If you are a fan of road trips from Johor Bahru, it is time to get an “identity card” for your vehicle.
From 1 October 2024, any foreign-registered vehicle – including all Singapore cars and motorcycles – will require a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag to enter Malaysia.
What is the Vehicle Entry Permit System (VEP) for?
The VEP system was established by the Malaysian government and serves three purposes:
1) It facilitates the payment of the RM20 (S$5.75) road toll upon entry into Johor at both checkpoints and covers tolls on Malaysia’s expressways via the designated RFID lanes.
2) This allows the Malaysian government to track any foreign-registered car entering or leaving the country.
3) This tracking system allows the government to ensure that you pay all summonses before you are allowed to leave the country.
You may be surprised to know that the VEP system has been in place since 2019. It was just not enforced because the Malaysian government was looking for ways to make the installation of the RFID tag easier. However, it seems to have succeeded, as it is mandatory from October 1st.
ALSO READ: Get a driving license in Singapore (2024) – Prices and reviews from BBDC, SSDC and CDC
How do I get a VEP and an RFID tag?
Fortunately, getting your vehicle ready for Malaysia is quite easy. All you need to do is pay a handling fee of RM10, plus RM45 if you choose the home delivery option.
Follow these 6 steps:
Step 1: Register for a VEP account
You can do this online via the official website of the Road Traffic Authority.
Step 2: Wait for the confirmation email
Shortly after registration, you will receive an email with details on how to access the Malaysian VEP portal.
If you haven’t already done so, download a Touch N’ Go eWallet account before proceeding to step 3.
Step 3: Enter your vehicle information
Once you are in the portal, you will need to enter your personal details and vehicle information. This can be expedited by uploading your vehicle history. Here is the information you will need:
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Vehicle model
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Chassis numbers
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Certificate of Authorization (COE)
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NRIC
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passport
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Vehicle tax documents
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Car insurance documents
PS: You can get your vehicle registration certificate (as a PDF file) from the Land Transport Authority’s OneMotoring website.
Step 4: Wait for approval
It may take days or even weeks for your application to be reviewed and approved (so start early). Once approved, you will receive a confirmation email.
Step 5: Collect your VEP RFID tag
By home delivery: The label will be delivered to the address of your choice, whether in Singapore or Malaysia.
Applicants are required to pay a service fee of RM30 and a postage fee of approximately RM15 for delivery to Singapore. Sales and service taxes are also applicable.
For self-collection: You can also collect your trailer yourself from a VEP collection centre in Johor Bahru (before 1 October, of course). There are no VEP collection centres in Singapore.
Whichever option you choose, you will have to pay a RM10 handling fee for the label.
Step 6: Confirmation
Once you receive your RFID tag, you will need to complete a “Tag Verification” by logging into the VEP portal and clicking the verification button next to your vehicle number. You should also enter the RFID serial number for validation.
How do I install the RFID tag on my vehicle?
To apply the label, you can either ask a JPJ employee for help or do it yourself.
To install it:
Preparation: Choose a flat surface on the car and make sure it is clean and dry. This surface should be at least 5 cm away from any part of the car’s metal frame.
Placement: Peel the RFID tag from the edges and stick it horizontally to the left headlight on the passenger side of the vehicle. Do not remove the tag after you have applied it, otherwise it may break.
You can also place it on your windshield, but make sure it is not obscured by the wiper blades.
Here is an illustration from the Malaysian Transport Authority showing how the RFID tag is attached to the left headlight of a car.
Upload a photo: Take a photo of the RFID tag and the license plate of your car and Upload the photo to the VEP portal.
Activation notification: You will receive an email notification once the tag is activated – now you can enjoy your road trip to Malaysia!
What happens if I travel to Malaysia without a VEP and RFID tag?
Living on the edge, eh? From 1 October 2024, any foreign-registered vehicle entering or travelling in Malaysia without a VEP may be fined up to RM2,000 (~S$574) or jailed for up to 6 months.
ALSO READ: How to travel by train between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur? A complete guide to travelling by ETS
Suppose your tag is stolen, lost or damaged in an accident. In this case, you will need to update your vehicle status on the online portal and provide a copy of the police report to the Malaysian Transport Authority when you collect a new VEP RFID tag. An administration fee will be charged.
If your VEP tag is defective, you will receive a replacement free of charge. However, this does not apply to tags that have been removed or tampered with (remember: do not remove them after you have installed them!). In these cases, you will be charged for a new tag.
Does the VEP have an expiration date?
Your VEP is valid for 5 years. The VEP portal will send you an email 6 months before expiry reminding you to renew it. You can renew it through the portal but you must do it quickly as it must be renewed within 3 months of this reminder email. A new VEP tag will be issued upon renewal.
If you do not renew it in time and attempt to enter Malaysia, an LED display will notify you at the immigration lane that your VEP has expired. You can still drive through to enter Malaysia, but you will be required to pay a penalty fee of RM150 upon exiting Malaysia.
If you know someone who enjoys driving to Malaysia, share this article with them!
The post Step-by-step guide to obtaining a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) for driving to Malaysia first appeared on the MoneySmart Blog.
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The article Step-by-step guide to obtaining a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) to travel to Malaysia appeared first on MoneySmart Blog.
Original article: Step-by-step guide to obtaining a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) to travel to Malaysia.
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