Singapore is an excellent place to move to that has loads of activities to do. In this article, we will help you with the not so fun part of importing a vehicle to Singapore.
When it comes to exporting vehicles overseas, you'll need to consider many national and international laws. This can be particularly complex when importing larger items, or shipping goods to locations that have wildly different customs laws and standards.
Shipping a car or any kind of vehicle to a nation such as Singapore can be particularly challenging, for example, and there are a number of considerations that you'll need to bear in mind if you're to do this successfully.
Remember, the majority of these laws aren’t designed to make the process hard, but rather to protect a country from illegal activities and dangerous individuals.
In this article, we'll explore these considerations in more detail, while asking what restrictions you're likely to face during this process.
A few of the major things we’ll cover include:
- How to ensure that your vehicle is eligible for international shipping (great information here https://www.a1autotransport.com/international/)
- Specific import laws and regulations that you need to be aware of when importing a vehicle to Singapore
- A detailed document checklist
- The specific steps you will need to consider when importing a car into Singapore
Before We Start – Making Sure Your Vehicle is Eligible for Shipping
Before you start the importing process, you'll need to ensure that your car fits the criteria for international shipment. The regulations vary from one nation to another, and in the case of Singapore there are stringent restrictions that you'll need to be aware of.
More specifically, used cars that are more than three years old may not be imported to Singapore, or registered for use on their roads. The age of such vehicles is calculated from the date of its first registration in its country of origin, and there are very few instances in which this law can be negated.
That said, Singapore does make an exception for classic cars, which are defined by law as being vehicles that are 35 years or more from their original registration date.
Key Import Requirements that You Need To Know
Before we run through the process of registering and importing your car, it's important to ensure that the vehicle meets all of the requirements that have been enshrined in law. These requirements have been laid out by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore Customers, each of which are responsible for alternative stages of the import process.
Firstly, your car must pass a mechanical inspection conducted by the LTA, with a total of 52 requirements laying out technical conformity and compliance standards. You can find these in full here, but we've listed some of the most important below.
- All safety glass fitted must have a minimum of 70% light transmittance at the time of inspection. It must also not contain any metallic oxide coating, although this should not be an issue for new cars.
- Your vehicle's exhaust emission standards must comply with either European Directions 96/99/EEC or 98/69/EC-B (if it has a diesel engine). These are the key standards in Singapore, although there are international equivalents across the globe.
- Only right-hand drive vehicles are permitted in Singapore, at least in terms of registration. So, while left-hand drive cars may be allowed to travel through the region, they must be destined for a location elsewhere in the world.
- For cars that do not have a diesel engine, they must be able to use unleaded gasoline. This is part of a global push to ultimately ban gasoline and diesel cars, with many governments aiming to achieve this objective by 2040.
- Your car must also be fully fitted with compliant front and rear seat belts, with no exception whatsoever. Vehicles with belts that have not been approved will not be allowed to enter the country.
- The car in question must also have asbestos-free break and clutch linings, although once again this will not be an issue for modern cars. It may be worth considering if you're importing a classic car, however.
- Singapore's laws also stipulate that any air-conditioning units featured in imported vehicles must be CFC-free. These solvents have been outlawed by the rise of Eco-friendly laws, and cars that feature units with CFCs will not even be allowed to pass through customs (regardless of its final destination).
As we say, there are 52 regulations and standards that your vehicle must comply with if it is to pass a mechanical inspection from the LTA. These are some of the most important and relevant, however, particularly when shipping older or used cars that are eligible for shipment.
Importing the Vehicle – What are the Next Steps?
Now, should your vehicle meet the large list of requirements laid out by the LTA, you'll be in a position where you can consider importing your car. You'll then need to follow a detailed and rigid process, however, as laid out below.
Firstly, you'll need to obtain conformity certificates which verify that your vehicles meets the above requirements. The ease with which this can be achieved depends largely on the origins of the vehicle, as Singapore recognises the technical compliance standards of those manufactured in the EU, Japan or the U.S.
The next step will vary depending in whether you own a new or a used car, and in the case of the former you'll need to showcase proof that the vehicle has never been registered for use in another country. The certification required varies per country, with new vehicles made in the UK requiring a manufacturer's invoice or a V308 Registration Document issues by the Department for Transport.
When importing a used car, the vehicle registration document issue by the relevant authority is a mandatory requirement. Similarly, if the car is a new model that has not previously been imported into Singapore, the authorities will require an accurate and comprehensive technical specification document.
Used cars that are older than 3 years come with a $10,000 surcharge.
With the right documentation in place, you can begin to prepare the shipment of the vehicle. Your chosen shipping agent will be required to submit a joint application for an Inward Cargo Clearance Permit to Singapore Customs (CED) at this time, while you'll have to submit a SC-A-012 alongside commercial invoice copies and freight and invoice papers.
At this stage, the CED will also perform an Open Market Value (OMV) assessment of your car. This is an important part of the process from a cost perspective, as customs duty is levied at 20% of the OMV of a car. The corresponding rate for motorcycles and scooters is 12%, while a 7% charge will also be applied in the cost, insurance and freight value of the import as a whole.
In order to ensure you're prepared at the other end, you should also register your vehicle with the LTA. This in itself is a complicated and drawn-out process, which starts when you obtain a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) and arrange for adequate insurance coverage. You'll also be required to submit your import documentation at this time along with the vehicle's core identify papers.
Keep in mind, these are only a few of the things you will need to consider when importing a vehicle to Singapore. Always take the time to check the official Singapore Customs page to ensure that you are following all of the necessary rules and regulations. Having your shipment denied, or sent back, is extremely costly and a huge waste of time for everyone involved.
Document Checklist
You are going to need to accumulate a few documents if you want your shipment to go through smoothly. Here are just a few of the documents we recommend you bring with you when trying to import a vehicle to Singapore.
A commercial invoice showing that you purchased the vehicle. This document should also include the date to prove the newness of the vehicle.
- Bill of lading.
- Freight insurance and documentation in case your vehicle is damaged during transport.
- Any official receipts showing proof of purchase.
- Insurance for the vehicle itself.
- Registration.
- Vehicle data card (if applicable).
- Manufacturers proof to show the official date of manufacture.
- Photos detailing the interior, exterior, VIN, odometer, and other important details for your vehicle.
- A valid passport.
- A recent certificate of compliance.
- Customs payment receipt to show proof of payment.
You may be required to provide additional information, but if you come prepared with the majority of the documents detailed on this checklist, you shouldn’t have any issues.
Is There Anything Else that You Need to Know?
Importing a vehicle to Singapore is an extremely detail-led process, and following this to the letter will be key if you're to avoid delays or compliance issues.
You should also note that the requirements vary for alternative vehicles, particularly motorcycles. Aside from carrying a lower customs duty of just 12%, motorcycles must comply with the exhaust emission standard 97/24/EC, as stipulated by the European Commission. Each vehicle is also tested on an individual basis, while there's an additional registration fee for owners that is charged at 15% of the confirmed OMV.
These subtle differences can have a significance impact on the cost of importing your vehicle, as well as the process in question. So, by informing yourself in advance, you can ensure that you remain compliant regardless of the vehicle (or make and model) that you're trying to import.
On another note, you need to prepare yourself for the inescapable fact that the import duties applied to cars and motorcycles are particularly high. This is particularly true in Singapore, which is also home to especially complex tax, import and registration procedures.
Similarly, a surcharge is payable for each imported car that is successfully registered in Singapore, so you'll need to factor this in at the start of the process.
The Last Word
Interestingly, it may become even harder to import cars or vehicles into Singapore in the future. This is due to new legislation that was introduced last year, which confirmed that authorities will not allow any increase in the number of cars in the road in a bid to reduce traffic and congestion.
Given this and the cost of owning a car in Singapore in the modern age (drivers are required to buy a special certificate from the government at an average cost of $37,000), imports are likely to become increasingly rare over time.
Still, if you do intend to import your car or motorcycle into Singapore at some point in the future, you can at least rely on this guide to help you through the process as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Photo Credits by Mike Enerio on Unsplash
