Malaysia Begins VEP Enforcement at Johor Border, 10 Singaporean Drivers Fined Within First Hour
Malaysia has officially commenced strict enforcement of its Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) requirement for Singapore-registered vehicles entering Johor by land, ending a months-long grace period that followed the VEP’s formal introduction in October 2024. From midnight on 1 July 2025, officers from Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) began stopping vehicles at the Sultan Iskandar Building’s Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in Johor Bahru, with 10 Singaporean drivers fined within the first hour.
Under the regulations, all Singaporean private vehicles must register for a VEP and install a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag before entering Malaysia. Those found entering without an activated VEP tag face an immediate RM300 (approximately S$86) fine, payable on the spot, before being allowed to proceed with their journey.
JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said that despite years of advance notice, many drivers had yet to complete the registration process. “We have given enough time — in fact, VEP was announced seven years ago,” he told reporters. “So from July 1, if they come in without a VEP registered and fixed on their vehicles, we will issue summonses.”
Drivers Surprised by Scale of Enforcement Despite Prior Warnings
Singaporean drivers caught off-guard included 19-year-old student Safir Farhan, who entered Johor Bahru with his aunt and sister for a late-night meal, only to be among the first fined as the operation began at midnight. “I foresaw it (the VEP enforcement) coming, but I wasn’t really expecting it to be this big,” he told The Straits Times, adding that his VEP tag was already on its way for delivery. He expressed understanding of the enforcement, stating, “We’re okay and they’re just doing their job.”
As of 29 June, more than 248,000 Singapore-registered private vehicles had registered for the VEP, but 17 per cent had yet to activate their RFID tags, according to JPJ data. Authorities urged drivers to complete registration immediately to avoid further fines.
Enforcement Measures Aimed at Reducing Congestion and Ensuring Compliance
To minimise traffic congestion at border crossings like the Causeway and Second Link, enforcement operations are taking place away from checkpoint choke points. Drivers caught without an active VEP must pay fines electronically and are required to clear any outstanding traffic summonses before being permitted to leave Malaysia.
The VEP enforcement is part of Malaysia’s long-term plan to regulate and monitor foreign vehicles entering the country, improve traffic management, and ensure compliance with road regulations. JPJ has reiterated that the operations will continue and intensify in the coming weeks, with officers stationed at strategic locations across Johor.
Singaporean motorists are strongly advised to complete VEP registration, install the RFID tags, and activate them before travelling to Malaysia to avoid unnecessary delays, fines, and inconvenience at the border.