Knowledge base Road rules Updated 14 Oct 2026 13 min read

Foreign-Registered Vehicles in Singapore

Foreign-vehicle entry permits and documents, visiting-driver licence eligibility, Autopass use and charges, including ASEAN commercial vehicles.

foreign-vehicles VEP GVP PSVP Autopass ERP Malaysia Thailand

Primary source: https://onemotoring.lta.gov.sg/content/onemotoring/home/driving/entering_and_exiting_singapore/foreign-vehicles-not-registered-in-malaysia.html

This guide covers short private trips by foreign-registered passenger cars and motorcycles, plus a summary of LTA's separate permit scheme for ASEAN buses, taxis and goods vehicles. LTA publishes separate entry rules for vehicles registered in Malaysia or Thailand and other foreign-registered passenger vehicles. Vehicles intended for long-term use in Singapore must be imported and registered for Singapore roads (OneMotoring, Foreign Passenger Cars and Motorcycles not Registered in Malaysia; OneMotoring, Cars and Motorcycles Registered in Malaysia).

Before travelling

For the short private trips covered by this article, cars and motorcycles entering Singapore must have valid insurance, road tax, proper front and rear licence plates, an Autopass card, LTA's VEP approval email, and the required entry permit. Other foreign vehicle classes have separate permit requirements. Keep the vehicle registration certificate and proof of insurance available for inspection (OneMotoring, Autopass Card; OneMotoring, Foreign Passenger Cars and Motorcycles not Registered in Malaysia).

LTA says foreign-vehicle licence plates must be prominently displayed at the front and rear, with the registration number clear and unobstructed by nearby decorations, fittings or markings. If a plate is blocked or its characters are not in Latin and Arabic numerals, an additional plate repeating the registration number in those numerals must be displayed visibly at both ends (OneMotoring, Foreign Passenger Cars and Motorcycles not Registered in Malaysia).

Malaysia-registered cars and motorcycles must have a valid VEP and the required documents. LTA advises applying for or updating an Autopass account at least two weeks before travel. The card is issued for a particular vehicle and cannot be transferred (OneMotoring, Cars and Motorcycles Registered in Malaysia; OneMotoring, Autopass Card).

Cars and motorcycles registered in Thailand follow the Malaysia-vehicle requirements, and must also have Singapore insurance for their entire stay (OneMotoring, Cars and Motorcycles Registered in Malaysia).

For cars and motorcycles registered outside Malaysia and Thailand, LTA requires the vehicle to be a passenger vehicle, a valid International Circulation Permit or Visitor's Permit, a valid Autopass card, Singapore insurance, front and rear plates, and prior LTA permit approval. Apply for the Autopass card and Visitor's Permit, if an International Circulation Permit is not held, at least one month before the intended entry using LTA's online feedback form. LTA excludes certain vehicles, including armoured vehicles, camper vans, caravan trailers and mini buses with cooking and sleeping facilities. These vehicles are for short private trips; LTA says long-term use requires import and Singapore registration (OneMotoring, Autopass Card; OneMotoring, Foreign Passenger Cars and Motorcycles not Registered in Malaysia).

LTA lists categories of people who generally cannot keep or use a foreign-registered car or motorcycle in Singapore, including Singapore citizens and permanent residents, Singapore residents, and specified pass holders. A non-resident work-pass holder may do so only if all of LTA's listed conditions are met, including being the vehicle's registered owner and keeping or using the vehicle outside Singapore for at least six hours each day. Check LTA's current eligibility details before travelling (OneMotoring, Cars and Motorcycles Registered in Malaysia).

The vehicle's entry approval does not by itself authorise a person to drive it. SPF says a foreigner residing in Singapore for less than 12 months must have a valid foreign driving licence and an International Driving Permit issued by an authorised body in the country of origin; if an IDP is unavailable, the driver must have an official English translation of the licence. A foreigner from an ASEAN member state does not need an IDP but must still have a valid foreign licence. Other residence and work-pass categories have separate Singapore-licence or conversion requirements; see Singapore driving licence classes (SPF, Singapore Driving Licence).

At the checkpoints and while in Singapore

At Woodlands or Tuas, insert the vehicle's Autopass card at the immigration booth on both entry and exit, even when the barrier is raised. This records the trip and handles applicable fees and tolls. Do not use another vehicle's Autopass card or a local CEPAS card at the checkpoint. LTA advises topping up before arrival because there are no top-up machines at the checkpoints; the card balance can be topped up to S$500. If the bill exceeds S$500, insert the card at the exit booth and pay the balance at the checkpoint's LTA VEP/Toll Office for a land exit; for air/sea exits, request fee settlement and exit clearance from LTA after the vehicle leaves Singapore (OneMotoring, Autopass Card; OneMotoring, Foreign Passenger Cars and Motorcycles not Registered in Malaysia).

Foreign-registered cars and motorcycles need a valid VEP throughout their stay, even if the vehicle is not driven on Singapore roads. Social Visit Pass holders' VEP is valid for up to 14 days from entry; LTA says to request an extension at least five days before expiry. LTA warns that vehicles with expired VEPs or insurance may face enforcement, including seizure (OneMotoring, Vehicle Entry Permit; OneMotoring, Foreign Passenger Cars and Motorcycles not Registered in Malaysia).

Outstanding vehicle fines must be settled. If a foreign-registered vehicle is involved in a traffic accident in Singapore, LTA says a Singapore police report is required (OneMotoring, Foreign Passenger Cars and Motorcycles not Registered in Malaysia; OneMotoring, Cars and Motorcycles Registered in Malaysia).

ERP charges apply when a vehicle uses ERP-priced roads during operating hours. Existing foreign-vehicle ERP arrangements and the ERP 2.0 transition are summarized in Electronic Road Pricing and ERP 2.0 (OneMotoring, Electronic Road Pricing).

Leaving Singapore by air or sea

When a foreign vehicle exits Singapore by air or sea, LTA requires the owner to settle vehicle fees and complete exit procedures after the vehicle has left Singapore. Submit a request through LTA's online feedback form, selecting Vehicle Matters and then Autopass, Vehicle Entry Permits and Tolls so it is routed to the relevant team (OneMotoring, Autopass Card).

Bringing a vehicle into Singapore by air or sea

For a foreign passenger car or motorcycle arriving by air or sea, LTA says to seek clearance from Singapore Customs and ICA on arrival. Its listed documents include the vehicle registration certificate, Singapore-issued insurance certificate, an AIT or ATA Carnet or Customs Inward Permit, the driver's passport, the vehicle's International Circulation Permit or Visitor's Permit, Autopass card, and vehicle pictures and specifications. LTA also requires the vehicle to have its permit, approval email, insurance, Autopass card and proper plates before entry; contact Singapore Customs for clearance details (OneMotoring, Foreign Passenger Cars and Motorcycles not Registered in Malaysia).

ASEAN buses, taxis and goods vehicles

ASEAN-registered goods vehicles need an ASEAN Goods Vehicle Permit (GVP); ASEAN-registered buses and taxis need an ASEAN Public Service Vehicle Permit (PSVP). Before entry, each vehicle also needs an activated Autopass card, valid road tax, insurance covering its entire stay in Singapore, LTA's permit approval email and proper front and rear licence plates. Settle outstanding vehicle fines before applying. Keep the vehicle registration certificate and the permit, approval email, insurance and road-tax documents available for inspection. LTA says vehicles arriving at Woodlands or Tuas without these requirements may be turned back, and vehicles found in Singapore may face enforcement, including seizure (OneMotoring, Buses, Taxis and Goods Vehicles Registered in ASEAN Countries).

LTA asks applicants for both GVP and PSVP to apply online at least two weeks before entry. Bus and taxi applications have vehicle-class-specific documents and licensing conditions, so applicants should follow the relevant LTA application checklist. At Woodlands and Tuas, insert the Autopass card at the immigration booth on entry and exit to record the visit and pay applicable charges, even if the barrier is raised; use LTA's current calculator to check the required balance (OneMotoring, Buses, Taxis and Goods Vehicles Registered in ASEAN Countries).

Charges and announced changes

LTA's published fee tables list VEP fees after each vehicle's first 10 chargeable days in a calendar year as S$35 per day for cars and S$4 per day for motorcycles. No VEP fee is due on Saturdays, Sundays or Singapore public holidays. On other days, the fee is also waived if the vehicle enters from 5 pm and exits by 2 am the next day; during Singapore's June and December school holidays, the fee is waived if it enters from noon and exits by 2 am the next day. LTA's current fee calculator gives indicative totals; check it before travelling (OneMotoring, Foreign Passenger Cars and Motorcycles not Registered in Malaysia; OneMotoring, Calculate Fees and Charges for Foreign Vehicles).

From 1 January 2027, VEP fees will be S$50 per day for cars and S$7 per day for motorcycles, applying on weekdays other than Singapore public holidays; the first 10 free days and weekday free hours will be removed. The GVP fee for foreign-registered goods vehicles will rise from S$40 to S$70 per calendar month. From that date, foreign vehicles without an OBU will incur a flat ERP fee on each ERP operational day they travel on Singapore roads: S$3 for motorcycles and S$10 for other vehicles. LTA says owners of foreign-registered vehicles may choose to install the new OBU in Singapore through authorised workshops from 1 April 2026. The announced device price is S$158.70 inclusive of GST through 31 December 2026; installation charges may be additional. OBU installation is optional for foreign-registered vehicles generally, but Malaysian taxis must install an OBU for tracking and enforcement. LTA also announced that from 1 January 2027, the PSVP fee for Malaysia-registered taxis entering Singapore will rise from S$2 per month to S$15 per trip (LTA, Updates for Foreign-Registered Vehicles Entering Singapore; LTA, Update for Malaysia-Registered Taxis Entering Singapore; OneMotoring, ERP 2.0).

From 2 November 2026, a foreign-registered vehicle with unpaid traffic, parking or vehicular-emissions fines committed in Singapore will be unable to apply for or renew the applicable permit. MHA and LTA use “vehicle entry permits” collectively for car and motorcycle VEPs, ASEAN Public Service Vehicle Permits (PSVPs) for buses and taxis, ASEAN Goods Vehicle Permits (GVPs), and Autopass card applications required for ASEAN cross-border permit holders. LTA's current OneMotoring guidance separately confirms the upcoming restriction for Malaysia-registered cars and motorcycles and for ASEAN GVP, PSVP and Autopass applications. This changes the practice described in the joint announcement, under which vehicles with outstanding fines could be denied entry when they arrived at land checkpoints. Check outstanding fines through AXS and settle them through AXS, the relevant agency’s website or its customer-service counter before applying or renewing; payment providers may take up to two calendar days to update agency records. Submit permit applications at least two weeks before entry (MHA and LTA, VEP applications and outstanding fines; OneMotoring, Cars and Motorcycles Registered in Malaysia; OneMotoring, Buses, Taxis and Goods Vehicles Registered in ASEAN Countries).

Coverage debt

Detailed bus and taxi permit conditions, including service-specific licensing and supporting documents, are not reproduced here; use LTA's current checklist for the vehicle and service type.
Fee amounts and operating conditions can change. Recheck LTA's live vehicle-specific pages and fee calculator before travel.
Carrier and port-specific procedures for transporting a vehicle by air or sea are not covered by LTA's vehicle-entry checklist; check the relevant carrier and port instructions for the chosen route.