Applications for private-hire car driver's vocational licence open on 13th March

Applicants will have to attend a 10-hour course to qualify for the private-hire car driver's vocational licence. They must also hold a Class 3/3A driving licence, which has been valid for a continuous period of at least two years, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a release on Thursday, 9^th March. All applicants will be required to undergo a medical examination, and will be subject to background checks. There will be a non-refundable $40 application fee. There is also a grace period for current drivers.

Private-hire car drivers whose applications reach the LTA by 30^th June will have up to one year to attend and pass the course. "To ease the transition to the new vocational licensing regime, during this one-year transitional period, they can continue providing private-hire car services," LTA said. Those who miss the 30^th June deadline have to obtain a vocational licence before they can provide private-hire car services. Singapore citizens can now apply for the licence as a self-employed driver.

Formerly, they had to be driving for a company providing chauffeured services or registered owners of a chauffeured services business. Singapore permanent residents and foreign work pass holders must be employees of a company providing chauffeured services in order to be eligible for the vocational licence. Drivers who already have a taxi driver's vocational licence can drive both taxis and private-hire cars. They do not need to apply for the new licence. Private-hire car drivers will also be required to display a tamper-evident decal on the front and back windscreens of their private-hire cars from 1^st July.