OBUs to be fitted in new vehicles and motorcycles from 1 May

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced the next phase of On-Board Unit (OBU) installations. Installation of the ERP 2.0 system's On-Board Unit (OBU) in existing locally registered motorcycles will soon begin from 1 June 2024. Motorcycle owners can expect to be progressively notified by LTA of their OBU installation via email, letter or SMS. 

Slated to begin on 1 May 2024, this phase will involve all new vehicles registered on or from 1 May 2024, as well as motorcycles registered in Singapore before that. LTA added that newly registered vehicles from 1 May 2024 will come "pre-fitted with the OBU".  

This is in line with LTA's phased installation exercise, which started with fleet vehicles registered to a company, on 1 November 2023. The authority said the installation progress for this category of vehicles is on track. To date, over 13,000 such vehicles - of which include motorcycles - have been fitted with OBUs.

Not all fleet vehicles (such as those belonging to commercial entities) have completed their OBU installation, however. Bus fleets that are under the purview of the public transport operators, for instance, have been fitted with the units, LTA said.

When the authority announced the commencement of installations in October last year, it had said that the OBU would take the form of a three-component unit, comprising a processing unit, an antenna, and a touchscreen display. The exception is for motorcycles, which receive a single-piece OBU.

The OBU is based on a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and replaces the In-vehicle Unit (IU) to facilitate Singapore's transition to the next-generation ERP system. As such, all Singapore-registered vehicles must be fitted with an OBU except for those that will be de-registered in the course of the OBU installation.

According to LTA, OBU installation has also commenced for new motorcycles registered on or from 13 February 2024. It is now preparing authorised installers to ramp up their installation operations for the next stage.

What to expect from 1 May 2024

Owners of motorcycles can proceed to make an appointment with their preferred workshop upon being notified by LTA. Similar to the process for cars, motorcycle owners will receive a notification from LTA when it is their turn. 

Each notification will include an introductory e-brochure detailing instructions on how to book an appointment for the installation, along with features of the OBU. A link will also be provided in the notification, which redirects the user to a page hosted on LTA's website. 

There, vehicle owners can select their workshop of choice through a search of the address, workshop name, or date range. Owners can also indicate whether they would like to install the touchscreen display, via the same webpage. This option, however, applies only to the three-piece OBU used in vehicles other than motorcycles. Thus far, the majority of motorists who have had their vehicle fitted with an OBU have opted for the touchscreen display, said LTA. 

Installation of the OBU is free for motorcycle owners if it is completed within the two-month period stated in the notification. A subsidised fee of $35 will be imposed on motorcycle owners for installations done after that. For all other vehicle types that are not able to get an OBU fitted within the stipulated period, owners will have to pay a fee of $70 for the installation.

LTA will notify the owners of other existing local vehicles in batches when it is their turn for the OBU installation, from the second half of this year. 

However, motorists who wish to install their OBU before receiving LTA's notification may do so by calling the LTA Call Assist Service at 6377 2255 for assistance. Motorists may alternatively contact their preferred authorised workshop directly to schedule an installation together with their regular servicing appointment. 

Such an instance could arise if an IU becomes faulty or breaks down before the vehicle is due for OBU installation. This flexibility will give vehicle owners greater convenience and ensure a smooth transition for all, said LTA. 

What to prepare for your OBU installation

On the day of the installation, motorcycle owners (or designated representative) need only to bring their motorcycle to the selected workshop. There is no need to present any additional documents to the installers. 

After the installation, vehicle owners will be briefed by the workshop on the OBU and its features. LTA said it will equip the authorised installers to act as "service ambassadors" to engage with customers "effectively" in relation to the OBU installation.

As there is a longstanding process already established from the installation of IUs, the exercise to fit OBUs within vehicles should not be too unfamiliar to authorised motor distributors or dealers (AMDs), as well as parallel importers.

Refinements to the OBU for a smooth transition

To enable a smooth transition, LTA has sought feedback from users who are on-board the OBU. It expects to implement refinements to the units to improve user experience, as installations are rolled out.

These include introducing a button on the touchscreen display, which can temporarily deactivate the CEPAS card in use. Drivers with complimentary parking tickets will, therefore, not need to remove the CEPAS card from the processing unit. The authority said this will address feedback from OBU users who have experienced inconveniences as a result of having to reach for the processing unit. 

LTA also said it will continue to develop more features for ERP 2.0 based on feedback from motorists, though these will "largely focus on traffic and safety considerations". 

The OBU comes with a five-year warranty and is compatible with all existing ERP and parking gantries. As the OBU number will correspond to the IU number, details such as season parking information will be ported over automatically. 

For greater convenience, LTA strongly encouraged motorists to set up backend payment options offered by NETS or EZ-Link Motoring Service so they can pay for ERP charges without the need for any card in their OBU. Motorists can also sign up for the NETS auto top-up option to avoid having to make manual top-ups to their cards. However, as not all car parks are equipped to support backend payment methods, motorists are advised to keep a spare card on hand. 

Motorists who encounter issues with their OBU can contact their respective AMD or workshop that carried out the installation or drop by an authorised OBU Inspection Centre. Alternatively, motorists can call the ERP 2.0 Call Assist Service at 6377 2255. 

In emphasising that LTA's foremost priority is ensuring a seamless shift for all, Mr. Lam Wee Shann, Deputy CEO (Technology) of LTA said: "We are going for a progressive transition, not a big bang because the process is a change management on its own."