Aside from the usual Customs and immigration, Singapore has a few foibles of its own to consider - some of these need to be sorted out well before you arrive...
Immigration
Booths are setup at car window height at the two land crossings, you will be required to present your passport and ID card. Very simple.
Where'ya from son?
Its a busy border and is well setup for fast processing of Singaporean and Malaysian vehicles. If you're neither of these then processing is still slick so long as you have prepared properly...
If the car is Singaporean registered ...
They will show little interest in the car and the process is straightforward, you will be required to pay the crossing toll with your cashcard.
If your car is Malaysian registered..
Slightly more interest expressed and you need to get your VEP at the same booth. (see Charges and Permits below). It costs $20 SGD a day to take a foreign registered car into Singapore (outside of the weekend) but at least the process is hassle free.. Currently all foreign cars are granted 10 free entry days a year with charging only starting on the 11th day [does not cover ERP charges]. Charges are taken from your autopass card which you buy at the border.
If your car is from somewhere else..
Then you are a novelty. You will need to pull over and go to the office. A couple of matters will need attending to and some of these are best arranged before you arrive:
Can you come in?
Only passenger vehicles making round trips for private use are allowed. [A round trip can include exit through the port but you must advise at the point of entry.]
What cannot come in!
Armoured vehicles, Camper Vans, Caravan trailers, mini-buses with cooking and sleeping facilities and left-hand drive vehicles are not allowed into Singapore.
Its a strange list.. and I would start by saying that there can be exceptions if an early approach is made. Generally they will allow LHD vehicles and vans but will not allow trailers or caravans. [One would have to wonder if you were trying to bring in an amoured car!]
Foreign [non Peninsula Malaysian vehicle] check list
Vehicle Registration Certificate (an English translated version is required). The registration status of your vehicle must be valid at the point of its export.
Customs Document [aka the Carnet] issued by member of Alliance Internationale De Tourisme Carnet de Passages en Douane in the country where your vehicle is registered.
Vehicle Insurance purchased from a Singapore-based insurance company to cover the period of stay in Singapore. This can be tricky to obtain as the Singapore insurance industry is not cut out for this - prepare in advance and the AA in Singapore can assist. Motorists departing from and re-entering West Malaysia by land also have to purchase insurance covering your entire period of stay in Malaysia.
International Circulation Permit (ICP) for your vehicle from the Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS). The ICP costs S$10.50 and is valid for a maximum period of 90 days. You can apply for an ICP from AAS on weekdays from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, or Saturdays from 8.30 am to 1pm. You need this in hand before the car can enter so arrange for this in advance.
There are two* entry points for cars entering Singapore. All are from Malaysia.
The Causeway (Johore Bahru/Woodlands crossing)
The Second Link (Tuas link)
*[Previously the Desaru-Changi Ferry provided a car ferry service but to date this discontinued service in 2002. No indication of resumption at this point. ]
The Causeway
Of the three crossings the Woodlands Causeway is by far the busiest because of its proximity to the town of Johor Bahru and slightly cheaper toll charge. There are currently plans to improve this crossing with the establishment of a new bridge but this has been on hold now for some time.
The Second Link (Tuas link)
Built for those going directly onto northern destinations such as Malacca or KL the Tuas link is faster and cleaner. The Tuas link was opened in 1998 and for a long time was underwhelmed as Singaporeans reacted to its cost and distance from Johor Bahru. For this reason and for the fact it is the does not empty directly into Johore Bahru it is still is the faster crossing.
Immigration
After queing, your first stop is immigration. Setup nicely for the level of the car window, you will be required to present your passport and ID card. For non residents and those without a Singapore passport you will be required to provide them with the departue slip of your immigration card [as you would if leaving via the airport].
If the car is Singaporean registered they will show no interest. At this point you will be required to pay a crossing toll. Payment of the toll is setup for Singaporean cashcards at the window. These can be obtained all over Singapore (see section on tolls for details).
If your car is foreign registered you will need to use the autopass card you obtained on entry [see below section on autopass cards]. You will also need to pay the VEP if any is due which is typically paid through the autopass card. .
Customs
After immigration you proceed on through customs. Unless you have something to declare drive on through the green channel. Proceed quietly and be prepared to stop unless the customs guy waves you through. These days post September 11 stop and check is much more frequent so be ready.
Fuel Check
Only relevant for Singaporean cars. This is the fuel check for the ¾ tank rule. This is a random inspection at the Police check point and more often than not you are waived through. However don't get caught out as the fine is steep.
Since the escape of Mas Selemat, border crossings have become that much more time consuming.
Expect delays on the Singapore side when exiting Singapore as checks have become much more thorough. Avoid peak periods if possible and allow more time for the crossing.
Those of you in classics or the more tempremental exotica should use the Tuas crossing and most definitely choose a non-peak crossing time.
After immigration you proceed on through customs. Unless you have something to declare drive on through the green channel. If in doubt go to the red channel. Otherwise choose the Green. Proceed quietly and be prepared to stop unless the customs guy waves you through (standard European border crossing procedure). Non-Asean vehicles need to have their Carnet stamped.(See detailed procedures link )..
Fuel
For the record petrol is expensive in Singapore compared to Malaysia (try double the price). Fill up before you arrive. Please note that the ¾ tank rule on exit from Singapore does not apply to foreign registered cars. (See section on Fuel).
STOP PRESS
Do be aware now however that in Malaysia non-Malay registered vehicles now can no longer fill up within 50km of the Singapore or Thai borders. So fill up before and remember to fill up before you come within 50km on the way back. Not an issue of course for Malay reg'd cars.
Charges & Permits
All motorists will have to pay a fee for driving into and out of Singapore. If you drive a Singapore-registered vehicle, you pay tolls using the Cashcard. If you drive a foreign-registered vehicle, you have to pay tolls and a vehicle entry permit (VEP) using the Autopass Card.
Car drivers have to pay toll charges on arrival and departure from Tuas Checkpoint (SGD3.20 per trip) but only on departure at the Woodlands Checkpoint (SGD1.20 per trip). Motorcyclists are not charged at the Woodlands Checkpoint, but have to pay SGD 0.50 when departing from and arriving in Singapore at the Tuas Checkpoint.
The Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) is effectively a toll based on peak periods and is facilitated by the purchase of an Autopass Card at the border. At the time of writing cars are charged on a daily basis for entry to Singapore from 2am Monday to 7pm Friday. Outside of this period there is no charge for the VEP. The charge is 20 SGD a day. So a week costs 100 SGD. Currently the first 10 working days are free. Insert your Autopass Card into the card reader installed at all immigration booths to register your entry and exit records.
The charge is deducted electronically from your Autopass card. This is a cashcard. The cards are not transferable and are linked to the identification of the individual car. They last about 5 years after which you will need to renew.
You can buy the Autopass card only at the arrival zones of Woodlands or Tuas Checkpoint at the immigration booths in primary clearance areas, or at VEP/ Tolls offices in secondary clearance areas. The card costs $10 upfront ($6 for the card and $4 stored value) at the office. You can top up at any Service station - Bear in mind that it is the only way to pay the tolls at the border and they will not accept cash at the booths
Make sure you register your entry with the card! - It is an offence to drive a foreign-registered vehicle into Singapore without an Autopass card. Motorists in Malaysia can call 02-62255582 for more information.
On your way to somewhere else? Shipping the vehicle
If indeed your vehicle is in transit to the port for shipping you may not need to pay any VEP charges - Refer to the link above for details.
At this point you will travel across no-mans land, be it the bridge at Tuas with the Malaysian Immigration some 3 kms inland or the Causeway at Woodlands, your next stop will be the Malaysian Immigration and Customs checkpoint.
Immigration
You will need just your passports now with the recent changes in process. Have these ready.
Customs
After immigration you should proceed on through customs. Cars are often required to stop and open their boot/trunk so ensure you catch the eye of one of the customs officers before you move off. If your boot is full of luggage, you may be asked what you are carrying. The customs guys are polite and efficient and do understand English.
STOP PRESS [27th May 2008]
Important!
Non-Malay registered vehicles now can no longer fill up within 50km of the Singapore or Thai borders. So fill up before you cross into Malaysia and remember to fill up before you come within 50km on the way back.
Early 2008, the Malaysian Immigration authorities have done away with the white immigration card.
This is a fantastic move and has had a visible effect on border crossing times. Bravo Malaysia!
From 1 June 2005, the LTA has advised that all drivers of foreign registered cars and motorcycles can drive into Singapore for a maximum of 10 days in each calendar year without paying VEP fees.
After the 10 VEP free days have been utilised, VEP fees for subsequent days are chargeable if you continue to use or drive your foreign-registered car or motorcycle during VEP operating hours.
Please note that toll charges still apply. Toll charges are calculated on a per trip basis. You have to pay toll charges on arrival and departure from Tuas Checkpoint but only on departure at the Woodlands Checkpoint.
This is Singapore's solution for peak period traffic management.
ERP now operates on nearly all significant arteries in Singapore. ERP acts to discourage journeys into the Central Business District and other potential congestion hotspots by levying a charge for entry. Any vehicle that enters the ERP zone is automatically charged the current rate for that time of day. The system works by a series a gantrys and in car units that are funded by cashcards. Every car registered in Singapore contains an In-Car unit. .
ERP for foreign registered vehicles
Lately a much more sensible and easy approach has been arranged for foreign registered cars.
If you are a foreign registered car owner with no In-Vehicle Unit (IU) in your car currently, you can choose not to install an IU.
Instead, you can pay a fixed ERP fee of S$5 daily if you use ERP-priced roads, regardless of the number of times you pass through the ERP gantries. You will automatically be on this scheme if you do not have an IU in your car. The fixed ERP fee will be deducted through your Autopass Card when you depart Singapore.
Portable ICUs are available for foreign registered cars also but this is only practical if you are a frequent entrant to Singapore.
