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Malaysia Imposes 6-Month COE Requirement for Singapore Cars Applying for VEP

Prime Highlights

  • Singapore-registered cars will have to have at least six months of good COE before seeking Malaysia’s Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP).
  • The step is meant to crush car cloning as well as unlawful resale of Singapore cars.

Key Fact

  • Non-compliance with the VEP requirement attracts a RM300 (about S$91) penalty.
  • Over 10 Singapore motorists were fined during the first hour of enforcement.

Key Background 

Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that Singapore cars would be eligible for a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) if their Certificate of Entitlement (COE) is more than six months from the date of expiration. Vehicles with a COE which will expire within six months or less need to be renewed or extended first before they will be eligible to apply for the VEP.

The initiative was to address the problem of illegal re-sale of Singapore cars in Malaysia and the emerging problem of car cloning, where the history of used vehicles are replicated. Loke compared the case with passport requirements abroad, where there is a six-month valid duration when traveling overseas. Car owners would be asked to submit evidence of COE renewal as a condition for completing their VEP registration.

The VEP rule came into effect on July 1, and the Malaysian government has been adamant on punishing the offenders. Offenders are being charged RM300, and they have to go through the VEP process before they can leave Malaysia. Within less than one hour of the rule coming into effect, over 10 Singaporean drivers were charged.

During the pre-launch period, VEP applications surged with huge queues at Johor Bahru’s VEP centre in Danga Bay. Due to the demand, the centre’s operating hours were prolonged to 24 hours a day.

The imposition of six-month COE validity is Malaysia’s attempt to strengthen border control, dissuade counterfeiting operations, and encourage vehicle compliance. Motorists traveling from Singapore and looking to have cross-border excursions should check the validity of COE and obtain the VEP registration process in advance to avoid being fined and interrupted in their trip.

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