SINGAPORE – Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) confiscated 22 vehicles last Friday (July 11) after uncovering illegal ride-hailing operations at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay, amid efforts sparked by tips from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association and concerned members of the public. The crackdown targeted drivers operating without the necessary Public Service Vehicle Licence (PSVL), offering unauthorised point-to-point journeys both within Singapore and across the border to Malaysia. All vehicles were impounded under these enforcement actions.
An LTA spokesperson reminded commuters that only authorised service providers from Singapore and Malaysia are permitted to offer cross-border transport, citing a regulatory quota of 200 taxis per country. Licensed vehicles are restricted to designated terminals Ban San Street in Singapore and Larkin Sentral in Johor and cannot operate unrestricted point-to-point services across either country. The spokesperson also urged commuters to avoid unauthorised ride-hailing services, warning passengers risk being uninsured and endangering licensed drivers’ livelihoods.
Officials emphasised that operating cross-border or intra-city ride-hailing without a PSVL breaches the Road Traffic Act. Violators can be fined up to S$3,000, face six months’ imprisonment, and lose their vehicles. Since 2022, LTA enforcement has led to the seizure of 94 foreign-registered vehicles involved in illegal cross-border operations, all of which have been impounded.
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Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling, echoing the LTA’s stance on Facebook, said: “Foreign-registered vehicles providing illegal private‑hire car services harm the livelihoods of our local taxi and private-hire car drivers.” She added that the authority would intensify and broaden its enforcement activities, not hesitating to impose heavier fines or to pursue compulsory forfeiture of non-compliant vehicles.
The Malay Mail corroborated these details, noting that both the illegal intra-city rides and cross-border trips to Malaysia were uncovered in the operation. Malaysia-registered vehicles providing cross-border rides into Singapore must hold both a PSVL and an ASEAN Public Service Vehicle Permit; foreign-registered private cars are strictly barred from providing such services without proper licensing.
The LTA reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on illegal transportation services, whether point-to-point or cross-border. Commuters are urged to report suspicious services through the OneMotoring portal or the LTA website.
This decisive action underscores Singapore’s resolve to maintain regulatory compliance and ensure safety within its public transport ecosystem. It sends a clear message to operators of unlawful ride-hailing services that they will face strict enforcement and penalties, including vehicle impoundment, for violating licensing regulations.
