Malaysian cross-border taxis to pay S$15 per Singapore trip from 2027, up from S$2 a month

26/06/2026 3 Views

Malaysian cross-border taxis to pay S per Singapore trip from 2027, up from S a month

SINGAPORE: From Jan 1, 2027, Malaysian-registered taxis entering Singapore will have to pay S$15 per trip, up from the current S$2 per month.

Announcing the change on Thursday (June 25), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that the adjustment to the Public Service Vehicle Permit fee aims to narrow the cost gap between Malaysian-registered taxis and Singapore-registered taxis operating in Singapore.

The Straits Times has asked LTA how the permit fee hike could impact passenger fares.

The revision to the fee to enter Singapore follows an overhaul introduced on May 4 aimed at making cross-border taxi services between Singapore and Malaysia more flexible and attractive for commuters, discouraging them from turning to illegal operators.

This includes a significant hike in fixed fares, additional designated pick-up points and allowing taxis to drop off passengers anywhere in Singapore and in Johor with a preset surcharge.

Under the revised fares, a four-seater taxi ride from Ban San Street Terminal in Bugis to Larkin Sentral Terminal in Johor Bahru, or up to 35km, will cost $80, up from $60, while a trip from Larkin to Ban San, or within 35km, will be priced at RM240 (S$75), up from RM120.

The quota for licensed taxis to provide cross-border services by each country is also being progressively increased from 200 to 500.

Reacting to the upcoming permit fee hike, Mohd Suhaimi Saidi, chairman of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Cross-Border Taxi Association in Malaysia, told ST that while he had hoped the increase would be lower than $15, the fee is still bearable as drivers rarely make more than one trip a day to Singapore.

The current cost gap between Singapore and Malaysian cross-border taxis is stark.

Malaysian-registered taxis cost between RM30 and RM50 a day to rent, while Singapore drivers pay between $100 and $130, according to Singapore cross-border taxi driver Haniff Mahbob, when asked about the differences in operating cost.

The 73-year-old taxi driver said that as drivers on both sides earn the same regulated fare for cross-border trips, Malaysian drivers will likely still be better off than their Singapore counterparts after the higher fee takes effect.

However, he added that the bigger issue is the prevalence of illegal cross-border services, which hurts licensed drivers from both sides of the border.

LTA said that it will continue to take enforcement action against illegal point-to-point transport services to safeguard the safety of commuters and the livelihoods of licensed drivers. Earlier in June, an enforcement blitz saw seven drivers caught and their vehicles impounded for providing illegal point-to-point services in Singapore.

“Commuters are advised to use only licensed taxis for cross-border travel as only these have valid insurance coverage,” said LTA, adding that unlicensed vehicles are not appropriately insured and could potentially leave passengers without recourse if they are involved in a traffic accident. – The Straits Times/ANN

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