Driving to Singapore? No VEP, no SG Arrival Card from 6 Oct

From 6 October 2026, everyone travelling into Singapore in a Malaysian-registered car must make sure the car has a valid Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP), or no one on board will be able to submit the SG Arrival Card. That includes the driver, every passenger, and even Singapore citizens riding along.

You won't find out at the Woodlands or Tuas checkpoint anymore. The problem will show up on your phone before you leave home, and your whole car is stuck until it's fixed.

Key takeaways

• From 6 October 2026, ICA's SG Arrival Card (SGAC) checks the car's VEP status. If the VEP isn't valid, no one in the car can submit the card.
• The rule covers all travellers in the car, including Singapore citizens, PRs and long-term pass holders. For now it applies to cars. Other vehicle types will be added gradually.
• From 2 November 2026, LTA will refuse VEP applications and renewals for vehicles with unpaid Singapore traffic, parking or emissions fines.
• The VEP fee is S$35 a day for cars today. It goes up to S$50 a day from 1 January 2027, and the 10 free VEP days a year will be scrapped.
• A VEP can't be issued without valid motor insurance that covers your whole stay in Singapore.

What changes on 6 October 2026?

The SG Arrival Card now checks your VEP. When you submit the SGAC, ICA's system checks whether the car you're travelling in has a valid VEP. If it doesn't, the system tells you to apply for one before travelling to Singapore, and it won't accept the card until you do.

This affects the whole car, not just the driver. Passengers are alerted as well, so one missing VEP holds up the whole family. From 30 September 2026 you can also submit the SGAC in the MyICA app.

Why Singapore is doing this. A valid VEP shows the car has motor insurance that's valid in Singapore for the whole trip. ICA says checking in advance gives motorists "an opportunity to rectify the issue before travelling". Vehicles found without a valid permit can be seized.

Key dates for Malaysian drivers

How to get ready before you drive

1. Check and pay any Singapore fines

Start with AXS. Look up outstanding fines on the AXS website or app, and pay them there or through the agency that issued them. Payments can take up to two calendar days to show up. From 2 November, any unpaid fine will block your VEP.

2. Apply for or renew your VEP on OneMotoring

Apply at least two weeks before you travel. LTA recommends applying on its OneMotoring portal at least two weeks before you plan to enter Singapore. You'll need your vehicle details and proof of insurance.

3. Make sure your insurance covers Singapore

No insurance, no VEP. Your motor policy must cover driving in Singapore for the whole of your stay. If your cover lapses, your VEP is no longer valid, and neither is anyone's SGAC.

4. Submit the SG Arrival Card for everyone in the car

Each person submits their own. Once the VEP is valid, every traveller submits their SGAC through the MyICA app or ICA's website before arrival.

Expert tip: Since you need to apply at least two weeks ahead and payments take up to two days to clear, do everything in one go three weeks before you travel: check AXS for fines, confirm your insurance covers Singapore, then renew your VEP. Set a reminder in the Motorist App for the date your insurance expires so the VEP never lapses in the middle of a trip.

Common mistake: Many drivers think only the driver needs to worry about the VEP. From 6 October, every passenger's SG Arrival Card is blocked if the car's VEP isn't valid, including your Singaporean relatives in the back seat. Check the VEP before anyone starts filling in their SGAC.

Conclusion

From 6 October, a valid VEP is what gets everyone in the car through the SG Arrival Card, and from 2 November, unpaid fines will block the VEP itself. Pay your fines, keep your insurance current and renew the VEP early, and the Causeway trip stays hassle-free.

Frequently asked questions

1. When does the VEP check for the SG Arrival Card start?

It starts on 6 October 2026 for travellers entering Singapore in foreign-registered cars.

2. Does the VEP rule apply to passengers too?

Yes. No one in the car can submit their SG Arrival Card, not even Singapore citizens or PRs, unless the car has a valid VEP.

3. Does the new rule apply to motorcycles?

For now it covers cars. ICA says other vehicle types will be added gradually.

4. How much is the Singapore VEP fee for Malaysian cars?

It's S$35 a day until 31 December 2026 and S$50 a day from 1 January 2027. Weekends and Singapore public holidays are free.

5. Are the 10 free VEP days being removed?

Yes. From 1 January 2027 the 10 free VEP days a year and the free weekday hours are removed.

6. Can I get a VEP with unpaid Singapore fines?

Not from 2 November 2026. LTA will refuse VEP applications and renewals for vehicles with unpaid traffic, parking or emissions fines.

7. How do I check my Singapore fines?

Check on the AXS website or app, and allow up to two calendar days for a payment to be processed.

8. Where do I apply for a VEP?

Apply on LTA's OneMotoring portal at least two weeks before you plan to travel.

9. Do I need insurance to get a VEP?

Yes. A VEP can't be issued without motor insurance that covers your whole stay in Singapore.

10. What happens if I drive into Singapore without a valid VEP?

Your party can't submit the SG Arrival Card, and vehicles without a valid permit can be seized.

Never let lapsed insurance cancel your Singapore trip. Download the Motorist App and turn on insurance and road tax expiry reminders today.

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