Special purpose vehicle licences in Singapore
When a vehicle may be licensed for research and development or another special purpose, what the Registrar may require, current licence fees, and what to do when the licence ends.
Primary source: https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/RTA1961?ProvIds=pr28A-&ValidDate=20261021
Scope and application
A person who intends to keep or use a vehicle for research and development or another special purpose may apply to the Registrar for a special purpose licence to keep or use it on a road. This route excludes an approved trial or approved special use under section 6C, which is governed separately. The Registrar may issue the licence subject to conditions, or reject the application without giving a reason. An application must be made in the form the Registrar requires (Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 28A(1)–(3); Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules, rr. 64A–64B).
A vehicle licensed under section 28A is outside the Act's ordinary registration requirement in section 10 and vehicle-tax charge in section 11. Before issuing the licence, however, the Registrar must receive whatever evidence the Registrar requires that the required insurance or security will be in force, unless the vehicle falls within the Act's stated insurance exception (Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 28A(2), (3) and (5)).
Conditions, period and fees
The Registrar sets the licence period and may impose conditions. The holder must comply with them. The Registrar may require the vehicle to carry an identification mark conforming to Diagrams 18 and 19 of the Rules' Fourth Schedule, and the licence must be carried on the vehicle in the manner specified by the Registrar (Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules, r. 64B(1)–(4) and (6)).
The processing fee is $27. The licence fee is the lowest amount calculated using $30 per day, $250 per month and $800 per half-year, alone or in combination according to the approved period. The Registrar may waive some or all of the processing or licence fee, subject to conditions (Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules, r. 64B(1), (5) and (7)).
The Registrar may suspend or cancel the licence if the vehicle is kept or used contrary to the Act, the Rules, or a licence condition. The licence cannot be transferred to another person; transferring or attempting to transfer it is an offence (Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 28A(4) and (6)).
When the licence ends
Within one month after cancellation or expiry, or any longer period allowed by the Registrar, the holder must do one of the following for the vehicle: register it; remove it from use on all roads in Singapore and satisfy the Registrar with proof; or destroy or export it and provide proof to the Registrar. A failure to comply is punishable on conviction by a fine up to $2,000 or imprisonment up to 3 months; for a second or subsequent conviction, the maximum is $5,000 or 6 months (Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 28A(7)–(8)).
Coverage debt
- The Act and Rules do not define which purposes qualify as “any other special purpose” or publish a general approval checklist. Eligibility, evidence, conditions and licence period therefore remain subject to the Registrar's requirements for the application.