Since October 2024, Malaysia requires a Vehicle Entry Permit for every foreign-registered vehicle crossing the border -- including Singapore-registered cars and motorcycles. Here's exactly what it is, who needs one, and what it costs.
If your vehicle is registered in Singapore and you're driving it into Malaysia via Woodlands Causeway or Tuas Second Link, you need a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) with an activated RFID tag. Registration is one-time, done online, and the tag is valid for 5 years. This is separate from — and in addition to — the RM20 road charge you pay on every single crossing.
The Vehicle Entry Permit is a permit issued by Malaysia's Road Transport Department (JPJ) under Section 66H of the Road Transport Act 1987, required for all foreign-registered vehicles entering Peninsular Malaysia — private cars, motorcycles, company-owned vehicles, and even embassy or government vehicles. Once registered and issued, the vehicle owner receives a physical RFID tag fitted to the vehicle, which is scanned automatically at the border.
Anyone driving a foreign-registered vehicle into Malaysia — for most CausewayRadar readers, that means any Singapore-registered car or motorcycle crossing at Woodlands or Tuas. It does not apply to Malaysia-registered vehicles, and it does not apply to pedestrians or bus/public-transport passengers crossing without a vehicle.
Registration is done entirely online — there is no counter registration option at the border or at JPJ offices for the initial application.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tag processing fee | RM10 |
| Collection agent service fee (if self-collecting) | RM29.50 |
| Courier fee (if delivered) | Set by the courier provider |
| Validity | 5 years from activation |
This is a one-time cost for 5 years of validity — it's separate from ongoing crossing costs.
It's easy to conflate these, but they're not the same:
Both are required. Having a valid VEP does not exempt you from the RM20 road charge on each trip — see our Woodlands vs Tuas comparison for the full toll and road-charge breakdown at both checkpoints.
Entering Malaysia without a valid, activated VEP is an offense under Section 66H(7) of the Road Transport Act 1987. If convicted, the penalty is a fine of up to RM2,000 or imprisonment of up to six months. This isn't a minor administrative slip — treat VEP registration as a prerequisite for the trip, not an afterthought to sort out at the checkpoint.
Per JPJ, a foreign-registered vehicle entering under VEP may stay in Malaysia for up to 90 days per entry.