Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) to increase by a huge margin



Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that rates for the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) will increase by between 50 and 100%. The change will take effect on Monday, November 2nd.

Between 8.00 and 8.30 am, the rate at the Ayer Rajah Expressway will be figured at S$1.00 instead of S$0.50. ERP rate for the eastbound ECP (Marina South) will be set at S$3 between 6.30 and 7.00 pm. The same will apply for the ERP gantry on the slip road from Ophir Road. The LTA will review the ERP prices again in November 2009.


Singaporean Government to offer 30% road tax rebate



The Government has announced that it will grant 30% road tax rebates for buses, goods/passenger vehicles, goods vehicles and taxis for the licensing period between July 1st 2009 and June 30th 2010, as part the Government’s various relief measures to allow citizens to cope with the economic downturn.

Owners of all of the above mentioned vehicle segments can renew their road tax from May 10th based on the new prices. For vehicle owners who have been notified to renew their road tax can do so on May 10th to enjoy the benefits. For vehicle owners (commercial vehicles, buses and taxis) who have already paid their road tax based on the old rates will have the excess amount given back when they renew their road tax again via an offset rebate.

For vehicles that have been transferred before its next renewal (old rates) will have any excess road tax paid used to offset the total transfer fees payable, while the remaining road tax will be transferred to the new owner. For vehicles that have been de-registered, the unused part of the road tax will be automatically refunded back to the last owner.

Please click here to download the Annexe A: Revised Road Tax Rates for Buses, Commercial Vehicles and Taxis

COE prices traveled upwards

The second COE bidding round for the month of March 2009 saw all categories increase in premiums, except for Category B, which is for bigger cars. Category A (Cars 1,600cc and below, and taxis) increased by 4.6% to S$5,116, while C (Goods vehicles and buses) closed at S$ 5,600 from S$ 5,300.

Category D (Motorcycles) and Category E (Open) also increased slightly and closed at S$ 912 and S$ 5,982 respectively. Category B dropped from S$ 5,101 to S$ 5,001. Overall, a total of 5,818 bids were made during the session. The next COE bidding exercise will take place next month.

New car buyers are required to buy a Certificate of Entitlement. The term "bidding" is often used but, in practice, new car dealers assist in the process. The fee of each successfully obtained COE is added on the costs of a new car based on engine size (usually lower for cars with 1600cc engine or smaller, and higher vice versa). COE's for car cost approximately S$14,000 to S$16,000 but the exact amount changes several times a year. The COE is valid for 10 years. There are provisions for a rebate of the COE if the car is scrapped before 10 years.

Catergory A is Car Below (1600cc & below)& Taxi

Catergory B is Car ( Above 1600cc)

Catergory C is Goods Vehicle & Bus

Catergory D is Motorcycle

Catergory E is Open