To drive a Singapore-registered car into Johor Bahru you need a VEP with an RFID tag that is already activated and linked to a Touch 'n Go account, at least a three-quarter tank when you leave Singapore, and enough Touch 'n Go balance for the RM20 road charge on each entry. In JB, fill RON97 only, and register your plate for the homestay's parking.
Plenty of families plan the stay carefully and then get stuck at the border over something small: a tag that was stuck on but never activated, an empty Touch 'n Go wallet, a half-full tank. This guide runs through the trip in order, then explains the part we handle ourselves: parking at the unit. Border rules belong to JPJ, ICA and LTA, not to us, and they change, so check the official sites before you go.
What is the VEP and who needs one?
The VEP (Vehicle Entry Permit) is JPJ's permit for Singapore-registered vehicles entering Peninsular Malaysia by land, whether over the Causeway or the Second Link. The car must display the RFID tag on its windscreen. Enforcement began on 1 July 2025, and Malay Mail reported that 10 Singapore drivers were fined in the first hour.
The basic numbers, from the Motorist.sg 2026 guide:
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| VEP RFID tag | RM10, one time | Valid five years; a service fee and courier fee may apply |
| Touch 'n Go card | About RM10 | Sold without stored value |
| Road charge | RM20 per entry | Foreign private vehicles; deducted through Touch 'n Go |
| Fine for no VEP | RM300 | Compound fine on the spot |
You apply online through the JPJ VEP portal. You will need your LTA log card details, an insurance certificate that covers Malaysia, valid Singapore road tax, your NRIC or passport and a Touch 'n Go eWallet. Approval comes by email and can take several days, so do not apply the same week as the trip.
Why can a car with a tag still get fined?
Because to JPJ, a tag that is stuck on but not activated is non-compliant. After you fit the tag you must enter its serial number on the portal to activate it. Malay Mail reported that as of 29 June 2025 more than 248,000 Singapore vehicles had registered, but about 17 per cent had not yet activated their tags. That group is the one most likely to get caught.
A few practical points:
- Fit the tag inside the windscreen, top corner on the driver's side, a few centimetres from metal frames and tint strips. Clean and dry the glass first.
- Do not peel it off once applied. It breaks and stops working.
- An inactive tag means a RM300 summons and you cannot leave Malaysia until it is sorted. Refuse to pay and you are reportedly not allowed to drive back into Singapore.
- Fines can be paid cashlessly at the checkpoint or at JPJ counters.
One question we could not find an official answer to: does the tag collection slip count as proof before activation? Do not rely on that. Activate first, then travel.
What do you check before leaving Singapore?
Three things on the Singapore side:
- The tank must be at least three-quarters full. Secret Singapore's April 2026 report puts the penalty at S$500 and a forced turn-back. Fill up before the checkpoint.
- Your physical passport. Even if you clear with a QR code, carry it.
- Insurance. Most Singapore motor policies extend to Malaysia, but ask your insurer, especially if you are driving beyond JB.
Also open the Touch 'n Go app and confirm the RFID tag is linked. Little Day Out suggests keeping at least RM50 to RM100 loaded, since the same account pays most expressway tolls. Motorist.sg adds that foreign users sometimes hit limits activating the eWallet, such as needing a Malaysian phone number, so set that up early.
Causeway or Second Link, and when to avoid the roads?
The Causeway (Woodlands) leads straight into central JB: City Square, Wong Ah Fook and Mount Austin, but it is usually the most congested. The Second Link (Tuas) comes out near Tanjung Kupang and Gelang Patah, which suits Nusajaya, Bukit Indah, LEGOLAND and Eco Botanic better. Check both before leaving, because the longer route is sometimes faster.
The usual bad windows are Friday evening, Saturday morning, Sunday evening and the eve of any public holiday. Calmer times are weekday mornings after the rush, or roughly 10 am to 4 pm. If your dates fall in school holidays, see our calendar, and for the drive home read how we suggest planning check-out day.
Which petrol can you buy in Johor?
This is the most expensive mistake available. From 1 April 2026, drivers of foreign vehicles are directly liable under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 if they fill subsidised RON95. The penalty is up to RM1 million and/or three years in jail. Secret Singapore reported that the first Singapore-registered car driver was arrested in Johor on 9 April 2026 and his car seized. Foreign credit and debit cards are also refused at RON95 self-service kiosks.
So the rule is simple: RON97 only. In April 2026 it was around RM5.10 a litre, but prices move weekly, so read the board at the station. For a full trip cost with petrol included, our Desaru cost table uses that week's prices.
How does parking at a homestay work?
This part we know first-hand, because we run it. In the guest portal, at the Arrival step, you choose Grab or Car. If you choose car, you enter your plate. Three rules matter:
- The number of plates equals the number of parking bays for that unit, maximum 2. A one-bay unit accepts one plate.
- A unit with no bay does not show the Car option at all. That is your signal to come by Grab or find public parking. We cannot promise a bay that does not exist.
- Plates go in capitals with no spaces, for example
JXX1234. Motorcycles do not count as parking plates.
The plate goes straight onto your QR gate pass, so the guard sees the same plate you registered. The second car that "came along" unregistered is the number one reason families get stuck at the gate. If you are travelling in two cars, check how many bays the unit has before you book. The full sequence from eKYC to the door code is in the first-time check-in guide.
One general tip, not a rule of ours: Little Day Out recommends parking in well-lit, secure areas, keeping valuables out of sight and taking your cashcard and ERP unit out of the car.
So should you bring the car at all?
The honest answer is that it depends on your plan, and sometimes the answer is no.
| Situation | Bring the car? |
|---|---|
| Family, lots of luggage, LEGOLAND, Desaru or several far-apart stops | Yes, usually the easiest option |
| One night of food and shopping in central JB | Maybe not. You pay RM20, petrol and need a place to park |
| The unit you like has no parking bay | No, or pick a unit with a bay |
| VEP not yet active | Do not set off, since RM300 outweighs any saving |
Your fixed cost is only the RM10 tag and the roughly RM10 Touch 'n Go card, once. After that each trip is the RM20 road charge plus petrol. If your plan is the area near the RTS station, read what we wrote about Bukit Chagar, because the answer there may not need a car.
Checklist for the day before
- VEP approved, tag fitted and activated on the portal.
- Tag linked in the Touch 'n Go app, balance at least RM50 to RM100.
- Tank three-quarters full before the checkpoint, physical passport packed.
- Plate registered in the homestay guest portal, cars no more than bays.
- RON97 only in Johor.
- Departure time clear of Friday evening and Sunday evening peaks.
When you are ready and want a unit with parking, check options and prices on our booking page. This article is general guidance from public sources, not legal advice. Always check the JPJ, ICA and LTA sites for current rules.