Travellers commuting between Singapore and Malaysia will soon enjoy greater flexibility after new cross-border taxi rules were announced by transport authorities from both countries.
Starting from May 4, licensed cross-border taxis will be allowed to drop passengers off anywhere in Singapore and across several parts of Johor, including Johor Bahru.
The expanded scheme was jointly introduced by the transport ministries of Singapore and Malaysia as part of efforts to improve cross-border connectivity and travel convenience.
Under the revised rules, taxis will now be permitted to send passengers directly to destinations in Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Forest City, Kulai and Senai instead of being limited to designated terminals.
The move is expected to benefit daily commuters, families, business travellers and tourists who frequently travel between both countries for work, shopping and leisure.
More Pickup Points Added Under New Taxi Scheme
Previously, cross-border taxis were restricted to designated pickup and drop-off points at Ban San Street Terminal in Singapore and Larkin Sentral in Malaysia.
While those terminals will continue operating, commuters can now access additional pickup locations through ride-hailing and e-hailing bookings.
For Malaysian taxis operating in Singapore, the new pickup areas include locations near VivoCity, Century Square and Joo Koon MRT Station.
Meanwhile, Singapore taxis in Malaysia can pick up passengers near Toppen Shopping Centre, Mid Valley Southkey and Angsana Mall.
Street-hail and ride-hail services will still remain available at Ban San Street Terminal and Larkin Terminal.
In a separate announcement, the Land Transport Authority revealed that Grab has been awarded Singapore’s first cross-border ride-hail service operator licence.
The licence will reportedly remain valid for three years beginning Apr. 30, 2026.
New Fare Structure Introduced For Travellers
Authorities also released updated fare structures for cross-border taxi services.
Street-hail rides departing from Ban San Street Terminal will cost S$80 for a standard four-seater vehicle, S$120 for a standard six-seater and S$180 for premium six-seater services.
Meanwhile, rides from Larkin Terminal are priced at RM240, RM360 and RM540 respectively. Based on current exchange rates, this works out to approximately S$69, S$103 and S$154.
The transport ministries also announced plans to increase the number of licensed cross-border taxis.
Both Singapore and Malaysia will provide an additional quota of 100 taxis each, bringing the total number to 300 taxis per side, with a long-term goal of eventually reaching 500 taxis.
Authorities said the expanded quota will focus on larger and premium vehicles to better cater to bigger families, group travellers and corporate passengers.
Additional Rules For Cross-Border Taxi Operators
Under the updated regulations, taxis operating across the border must remain clearly identifiable through official taxi liveries, special vehicle plate prefixes and taxi topper signage.
Authorities also stated that all participating vehicles must be no older than 10 years.
To reduce unnecessary congestion at checkpoints, taxis entering the foreign country must carry at least one passenger, except during certain exemption periods.
For Malaysian taxis entering Singapore, empty entry exemptions apply on Fridays from 12pm to 12am. For Singapore taxis entering Malaysia, exemptions apply on Sundays during the same hours.
The revised scheme is expected to further strengthen transport links between Singapore and Johor as cross-border travel demand continues to grow steadily.