LTA announces adjustments for extended circuit breaker period

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that it will be making the following adjustments to support motorists during the extension of the circuit breaker as well as to curb the transmission of COVID-19.

Firstly, LTA will continue to suspend ERP charging at all gantries in view of the extended circuit breaker measures. The LTA also stated that it will resume the charging of ERP when the extended circuit breaker measures are lifted. The ERP charges had previously been suspended since 6 April 2020, in view of the elevated set of safe distancing measures implemented during the circuit breaker period, which was expected to result in a significant reduction in traffic volume.

Secondly, the COE bidding exercises in the month of May will continue to be suspended during the extended circuit breaker period. Dealers are advised to use their existing stock of Temporary COEs (TCOEs) to register new vehicles. All existing and unused TCOEs which expire on or after 7 April 2020 will have their validity automatically extended by three months.

For owners renewing the COEs for their existing vehicles, the Prevailing Quota Premium (PQP) will be based on the average of the Quota Premium (QP) for the latest three months in which bidding was conducted.

Due to the suspension of bidding in the months of April and May, the PQP for May and June 2020 will be based on the average of the QP for the bidding exercises conducted in January, February and March 2020.

The LTA will update on the subsequent bidding exercises.

Thirdly, counter services at LTA's Customer Service Centre and e-Lobbies at Sin Ming Drive will continue to be suspended until 1 June 2020. LTA's vehicle services remain accessible to the public via the OneMotoring website here.

The LTA has also announced that it will continue to support vehicle owners with the following adjustments:

Firstly, the periodic vehicle inspection deadline for private cars will be extended by six months for motorists whose periodic car inspection is due within the circuit breaker period or within three weeks from the end of the circuit breaker period (i.e. between 2 June and 21 June 2020, both dates inclusive). To facilitate continued usage of the cars, LTA will allow the road tax for such private cars to be renewed for six months if they have valid insurance coverage.

Goods vehicles, buses, taxis, private hire cars, and motorcycles meanwhile will still be required to go for periodic inspections as scheduled, and Authorised Inspection Centres will remain open to facilitate these inspections.

Secondly, the seal inspection for Off-Peak Cars (OPCs) will be waived for OPCs whose road tax due date falls within the circuit breaker period or within three weeks from the end of the circuit breaker period (i.e. between 2 June and 21 June 2020, both dates inclusive).

Thirdly, as all LTA-authorised scrapyards and Export Processing Zones, as well as other vehicle exporters will not be in operation during the circuit breaker period, owners who deregister their vehicles, or whose one-month disposal deadline falls within this period will be given an additional two months to dispose of their vehicles.

On top of this, owners whose disposal deadline falls within one month from the end of the circuit breaker period (i.e. between 2 June and 2 July 2020, both dates inclusive) will be given a further one-month extension to dispose of their vehicles.

Finally, owners of Early Turnover Scheme (ETS)-eligible commercial vehicles who deregister their vehicles, or whose one-month deadline for registration of a replacement vehicle falls within the circuit breaker period will be given an additional two months to register a replacement vehicle under ETS.

On top of this, owners whose deadline for registering a replacement vehicle falls within one month from the end of the circuit breaker period (i.e. between 2 June and 2 July 2020, both dates inclusive) will be given a further one-month extension to register a replacement vehicle.

The LTA also advises that vehicle owners are still required to ensure their vehicles have valid road tax and motor insurance coverage during the extended circuit breaker period.