License plates affixed on private and some light goods vehicles in Singapore usually have license plate frames provided by the dealership.
Vehicles owned by some car-sharing or taxi companies features plate frames with the company's name.
Vehicle registration plates in Singapore are administered by the Land Transport Authority.[1] All vehicles in Singapore are required to display front and back plates bearing its registration number. Purchasers of vehicles have the option to bid for a vehicle registration number or get a vehicle registration number automatically assigned.[1] Vehicle registration numbers can be retained on new or old vehicles owned by the same person. Vehicle owners are also able to replace and bid for a new registration number for existing vehicles.[2]
Black on white(front) and black on yellow(rear) number plate schemeA white on black number plate scheme
In general, every motor vehicle in Singapore requires a vehicle registration number to be displayed at the front center (in almost all cases or otherwise set by car manufacturer due to bumper constraints) and rear of the vehicle.[1] Two colour schemes are in use: white-on-black scheme that is standard on cars and motorcycles from dealerships, or the Euro black-on-white (front of the vehicle) and black-on-yellow (rear) scheme.[3]
These plates are either represented in rectangular single line or squarish two line format. The number plate has to be made of a reflective plastic with flat characters or metal based with bolded or embossed characters which are black (for white-yellow), or white or silver (for black based ones).[3]
Although no standardised typeface is used, all typefaces are based on the Charles Wright number plate typeface that was and is still used in the UK. Rarely, the Arial Bold or FE-Schrift font used in Germany can be seen– though the use of these fonts is prohibited by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).[3]
For motorists who would be attaching a bicycle rack of which the vehicle licence plate is blocked at the rear of a vehicle, or any other fittings such as wedding decorations that obstructs the view of the number plate, motorists are required to hang an additional licence plate prominently at the rear of the vehicle.[4]
A typical vehicle registration number comes in the format Sxx #### y:
S – Vehicle class ("S", with some exceptions, stands for a private vehicle since 1984)
x – Alphabetical series ("I" and "O" are not used to avoid confusion with "1" and "0")
#### – Numerical series (from 1 to 9999, without leading zeroes)
y – Checksum letter ("F", "I", "N", "O", "Q", "V" and "W" are never used as checksum letters; absent on special government vehicle plates and events vehicle plates)
Types of numbers
Private car licence plate numbers began in the early 1900s when Singapore was one of the four Straits Settlements, with a single prefix S for denoting Singapore, then adding a suffix letter S 'B' to S 'Y' for cars, but skipping a few like S 'A' (reserved for motorcycles), S 'H' (reserved for taxis), S 'D' (reserved for municipal vehicles), and S 'G' for goods vehicles large and small. There was no checksum letter, for example, S. When the checksum letter was implemented, these plate numbers were given checksum letters as well, for example SG5999 became SG5999Z.
When 'S' was exhausted at SY, in January 1972, private cars started with E and Land Transport Authority begin to create separate vehicle categories according type of vehicles which previously all vehicles in Singapore must bear prefix S due to previous standardization with Peninsular Malaysia according to geographical location (A is for Perak, B is for Selangor, S is for Singapore/Sabah), motorbikes with A and goods vehicles under 3 tonnes with Y. E was followed by EA, EB with the letters EC in 1973 up to EZ. E was chosen then as letters A-D were already in used by other states in Malaysia.[5]
From 1984, the "S" series of number plates was launched again after EZ, but now with two serial suffix letters, starting from SBA, although with several prefixes being skipped as they are reserved, such as SBS and SMB, as they were used for buses that belong to public transport operators. However under the Bus Contracting Model which was later implemented, bus operators under Bus Contracting Model utilise the SG prefix for all public buses.
Since August 2017, the Land Transport Authority announced that electric bicycle (also known as Power-Assisted Bicycle) owners would have to register their personal mobility vehicles between 14 August and 31 January 2018 and install number plates, with sealing and registration to be done by the individual. Since then, if the unregistered PAB already has an LTA orange seal, a registration is only needed. Alternatively, if a registered PAB is bought from a retailer, only a transfer the registration to the individual's name is needed. Registration for PAB with blue seal has ceased as of 2018. [6][7]
Since January 2019, the Land Transport Authority announced that electric scooter owners would have to register their personal mobility vehicles between 2 January and 30 July 2019. A registered e-scooter must have a LTA Registration Mark and an Identification Mark (which bears the unique registration number assigned to the e-scooter) affixed. However, non-UL2272 certified vehicles were deregistered automatically on 1 July 2020.[8]
Other classes of vehicles have registration numbers beginning with specific letters:
Private vehicles from the early 1970s until the mid 1980s
EVS
Special prefix for the first 100 locally assembled EVs.[10]
F_ FB_
Motorcycles (e.g., FA–FZ); used till late 2005. Second generation prefixes (e.g., FBA, FBB, and so on); started at the end of December 2005. The current prefix being issued is FBW.
G_ GB_
Light Goods vehicles (class 3) (e.g., GA – GZ) till late 2006. Second generation prefixes (e.g., GBA onwards; introduced at the end of December 2006, after GZ. The current prefix being issued is GBM.
P_
Private operator buses (PA, PC, PD, PH, PZ were used to separate private buses, and so on, but later on all private hire buses were issued plates with PA, PC and so on). The current prefix being issued is PD.
Q_
QE_QB_QC_
Once issued to company-registered vehicles. Expenses incurred in the use of these cars were tax-deductible, though the road tax payable was twice that of a private car.[11] After a tax rationalisation in 1998 which did away with these benefits, company cars have been issued with standard number plates ever since.[12] The Q-prefix was used both standalone (e.g. QB 1 K) and as a prefix for, E, B and C-series plates (e.g. QEZ 6257 R, QBX 2223 K, QCK 6861 Z)[13]
S_ S_ _
Private vehicles, also formal number plate series. First generation prefixes (e.g., SB – SY) issued till 1969. Second generation prefixes (e.g., SBA onwards; introduced from 1984. The current prefix being issued is SNR.[14]
SH SH_
Taxis or street hire vehicles such as Singapore-Johore Express, former SBS buses operating Sentosa and Airport services (AIRBUS) and Singapore Explorer Trolley – City Sightseeing buses. The current prefix being issued is SHF.
SH was also previously used for public buses that were not operated by the Singapore Traction Company (e.g. buses under the Chinese bus companies and later, SBS from the 1960s to 1974, when new SBS numbers were issued specifically for SBS buses.)
TR_
Trailers. The current prefix being issued is TRE.[15]
W_
Engineering plant vehicles (Class 5), some registered Jeeps and Rovers. The current prefix being issued is WD.
X_
Very heavy goods vehicles (Class 5/prime movers) not constructed to carry any load. The current prefix being issued is XE.
Y_
Heavy goods vehicles (class 3/4) which are constructed to carry load or passengers only. The current prefix being issued is YR.
12345
Power-Assisted Bicycle (PAB) number plate for blue sealed vehicles with a maximum of 5 digits. Registration has ceased as of 2018.
_123 _ _12
Power-Assisted Bicycle (PAB) number plate for orange sealed vehicles with a maximum of 4 alphanumerics. The first generation prefix (A - Z) was exhausted in 2021. The second generation prefix (AA - ZZ) is currently being issued.
123_ _
E-scooter number plate with a maximum of 5 alphanumerics.
Other specific vehicle types
In addition, the following are controlled for specific types of vehicles, including:
MID: Singapore Armed Forces vehicles (this is a suffix with up to five digits before it, e.g., "12345 MID"). "MID" originally stood for the Ministry of Interior and Defence. General ranks in the armed forces are provided with staff cars with two-digit MID plates.
QY: Quasi-government agencies and statutory boards
RD: Research and development vehicles (such as electric, fuel-cell and smart car rental vehicles).
RU: Restricted Use vehicles, a special category for vehicles for which road taxes are not paid. A vehicle with such a licence is restricted for use within certain areas, for example a pushback truck within the grounds of Singapore Changi Airport or shuttle buses on Sentosa island and other southern islands of Singapore. When travelling out of the restricted boundaries, such vehicles are either required to be tagged with a trade-plate or towed.
S/CC: Vehicles of the Consular Corps
S/CD: Vehicles of the Diplomatic Corps
S/TE: "Technical employment" vehicles
S1 to S10: State cars used for ferrying official government guests and dignitaries
SG: Government-owned buses operated by contracted bus operators under Bus Contracting Model. Formerly assigned to goods vehicles, most goods vehicles were de-registered by 1998.
SMB: Buses operated and assigned to SMRT Buses until January 2016, used in tandem with the TIB series. Used for buses registered after the merger of TIBS and SMRT in 2004. Currently also used by SBS Transit, Tower Transit and Go-Ahead.
SZ/SZA: Older rental vehicles and chauffeur-driven private hire cars. Since the car tax rationalisation of 1998, private hire and rental cars have been issued with standard passenger vehicle prefixes.[12] Currently SZ prefixes are used on private boats/yachts with (a suffix with up to five digits after it with checksum).
TIB: Buses operated by SMRT Buses registered prior to the merger of Trans-Island Bus Services (TIBS) and SMRT from 1983 to 2004. The last 3 buses TIB1245L, TIB1246J and TIB1247G were deregistered in January 2021.
They are neither used after the events nor sold for to the public, but unofficial series for cosmetic purposes.
Civil Mobilisation Exercise or Vehicle Recalls have a large A3/A2 sticker stuck at the rear and front of the vehicle denoted that the vehicle is being mobilised or deployed for civil emergency exercises. These usually happen during weekends.
Checksum
The checksum letter is calculated by converting the letters into numbers, i.e., where A=1 and Z=26, potentially giving seven individual numbers from each registration plate. However, only two letters of the prefix are used in the checksum. For a three-letter prefix, only the last two letters are used; for a two-letter prefix, both letters are used; for a single letter prefix, the single letter corresponds to the second position, with the first position as 0. For numerals less than four digits, additional zeroes are added in front as placeholders, for example "1" is "0001". SBS 9889 would therefore give 2, 19, 9, 8, 8 and 9 (note that "S" is discarded); E 12 would give 0, 5, 0, 0, 1 and 2. SG 2017 would be given as 19, 7, 2, 0, 1, 7.
Each individual number is then multiplied by 6 fixed numbers ( 14, 2, 12, 2, 11, 1). These are added up, then divided by 19. The remainder will then be used to find the corresponding letter in a string of 19 (A, Y, U, S, P, L, J, G, D, B, Z, X, T, R, M, K, H, E, C), with 0=A, Y=1, etc. In the case of SBS 9889, the final letter is a "U"; for E 23, the final letter should be a H. SG 2017 back letter should be a C. The letters F, I, N, O, Q, V and W are not used as checksum letters.
Checksum suffix letters are not applied to special government vehicles and event vehicles.
LTA has introduced policies where certain series of licence plate prefixes are deliberately skipped for various reasons. The policies include:
SA: The SA sequence was never issued (the S-sequence in 1984 started with SBA), because the West Coast Division of Sabah state in Malaysia has been using the SA sequence.
SE, SI, SO and SU: When the SDZ series was exhausted in 2003, the SE series was skipped and the next plates issued was the SFA. LTA announced that it had adopted the policy of not issuing series with vowels in the middle of the three-letter prefixes. This was done to avoid forming objectionable word combinations such as "SEE" (resembles spelling of 'see'), "SEL" (resembles spelling of the word 'sell'), "SEX" (resembles spelling of 'sex'), "SEY" (resembles spelling of 'say'), "SIA" (resembles Singapore Airlines), "SIN" (resembles abbreviation of Singapore as well as 'sin') and "SUX" (resembles spelling of 'sucks').[17] After SGZ was exhausted in mid-2008, SJA was used next, since SH was already being used for taxis.
SKY: LTA has announced that since SKY also forms a meaningful word (sky), the SKY series will also be skipped[18] despite the middle letter being a consonant. SLY has also been skipped, and similar words such as SPA and SPY will likely also be skipped in the future.
FA, FE and FU: After FZ exhausted, FBA was issued and FA series are skipped for motorcycle.
GA, GE and GU: After GZ exhausted, GBA was issued and GA series are skipped for Light Good Vehicle. This was done to avoid forming objectionable word combinations such as "GAY" (resembles spelling of 'gay').
SHE: SHE also forms a meaningful word (she), the SHE series also be skipped for taxi due despite the middle letter being a consonant.
Personalised registrations
To date, vanity plates or such a scheme has not been introduced, as it would further encourage the use of private vehicles which contradicts the efforts by the state in discouraging the usage of private vehicles.[19]
For now, there is a thriving trade in the sales of number plates that have single, double or significant digits (i.e., lucky numbers) or registration numbers from the older series.[19] Bids for vehicle registration numbers starts at S$1,000, with the number awarded to the highest bidder.[19] The highest amount recorded for a bid was in 2016, where the registration number of 'S32H' was sold for S$335,000.[20]
Other schemes & miscellaneous
Off-peak vehicles
An offpeak white on red number plate
Vehicles registered as "Off-peak Vehicles", colloquially known as "weekend cars" or red plate, pay a cheaper annual road tax compared to ordinary private cars, and rebates towards the registration of Certificate of Entitlement (COE) and Additional Registration Fee (ARF) on a new vehicle purchase.[21] Off-peak vehicles display number plates with white characters on a red background and are held with a tamper seal at the corner, bolted onto the bumper beam frame or the trunk itself. They are also not to be confused with the preserved vehicle licence plate format for de-registered vehicles.
These vehicles are only allowed to run on the roads in Singapore after peak hours (7:00 pm– 7:00 am) on weekdays, and the whole day on Saturday (Revised OPC scheme allows on whole Saturday, non-revised old OPC scheme vehicles must adhered to the old scheme restriction which is 7:00 am – 3:00 pm on Saturday), Sunday and public holidays. The restrictions do not apply if the vehicle is not in Singapore and is in Malaysia during restricted hours.
For owners of off-peak vehicles who wish to drive on weekdays during restricted hours, they are required to buy an e-licence for $20 either online or through major post offices. Car owners have up to 24 hours on the following day to purchase the e-licence. First-time offenders may be fined up to $5,000 for failing to display a valid day coupon or using an invalid day coupon, and up to $10,000 for using an altered day coupon when their vehicles are used during the restricted hours.
Off-peak vehicles pay a relatively lower road tax (a discount of up to $500) as compared to other private vehicles, and are also given rebate of $17,000 which can be offset against the COE and ARF. Once seen as a alterative for motorists to use on selected days, a majority of people in Singapore do not use off-peak vehicles in today’s trends due to its restrictions on day usage.
Similarly, due to rising vehicle ownership costs as an alternative, they are not beneficial financially beyond COE expiry and COE renewal and for cars above 1600cc. Off-peak vehicles are popular among cars below 1600cc due to lower road tax rebates.[22]
Vintage and Classic vehicles
A Classic vehicle numberplate
Vehicles registered under the Classic Vehicle Scheme, Vintage (Restricted) Vehicle Scheme, and the Revised Vintage Vehicle Scheme bear the Vintage and Classic vehicle registration plate, which has an ordinary registration number but with white lettering on a half-red, half-yellow background, with a seal affixed on the number plate by an authorised inspection centre.
According to Land Transport Authority (LTA) guidelines, classic vehicles are required to be of at least 35 years of age, while vintage vehicles must be manufactured in 1939 or earlier. Under the Classic Vehicle Scheme and the Revised Vintage Vehicle Scheme, the maximum allowable road usage for these vehicles is limited to 45 days per year, while vehicles registered under the Vintage (Restricted) Vehicle Scheme are limited to 28 days of annual road usage.[23][24] Owners of these vehicles are required to display a valid Day License every time they use their vehicle.
These vehicles enjoy rebates on road tax and the registration of Certificate of Entitlement (COE). However, they cannot be converted to other vehicle registration schemes and are required to pay ERP.
Other categories
A Restricted Use vehicleA hazardous cargo vehicle (implemented in 2005)
A "Restricted Use" vehicle displays a registration plate with white letters on a diagonally bisected background, the upper half of which is red and the lower half emerald green. The two lead characters of the plate are "RU".
"Hazardous Cargo" plates were introduced in 2005, using normal commercial vehicle registrations, often in the 'Y' code, but with, unusually, black figures on a reflective orange background. These trucks are permitted to carry fuel, gas canisters and chemicals (flammables), and are not permitted to enter both tunnels and city areas unless route arrangements have been made in advance with the fire services. Malaysian lorries are also required to have a separate HAZMAT orange licence plate affixed to both the trailer and wagon (tow head). Such vehicles are subject to the same rules as Singapore-registered hazardous cargo vehicles.
"Research and Development" vehicles display a half-yellow, half-blue plate with the prefix "RD".
Motor dealers and traders use white on blue plates using the suffix "S", preceded by up to four numerals for their test drive vehicles.
Driving instructors teaching students in Singapore must display an "L" ("learner") plate beside their vehicle registration plates on both the front and back of the vehicle.
MY 'X' series - SG Very Heavy Goods vehicles prefix
MY 'Y' series - SG Heavy Goods vehicles prefix
Related Research Articles
A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate or license plate or licence plate, is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. All countries require registration plates for road vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Whether they are required for other vehicles, such as bicycles, boats, or tractors, may vary by jurisdiction. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric ID that uniquely identifies the vehicle or vehicle owner within the issuing region's vehicle register. In some countries, the identifier is unique within the entire country, while in others it is unique within a state or province. Whether the identifier is associated with a vehicle or a person also varies by issuing agency. There are also electronic license plates.
Vehicle registration plates are mandatory alphanumeric plates used to display the registration mark of a vehicle registered in Germany. They have existed in the country since 1906, with the current system in use since 1956. German registration plates are alphanumeric plates in a standardized format, issued officially by the district authorities.
All motorised road vehicles in India are tagged with a registration or licence number. The Vehicle registration plate is issued by a Regional Transport Office (RTO) — the district-level authority on road matters in the respective state or Union Territory. The number plates are mandatory on both front and rear of the vehicle and are required to be in modern arabic numerals with latin letters. Complete specification of registration plates are specified under the HSRP: High Security Registration Plate rules.
Austrian car number plates are mandatory vehicle registration plates displaying the registration mark of motor vehicles in Austria. They are used to verify street legality, proof of a valid liability insurance and to identify and recognise the vehicle.
Vehicle registration plates in Hong Kong are managed by the Transport Department of Hong Kong. The physical number plates are not provided by the government but are made to order by garages. The vehicle registration system in Hong Kong is independent from that of Mainland China and Macau.
Vehicle registration plates of Poland indicate the region of registration of the vehicle given the number plate.
In New Zealand, vehicle registration plates contain up to six alphanumeric characters, depending on the type of vehicle and the date of registration. To be operated on any public road, most types of motor vehicles and trailers must be registered and display the corresponding registration plate(s). One plate must be affixed to the rear of the vehicle, and except in the case of a motorcycle, moped, tractor, or trailer, a second plate must be affixed to the front of the vehicle.
The registration plates of cars in Norway are maintained by the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications. As in most countries, cars are identified only by number plates read visually. Each plate is a legal document that both identifies the vehicle and permits its use, and shall be returned to the registration authority when the vehicle is no longer in use.
Taxis of Singapore come in two main varieties. Traditional taxi companies offer flag down and call bookings and their drivers are hired employees of the company. Ridesharing companies allow bookings through a smartphone, allowing ease for passengers, these are mostly known as private hire vehicles (PHV). Their apps also allow the flexibility to work and pick up passengers with their own vehicle, be it owned or rented, provided the various requirements are met depending on the company.
Malaysian registration plates are displayed at the front and rear of all private and commercial motorised vehicles in Malaysia, as required by law. The issuing of the number plates is regulated and administered by the Malaysian Road Transport Department or JPJ.
Vehicle registration plates of Canada, also known as licence plates, are issued by provincial or territorial government agencies. Registration plates in Canada are typically attached to motor vehicles or trailers for official identification purposes. Some Canadian registration plates have unique designs, shapes, and slogans related to the issuing jurisdiction. For example, registration plates issued in the Northwest Territories are shaped like a polar bear. In Alberta, registration plates typically display the words "Wild Rose Country."
The vehicle registration plates of Cyprus are composed of three letters and three digits. A simple incremental numbering system is used; numbers run from 001 to 999 per letter sequence (alphabetic), so that, for example, the plate to be issued after MAA 999 would be MAB 001. However, registrants may be allowed to choose a number from available numbers in the extant letter sequence.
Vehicle registration plates are displayed on all motorised road vehicles in Brunei, as required by law. The issue of registration plates is regulated and administered by the Brunei Land Transport Department. All vehicles must also display two of the same registration plates numbers of the same colours at the front and rear of the vehicles. All vehicle registration plates in Brunei, other than those issued to royalty, diplomats and taxis, have white characters on a black background, regardless of the vehicle type.
Vehicle registration plates in Trinidad and Tobago are categorised using prefixes based on the type of vehicle and feature up to four succeeding digits. Registration plates in Trinidad and Tobago are supposed to be either white figures on a black background or black figures on a white background. All motor vehicles that are operating in the roads of Trinidad and Tobago are required by law to have a registration plate affixed to the front and rear of the vehicle at all times except during very specific situations. This current system has been present for over 40 years.
Vehicle registration plates are the alphanumeric plates used to display the registration mark of a vehicle, and have existed in the United Kingdom since 1904. It is compulsory for motor vehicles used on public roads to display vehicle registration plates, with the exception of vehicles of the reigning monarch used on official business.
Vehicle registration plates, commonly known as number plates, are the mandatory alphanumeric or numeric plates used to display the registration mark of a vehicle.
Jamaica requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current plates are North American standard 6 × 12 inches.
The Australian state of Tasmania requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current regular issue plates are to the standard Australian dimensions of 372 mm (14.6 in) in length by 134 mm (5.3 in) in height, and use standard Australian serial dies.
The Australian state of New South Wales requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current regular issue plates are to the standard Australian dimensions of 372 mm (14.6 in) in length by 134 mm (5.3 in) in height, and use standard Australian serial dies.
The state of Western Australia requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current regular issue plates are to the standard Australian dimensions of 372 mm (14.6 in) in length by 134 mm (5.3 in) in height, and use standard Australian serial dies.
↑ "LTA | Mandatory Inspection for Registered E-scooters From April 2020". www.lta.gov.sg. Retrieved 12 October 2023. All non UL2272-certified e-scooters, including those found to be declared as UL2272-certified erroneously will be automatically deregistered on 1 July 2020, the deadline for mandatory UL2272 compliance for use on public paths. E-scooters that are UL2272-certified but do not comply with weight, width and speed requirements during inspection will have their registration cancelled by LTA.
↑ International Master Tax Guide 2009/10. CCH Australia Limited. 2009. p.1617. ISBN9781921485800.
1 2 "Q-plate, SZ, learner cars to be treated like normal carsQ-plate, SZ, learner cars to be treated like normal cars". Business Times. Singapore. 5 March 1998.
↑ "COE Prices". tralvex.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
