Used cars that are more than three years old may not be imported and registered for use in Singapore. The age of a used vehicle is calculated from the date of its first registration in a foreign country.

Import duties on cars and motorcycles are high. A surcharge is payable for each imported used car registered in Singapore.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) provides comprehensive information.

Import Vehicle Requirements

The vehicle must pass a mechanical inspection at the LTA before it can be registered. The requirements are:

• All safety glass fitted must have not less than 70 percent light transmittance and must not contain any metallic oxide coating
• Exhaust emission standards must be as specified by either the European Directive 91/441/EEC or Article 31 of the Japanese Safety Regulation. A certificate of compliance is required
• Only right-hand drive vehicles are allowed in Singapore (Left hand drive vehicles may travel through Singapore provided certain obligations are met)
• The vehicle must be able to use unleaded petrol
• The vehicle must be fitted with approved front and rear safety belts
• The vehicle must have asbestos-free brake and clutch linings
• Air-conditioning units must be CFC-free

Note: Requirements differ for vehicles passing through Singapore.

• For full details from the LTA: Click here

Importing the vehicle

If the vehicle meets the requirements above then proceed through the following:

1. If the imported car is manufactured in one of the European Community countries, obtain the EEC Certificate of Conformity issued by the manufacturer
2. If the car is manufactured in Japan, obtain the Completion Inspection Certificate issued by the manufacturer
3. Alternatively, the car can be tested overseas at any recognised vehicle testing laboratory for a Certificate of Compliance with Exhaust Emission Standards together with a Test Report and a Safety Glass Certificate
4. If the car is new, obtain proof that the car is new or has never been registered for use (for example the manufacturer's invoice, V308 Registration Document issued by the Department of Transportation, London)
5. For a used car, the vehicle registration document issued by the foreign authority is required
6. If the car is a new make or model not previously imported into Singapore a Technical specifications document or catalogue issued by the manufacturer is required
7. Get a Declaration form for asbestos-free brake and clutch lining
8. Arrange for shipment of the car to Singapore. The shipping agent will have to submit a joint application for an Inward Cargo Clearance Permit to the Trade Development Board (TDB) and the Customs & Excise Department (CED) using the Tradenet System
9. The CED will assess the Open Market Value (OMV) of your car and customs duty will be levied at 20 percent of the OMV

See the Singapore Customs website for more information on customs clearance and valuation of imported vehicles.

Registering the Vehicle

The next step is to register the car. 

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Registering a Motor Vehicle

Note: registration can be done on the owner's behalf by a car agent.

Importing a motorcycle

The regulations and procedures for importing a motorcycle are similar to those for bringing in a car. The significant differences are:

• The customs duty is levied at 12 percent of the OMV
• All motorcycles must comply with the exhaust emission standard specified in the United States Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR 86.410-80).
  Note: testing of the exhaust emission is not available in Singapore
• The Additional Registration Fee is computed at 15 percent of the OMV

Further Information

• LTA Vehicle & Transit Licensing (VTL) Division
  At: 10 Sin Min Drive, Singapore 575701
  Tel: 6553 5229
  Fax: 6553 5329
  LTA website
  One Motoring website
• Singapore Customs
  At: 55 Newton Road, #08-01, Revenue House , Singapore 307987
  Tel: 6355 2000
  Fax: 6250 8663
  e-mail
  Website
• Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS)
  At: 336 River Valley Road AA Centre #01-00 Singapore 238366
  Branch Office: 2 Kung Chong Road Singapore 159140
  Tel: 6333 8811
  Fax: 6733 5094
  Website
• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Registering a Vehicle in Singapore
• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Buying & Selling a Car in Singapore
• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Driving in Singapore

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