In Singapore, unless you've renewed your Certificate of Entitlement (COE), the lifespan of your car is capped at ten years. When your COE is close to expiring, and you're not planning to renew it, the question will invariably pop into your head: "Should I export or scrap my car?"

Be it scrap or export, there are many ways to go about it. If you're looking to deregister your car, and you're not sure how to do so, fret not! We're here to help you with a trusty guide on how the deregistration process works.
 
 
What is car deregistration?

When you deregister a car, LTA gives you a sum of money in return. This sum of money is known as your car's deregistration value or paper value. Knowing how to  calculate your car's deregistration value is useful, so that you'll be fully aware of how much money you'll be getting back.

Your car's deregistration value is the sum of your COE rebate and the Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) rebate. However, only "PARF cars" are entitled to both PARF rebates and COE rebates; "COE cars" are only entitled to COE rebates.

(Psst, find out what's the difference between PARF cars and COE cars here!)
 
 
Deregister your car with a Motor Dealer

For car deregistration and disposal services, you can approach your motor dealer for assistance. Be sure to visit here to stay clear of unwanted problems.

Alternatively, you can check out Sgcarmart's Quotz service. Whether it's scrap, export or dealing with tedious paperwork, Quotz will handle it all for you. They'll get the best quotations from dozens of scrapyards and direct vehicle exporters - saving you all the trouble, and most importantly, getting you the best returns! 

With that blatant advertising plug out of the way, let's talk about DIY deregistration or deregistering your car with LTA.
 
 
Deregister your car with LTA by yourself

If you're feeling all independent, you have been warned too: You'll need to take charge of all the paperwork by yourself.

You'll also need to ensure you follow proper procedures like towing your car to the appointed zones, and ensuring that you meet the stipulated deadlines under LTA's requirements.

Thankfully, you can now deregister your car online via OneMotoring (you have to log in with either your SingPass or CorpPass). 

Some things to take note of

• You'll receive payment from LTA based on the deregistration value (paper value) and unused road tax of your car in about two weeks upon submission of disposal documents

• For the unused portion of your car insurance, you will have to contact your insurer separately for the refund

• Under the law, once you deregister your car, you are not allowed to drive in it. Therefore, make sure you drive your car to the disposal point before starting the deregistration process online to save on towing fees!

 
 
Where to dispose your car after deregistration

Upon deregistering your car, you'll need to bid it a proper and rather quick goodbye: Disposing of it and submitting proof of its disposal must be done within a month. Failure to submit proof of your car's disposal is a serious offence. Here are your disposal options:

• Scrapping at an LTA Appointed Scrapyard

• Temporarily storing it at an LTA Appointed Export Processing Zone (EPZ)

• Exporting it

Car Scrapyards

Thankfully, with LTA's digital services, you can submit any relevant documents online. 

For car owners sending their registered cars to an LTA appointed scrapyard, you'll have to log in once more to your OneMotoring account via SingPass/CorpPass to submit an online application.

Car owners that are ineligible for Singpass/CorpPass can visit LTA's Customer Service.

For the application process, you'll need:

• The completed deregistration form;

• Original NRIC for Singaporeans, Singapore Permanent Residents and Malaysians, or passport for foreigners other than Malaysians;

• Any outstanding road tax fees on the day of car's deregistration

Once you've completed the online application, you can proceed to tow your car to any of the LTA-appointed scrapyards. For identification purposes, do bring along the completed deregistration documents.

If there are any PARF and COE rebates, applicable outstanding road tax or late renewal fees, LTA will notify the last registered user of the car.

Do take note of the date given to you on the online application form - that's the date you'll need to get your car scrapped by.
 
 
Temporary Storage Pending Export at an EPZ

The same procedures apply, for sending your car to an LTA appointed scrapyard and sending it to an EPZ. However, instead of sending your car to a scrapyard, your car will be patiently awaiting export in the EPZ.

Upon submitting an online application, you must send your car to an EPZ operator within five calendar days. You can store a car in the EPZ for a maximum duration of 12 months (i.e. an entire year!) from the car's deregistration date - so remember to keep to the timeline!  
 
 
How to export your car

Log in to your OneMotoring account via Singpass/CorpPass to export your car. You'll need to upload your export documents through the "Upload Disposal Document" function within a month.

Once more, don't forget to submit all necessary disposal documents through the OneMotoring website. No physical submissions to LTA will be allowed. (They don't like it physical.) 
 
 
Here are some related articles that might interest you

Renewing your COE might be a fatal mistake

10 things you should know about renewing your COE

A simple guide to COE renewal: How & when you should renew

How to transfer vehicle ownership or deregister a car online through LTA

*This article was updated on 3 October 2022