Some drivers willing to pay to move car OBUs

Without that warranty, an owner can expect to pay more than $220 to replace the processing unit, $90 for the antenna and $50 for the touchscreen display, excluding installation costs, according to VX Audio, a car audio specialist authorised to install OBUs.

VX Audio founder Seow Kwan Heng said his company has sold at least 3,000 slim OBU mounting brackets that it designed since 2024, mostly to owners of larger multi-purpose vehicles and sports cars.

The bracket allows the display to sit flatter at the top right-hand corner of the windscreen so that the sun visor can still be extended.

Besides being installed in a separate location, the card reader can also be incorporated into the mount, directly behind the screen. This gives the user interface a layout similar to that of the old ERP system’s in-vehicle unit, which had the card reader and the digital display in a single unit.

Seow said customers mostly want a tidier layout and quicker access to their payment cards.

With the standard installation, the card reader, which is part of the processing unit, can be located in the front passenger’s footwell, under the glove compartment, at the side of the centre console, or under the driver’s seat.

Alongside workshops offering OBU relocation services are online sellers such as Alex Kong. The trained design engineer has created 3D-printed OBU screen mounts, which he sells on platforms such as Shopee, Lazada and Carousell under the name 3DP Solver.

The 33-year-old has sold more than 800 pieces since August 2025 for either $15 or $24, depending on the design. On receiving the customised plastic mounts, buyers can relocate the touchscreen displays on their own or pay a workshop to do it.

LXG, another online seller, said slim mounts are also useful for vehicles with smaller cabins, such as sports cars, as they place the screens slightly farther from the driver’s face.

Financial consultant Jeremy Hu found the standard bracket that came with his OBU too bulky. But instead of buying a ready-made customised mount, he downloaded a free 3D file for a slim OBU mount in 2025.

Through online shopping platform Taobao, he commissioned a vendor in China to print the 3D design using a heat-resistant material for less than $2.

He installed it in his Toyota Sienta himself. It was an “easy fix”, he posted on the Singapore Home DIY Facebook page, along with pictures of the relocated screen and the link to the 3D file.

While Mok, who owns the Nissan, admits that $300 is not a trifling sum, he said: “For me, appearance and comfort are important.”