Starting from September 22, Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) will be adding two more locations in Johor for Singaporean vehicle owners to collect and install their Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) tags.

The new collection points, located at the Johor JPJ Complex in Taman Daya and the Road Transport Academy (Southern Region) in Larkin, are set to handle up to 800 and 400 vehicles per day, respectively.

This move comes as part of JPJ’s effort to streamline the process and reduce waiting times, complementing the existing collection centre at TCSens in Danga Bay, which has a capacity of 300 vehicles per day.

For Singaporean motorists driving into Malaysia, having a valid VEP is about to become non-negotiable.

From October 1, all foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia via land checkpoints will be required to have a valid VEP, which comes with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. 

This tag will help the authorities keep tabs on vehicles as they traverse Malaysia’s roads. Besides tracking, the VEP tag also doubles as a method for paying highway tolls and the RM20 (S$6) road charge when crossing the border.

Given the expected influx of applications, JPJ is taking proactive steps to smoothen the process. Since August 19, a MY VEP office has been operating in Woodlands to assist motorists who run into issues with their applications.

You can now also collect your RFID tag at the Woodlands office for $39, on top of the RM10 processing fee. However, do note that visits to the Woodlands office are strictly by appointment.

JPJ is encouraging all foreign vehicle owners to register, install, and activate their VEP tags as soon as possible to avoid any hiccups at the border.

Failure to do so could result in being denied entry into Malaysia or, worse, facing a fine of up to RM2,000.

Addresses for the new collection locations

1.  JPJ Johor: Kompleks JPJ, Taman Daya, 80990 Johor Bahru.
2. Road Transport Academy (Southern Region): Jalan Kebun Teh Lama, Larkin, 80250 Johor Bahru.

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Contact Details For VEP

Previously, drivers could either collect their tag from Johor Bahru or opt to have it delivered by post. Now, TCSens is offering a pickup option at their Woodlands office.

The collection point is located at 186 Woodlands Industrial Park E5, on the third floor, and the whole service will cost you S$39.

You did not read that wrong. Plus, the $39 is on top of the RM10 (S$2.98) charge for the tag itself.

TCSens, the vendor appointed by Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) to handle VEP queries from Singapore drivers, shared the details on Tuesday (Sep 3). They confirmed that the collection at the Woodlands location would start from September 12 2024.

In terms of the process, it seems pretty straightforward. Most drivers who go to collect their tag at the Woodlands centre will receive the windscreen RFID version. But if your windscreen isn’t suitable for whatever reason, they’ll issue the headlamp version of the RFID tag instead.

This is similar to the procedure at the VEP collection centre in Johor Bahru’s Danga Bay, for those of you familiar with the process over there.

If you’re thinking of opting for the delivery route instead, it’s worth noting that most drivers who receive their tag by post in Singapore typically get the version meant for installation on the headlamp.

If you don’t have your VEP tag by October 1 and you try to enter Malaysia, be prepared to face fines of up to RM2,000 (about US$425) or a potential jail term of up to six months.

As of now, the clock is ticking for all of us who drive across the border, so it’s probably a good idea to get that appointment sorted.

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