Trishaw licensing and road rules in Singapore
How Singapore law defines a trishaw, vehicle licensing and equipment rules, passenger limits, licence-holder records, vocational licences for paid riders, and shared road-conduct requirements.
Primary source: https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/RTA1961-R14?ProvIds=pr59-%2Cpr60-%2Cpr61-%2Cpr62-%2Cpr63-%2Cpr64-
Singapore's 2024 construction-and-use rules define a trishaw as a three-wheeled vehicle constructed or adapted to carry passengers, propelled by human power, an electric motor fitted to it, or both, and used to transport passengers for hire or reward. This is a distinct legal category from a three-wheeled pedal cycle (Singapore Statutes Online, Construction and Use Rules 2024, r. 2).
Vehicle licence, dimensions and equipment
A trishaw licence cannot be issued if the vehicle exceeds any of these dimensions: wheelbase 1,220 mm; height from the top of the hood to the ground 1,430 mm; body width 760 mm; body length 1,270 mm; overall width 1,270 mm; or overall length 1,930 mm. A trishaw must also have the bell, efficient brake, and suitable front and rear lamp or rear red reflector that the Registrar requires for registration, licensing or road use (Singapore Statutes Online, Public Service Vehicles Rules, rr. 59–60).
Separately, during the hours of darkness (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.), a trishaw used on a road must display a clearly visible white front light and a clearly visible red rear light or rear red reflector (Singapore Statutes Online, Construction and Use Rules 2024, rr. 2 and 4).
Passenger limit and paid riders
A trishaw may carry at most 2 adult passengers, or one adult and 2 children if each child is not more than one metre in height (Singapore Statutes Online, Public Service Vehicles Rules, r. 61).
The trishaw licence holder must not allow someone to ride the trishaw to carry passengers for gain unless that rider holds a vocational licence issued under Part V of the Road Traffic Act authorising the person to act as a trishaw rider (Singapore Statutes Online, Public Service Vehicles Rules, r. 64).
The Registrar may require the licensee to affix a plate or identification mark. The licence holder must keep an up-to-date register recording the trishaw registration number, licence particulars, each rider's name, address and vocational-licence particulars, and the dates and times each rider has charge of the trishaw. The Registrar or an authorised officer may require the register to be produced and may require the licensee or a rider to attend for examination about matters under the Rules (Singapore Statutes Online, Public Service Vehicles Rules, rr. 62–63).
Road conduct
The Road Traffic (Road Conduct) Rules also apply to trishaws. They include requirements on signals, travelling abreast, keeping to the left, orderly riding, and travelling with the flow of traffic. The detailed shared provisions are summarised in Pedal cycles, PABs and PMDs around Singapore roads; check the current Rules for their full wording and conditions (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Conduct Rules, rr. 3–11).
Coverage debt
- The cited Rules establish the licensing and operating requirements summarised here, but this article does not set out a current LTA application process, fees, or any administrative guidance for starting a trishaw service.
- This article does not reproduce every shared road-conduct provision; consult the current Road Conduct Rules and the linked road-use guide.