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HomeCar TalkMalaysia’s Vehicle Entry Permit: A Quick Overview

Malaysia’s Vehicle Entry Permit: A Quick Overview

6 min read
Since Malaysia announced they will enforce the Vehicle Entry Permit for foreign vehicles on 1 October 2024, Singapore motorists are up in arms over the long wait to get our hands on one.

From 1 October 2024, Singapore motorists must register their vehicles to access Malaysia, and the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) tag is the only identification displayed on the vehicle’s windshield or right/left headlight to be scanned at immigration.

What’s a VEP?
The VEP is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that lasts for five years once activated and costs RM10. The main purpose is to regulate the entry and exit of foreign cars into Malaysia and pay the entry road charge of RM20. According to Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (RTD) or Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan, it is also to tackle car theft and cloning syndicates.

In addition, RTD can utilise it to track vehicles that racked up fines for traffic offences and prevent them from leaving Malaysia if not paid. Furthermore, foreign vehicles with VEP tags can pay toll in Malaysia once the tag is linked to owner’s TouchNGo ewallet accounts.

For Singapore motorists, most of us opt to self-collect the tags and install on the same day; the staff installing will photograph the installed tag and send to RTD, and subsequently wait for an activation email from RTD.

Background
Back in 2015, RTD first announced that Singapore motorists entering Malaysia must register their vehicles from 1 August 2015. This is the VEP, an RFID tag issued to Singapore motorists for RM10 and will last five years, after which motorists can choose to renew, or if the vehicle owner changes a new vehicle.

In short, it is non-transferable and vehicle-specific. Affected categories were private, commercial and VIP/diplomat vehicles. However, the enforcement did not go through, and three more attempts in 2017, 2018 and 2019 failed too.

The present
On 28 May 2024, Malaysia announced that all foreign-registered vehicles from Singapore entering Malaysia must use VEP from 1 October 2024. If caught without a VEP, the guilty may be fined up to RM2,000, or jailed for up to six months.

The VEP costs RM10, and about 70,000 Singapore vehicles activated their VEP tags; over 200,000 registered from the previous four attempts to enforce over nine years but did not complete the process of installing and activating their tags. Many could not as their NRIC and the current vehicles do not match; most were still registered to their old vehicles, according to emails sent to the unsuccessful applicants.

There are four locations for enquiries, collection and installation of VEP tags:

  • Singapore – MY VEP Pte Ltd, 186 Woodlands Industrial Park E5 #03-01, Singapore 757515 https://appointment.myvep.com.sg/
  • Malaysia (Johor) – TCSens Sdn Bhd, Block 6 G Floor Danga Walk Batu 41 2 Lbh Skudai, Danga Bay, 80200 Johor Bahru
  • Malaysia (Johor) – Kompleks JPJ, Taman Daya, 80990 Johor Bahru
  • Malaysia (Johor) – Road Transport Academy (Southern Region), Jalan Kebun Teh Lama, Larkin, 80250 Johor Bahru

However, despite having four locations still cannot keep up with the huge number of applications from Singapore motorists.

Because of the backlog, Malaysia RTD announced that from 1 October 2024, it is okay to drive into Malaysia without VEP, but you will be issued a “warning” upon leaving Johor. In worst-case scenarios, you could be denied entry or your vehicle be impounded upon exit.

On 1 October 2024 (enforcement day), reporters from The Straits Times (ST) and CNA drove VEP unregistered vehicles into Johor. The ST reporter was asked by the immigration officer if the vehicle had a VEP tag, which did not as it was a rental car. For rental cars, motorists just need to show the VEP confirmation slip in the email from RTD after the motorist has registered online. So the reporter cleared immigration.

For the CNA reporter, he was not asked if he had a VEP or his vehicle is tagged upon entering Johor. Leaving Johor, he said he was not given any “warning”, verbal or written. The immigration officer was unaware of the delay in enforcement and the warning in lieu of the delay. The reporter U-turned and went back to Johor to test the system again, and was told by the immigration officer that RTD is handling VEP and not immigration.

The story is still unfolding.

The process of applying
To apply for a VEP, access vep.jpj.gov.my to register an account. Submit your application with your NRIC, passport, vehicle road tax, insurance, vehicle make and model, and COE details – collectively the vehicle log card. You can either acquire the vehicle log card from OneMotoring, or by manually fill in the details. Wait for the email to confirm your VEP and to choose between collecting and installing, or mailing. You can also do it through a third-party ‘agent’ though you will pay more for their services.

However, many Singaporeans have lamented that the wait is uncertain and could take from days to months, with some saying they have yet to receive a response since May when RTD announced the enforcement date.

Frustrations of Singapore Motorists
As many Singapore motorists drive into Johor for work or leisure, the frustrations felt by us are of concern. Many registered an account on the official website, submitted our documents, and put in an endless wait. Only a handful received confirmation emails from RTD, and successfully collected, installed, and activated the VEP tags.

However, these motorists are in the minority. From many gripes in online forums, there are stories of fruitless travelling to Johor’s three VEP centres for enquiries as Singapore’s centre is always fully booked for appointments. Calls to all four centres were not answered.

One Singapore Motorist’s Personal Experience
One of the unsuccessful motorists was Mustafa Mohamed. He registered for an account on the day it was announced on 28 May 2024. Five weeks later, he received an email saying it was not successful as he had another vehicle registered under his name.

He approached a company that does bulk registrations to register on his behalf. He received a message on 27 September 2024 and proceeded to obtain and install his VEP tag at the company’s premises on 30 September 2024.

However, they installed it on the right headlight and he requested for it to be installed on the inside of the windshield as it could be peeled off by anyone. However, the company was adamant as they said that was the only way to install and a picture must be sent to RTD for them to activate. As of writing, he is still waiting for Malaysia RTD to send an email of activation.

Did you apply for a Malaysia VEP? Were you successful or not? Tell us your thoughts and experience by sending it to aasmail@aas.com.sg.