The Escape

Driving Into Malaysia: VEP, Touch ‘n Go and the Three-Quarter Tank Rule

Posted by eduKate Asia on

By The Escape desk · Last verified 28 September 2026

Three rules decide whether your drive into Malaysia goes smoothly. Your Singapore car needs a Vehicle Entry Permit, with an activated RFID tag that costs RM10 and lasts five years. Malaysia charges RM20 every time you enter, paid only through Touch ‘n Go. And the car must leave Singapore with at least three-quarters of a tank of petrol. Miss the VEP and you face a RM300 fine, and the car can’t leave Malaysia until it’s paid. Miss the tank rule and Singapore Customs can fine you up to S$500.

Quick facts

  • The VEP has been fully enforced since 1 July 2025.
  • The RFID tag costs RM10 and is valid for five years.
  • The road charge is RM20 per entry, paid through Touch ‘n Go.
  • Driving without a VEP: a RM300 fine, payable before you can leave.
  • Leave Singapore with at least a three-quarter tank, or risk a fine of up to S$500.
  • In Malaysia, pump RON97, not the subsidised RON95.

What is the VEP?

A Vehicle Entry Permit that every Singapore-registered car needs to enter Peninsular Malaysia. You register on the official JPJ VEP portal, pay RM10 for an RFID tag, stick it on the car and activate it. The tag is tied to that one vehicle and can’t be moved to another. Allow one to four weeks, depending on how you collect it.

What happens if I don’t have one?

Malaysia started with reminders in October 2024 and began full enforcement on 1 July 2025. Cars without a valid VEP are issued a RM300 compound, which must be paid, cashless, before the car is allowed to leave Malaysia. Pre-registering without activating the tag also earns a summons. Thousands of Singapore drivers were fined in the first months of enforcement.

How is the road charge paid?

The RM20 road charge is taken every time you enter, through a Touch ‘n Go account linked to your VEP. Link the two as soon as your tag is active. You’ll need Touch ‘n Go for Malaysian tolls as well.

What’s the three-quarter tank rule?

Singapore-registered cars leaving Singapore must have at least three-quarters of a tank of petrol. Singapore Customs checks at both Woodlands and Tuas. Drivers caught short can be fined up to S$500 and told to turn back.

Which petrol can I buy in Malaysia?

RON97. Subsidised RON95 isn’t for foreign-registered cars. Malaysian pump prices rose sharply in 2026, so the saving on filling up across the border is smaller than it used to be.

The WahLiao Verdict

Sort out the VEP weeks before your first drive, link it to Touch ‘n Go, and fill up in Singapore on the way to the checkpoint. The RM300 fine and the S$500 fine are both easily avoided, and both ruin a Saturday.

Questions people ask

Can I move my VEP tag to a new car?

No. Each tag belongs to one vehicle.

How long does the VEP last?

The tag is valid for five years from activation.

Can I pay the road charge in cash?

No. It’s paid only through Touch ‘n Go.

Would the bus be easier?

For a day in JB, often. The Causeway crossing guide on this desk compares the bus, train and taxi.

Sources: Free Malaysia Today, VEP enforcement from 1 July (June 2025); Malay Mail on the tag fee and road charge; Carz on compounds and pre-registration; you.co, VEP application guide; SingSaver, driving from Singapore to Malaysia.

Read next: Crossing the Causeway · Duty-Free and GST Allowances · Back to The Escape

For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.

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