will send an SMS after the violation. You have a five-day grace period from the date the SMS is sent to pay the missed charge, with no $10 administrative charge if you pay during that period. Keep your Singapore-registered mobile number updated on Singpass (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)).

If payment is not made during the grace period, you receive a physical notice of ERP violation and must pay the ERP charge plus an administrative charge of $10. Pay via OneMotoring Digital Services (Pay LTA Fines and ERP Charges) or AXS (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)).

The Road Traffic (Electronic Road Pricing System) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024, which took effect on 1 October 2024, added rule 7(2A): the Registrar may allow a grace period to pay a road-user charge before issuing the notice. The amendment does not set a duration for that period (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Electronic Road Pricing System) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024, rr. 1–2).

LTA’s 2024 news release additionally states that if the missed payment plus $10 is then not paid, a fine of $70 will be issued (LTA, ERP Administrative Charge news release).

For a vehicle with an OBU display, LTA says a missed charge appears immediately as an “Outstanding payment” icon. The icon is greyed out while the vehicle is moving, and payment through the display is available only while it is stationary. The FAQ says the icon remains until payment or expiry of the 5-day grace period. Owners still receive an SMS around 2–3 days after a missed gantry charge. Paying through the OBU by 5 pm on the day before the SMS is scheduled prevents the SMS from being sent (OneMotoring, ERP 2.0).

During the grace period, OBU-display users can pay on the display or through OneMotoring or AXS after receiving the SMS. LTA also says the OBU alert gives about two extra days and describes the total as approximately 7 days. However, the same FAQ says the OBU icon disappears at expiry of a 5-day grace period, while its post-expiry answer explains that a $10 administrative charge and later a $70 fine may follow if payment remains outstanding. The FAQ does not reconcile these different descriptions or define a separate deadline for foreign-registered OBU users, who do not receive SMS. Do not use the approximate 7-day description as an exact deadline; pay promptly when the OBU displays the outstanding-payment alert. Vehicles still using an IU can pay through OneMotoring or AXS within the five days after the SMS. Payment status across channels is synced daily; OneMotoring and AXS show the latest status the following day. If payment was made through the OBU, ignore an SMS or OneMotoring notice that still appears, to avoid paying twice (OneMotoring, ERP 2.0).

Missed charges from 1 January 2027

From 1 January 2027, missed ERP charges become an administrative matter rather than a traffic offence prosecuted in court. The vehicle owner, rather than the driver, must settle an outstanding charge. LTA's simplified process gives the owner 5 days from its SMS notification to pay the missed ERP charge only, with no additional penalty. After the grace period, the owner must pay the missed charge plus a $10 administrative fee and cannot transact with LTA until both are settled (LTA, Amendments to the Road Traffic Act to Facilitate ERP2 Transition and Enhance Penalties for Vehicle Safety; LTA, Overview of Simplified ERP Settlement Process, Annex A).

While the overdue amount remains unsettled, the owner is denied these LTA vehicle services: road-tax renewal; using or encashing PARF rebates or COE residuals; transferring vehicle registration; refund of Off-Peak Car rebates; refund of unused road tax; and refund of school-bus road-tax rebates. These restrictions begin only after the five-day grace period is missed (LTA, Amendments to the Road Traffic Act to Facilitate ERP2 Transition and Enhance Penalties for Vehicle Safety).

Foreign-registered vehicles

Foreign-registered vehicles must pay ERP when passing through an operational gantry. Rules differ by vehicle type (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)):

Rule 7(2A) of the Road Traffic (Electronic Road Pricing System) Rules 2015 allows the Registrar to grant a grace period before issuing an ERP violation notice; the rule does not prescribe a fixed duration (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Electronic Road Pricing System) (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2024, r. 2). LTA says its ERP grace period has applied to foreign-registered vehicles since 1 September 2025. A foreign vehicle with an OBU may pay a missed charge through it, but foreign vehicle owners do not receive SMS notifications from LTA. In its general OBU guidance, LTA says the display alert ends when payment is made or the five-day grace period expires, and also describes OBU users as having about two extra days before the SMS and an approximately 7-day total grace period. LTA's settlement flowchart likewise measures the standard five-day period from its SMS notification, but the foreign-vehicle FAQ says those owners receive no SMS and neither source specifies the foreign-vehicle countdown's start event. Check the OBU's outstanding-payment alert and pay promptly; the public guidance does not give a precise foreign-vehicle day-and-time deadline (OneMotoring, ERP 2.0; LTA, Overview of Simplified ERP Settlement Process, Annex A).

Foreign passenger cars may pay a flat $5 each day to use ERP-priced roads during operating hours, regardless of how many times they pass gantries, deducted from the Autopass Card when the car departs Singapore. They may instead install an IU ($158.70 at an authorised centre) and use a stored-value card.
Foreign-registered vehicles other than cars, including goods vehicles, taxis and buses as listed, need an IU installed ($158.70) and a stored-value card with sufficient value before using ERP-priced roads.
Driving without an IU incurs $70.00 per operating gantry until the end of 2026. From 1 January 2027, a foreign-registered vehicle without an OBU must pay a flat-rate ERP fee of $3 for a motorcycle or $10 for any other vehicle for each ERP operational day it travels on Singapore roads. Foreign-registered vehicles may opt to install an OBU in Singapore from 1 April 2026; the listed OBU cost is $158.70, excluding any workshop installation fee (OneMotoring, ERP 2.0).

From 1 January 2027, the total flat-rate amount for a foreign-registered vehicle without an OBU will be calculated from the ERP operational days during its stay and deducted from its Autopass Card when it leaves Singapore. The driver must ensure the card has enough stored value and insert it into the card reader at the immigration booth for deduction at the checkpoint (OneMotoring, ERP 2.0).

Classic and Vintage vehicles

Classic and Vintage motorcycles without an OBU incur a flat-rate fee of $3; all other Classic/Vintage vehicles without an OBU incur $10 for each ERP operational day they travel on Singapore roads. LTA says this fee is paid together with the e-Day Licence. These vehicles without an OBU do not pay the gantry-specific ERP rates (OneMotoring, ERP 2.0).

Live rates PDFs linked on the page when fetched were “with effect from 29 June 2026” and “with effect from 7 September 2026”. Use those PDFs for current gantry amounts.

Coverage debt

Gantry-by-gantry dollar rates change quarterly and are not copied into this article.
Rule 7(2A) lets the Registrar allow a grace period but does not set its duration. LTA's standard settlement flow measures five days from the SMS, while the foreign-vehicle FAQ confirms eligibility but says those owners receive no SMS. Public guidance does not identify the countdown's start event or the foreign driver's precise day-and-time deadline. Follow the OBU's outstanding-payment alert and pay promptly.
The Act sets out the inspection, detention and disposal powers, but LTA's public ERP guidance does not describe how owners arrange an inspection or secure release of a vehicle seized under section 34E.
The section 34EA payment-claim time limit is enacted but not yet in force as at 26 October 2026; its commencement date and any prescribed longer claim period remain to be checked.
The current ERP page’s at-a-glance description names Hari Raya Haji eve as an early-stop day, while its detailed operating-hours section names Hari Raya Puasa eve. The live page does not reconcile these different holiday names; check LTA’s current notices near the date.
MOT's 6 October 2026 reply gives a general expected benefit from reduced congestion but does not report a group-specific impact assessment or outcome data for essential workers, caregivers, or point-to-point drivers affected by the Orchard cordon charge. LTA's 31 August rate announcement gives the current weekday charge and says it will assess whether to resume Saturday ERP, but publishes no group-specific impact results.