Vintage Vehicle Scheme

Cars, motorcycles and scooters manufactured before 1 January 1940 are considered vintage vehicles, and can be registered for use in Singapore under the Vintage Vehicle Scheme.
 

At a glance

Understanding the Vintage Vehicle Schemes

Vintage vehicles are well-preserved, heritage-rich cars, motorcycles or scooters manufactured before 1 January 1940.

You can import and register a vintage car, motorcycle or scooter to be used in Singapore under the Vintage Vehicle Schemes.

There are 3 types of Vintage Vehicle Schemes for cars, and also for motorcycles and scooters. Each has different features. Some schemes have 2 modes – the ownership of the vehicle can be transferred, or cannot be transferred. Check the table below for details. 

Usage restrictions and day licences for vintage vehicles
 

Vintage (Normal) Vehicle Scheme

There are no usage restrictions for vehicles under the Vintage (Normal) Vehicle Scheme and you are not required to display a Day Licence.

Vintage (Restricted) Vehicle Scheme

You can only use your vintage vehicle for 28 days in a calendar year under the Vintage (Restricted) Vehicle Scheme, including weekends and public holidays. You must display a valid Day Licence each time you use it. You can buy up to 28 Day Licences at $10 per licence at the LTA Customer Service Centre at 10 Sin Ming Drive Singapore 575701.

Revised Vintage Vehicle Scheme

You can only use your vintage vehicle for 45 days in a calendar year under the Revised Vintage Vehicle Scheme, including weekends and public holidays. You must display a valid Day Licence each time you use it. You can buy up to 45 Day Licences (first 28 Day Licences at $10 per licence and 17 additional Day Licences at $20 per licence) at the LTA Customer Service Centre at 10 Sin Ming Drive Singapore 575701.  

Day Licences cannot be transferred to another vehicle, exchanged or refunded. Day Licences cannot be carried over to another calendar year.

Importing and registering a vintage vehicle
 

Before importing and registering a vintage vehicle, ensure that your vehicle meets the registration and technical requirements. 

Process for importing and registering a vintage vehicle

Here is a summary of the steps to import and register a vintage vehicle.  For more details, download the guides below.

1.     Check if your vehicle meets registration and technical requirements.

2.     Ship the vehicle to Singapore through a shipping agent.

3.     Arrange with your shipping agent to obtain an Inward Cargo Clearance Permit.

4.     Decide whether you want to register the vehicle yourself or get a motor dealer to register the vehicle for you. If a motor dealer registers the vehicle on your behalf, they will carry out all or most of the subsequent steps for you.

5.     Your importer must submit an application for vehicle approval through the Vehicle Inspection and Type Approval System (VITAS). Upon approval, the vehicle must be inspected at an LTA-Authorised Inspection Centre (AIC).  

6.     Submit documents for registration and pay at the LTA Customer Service Centre at 10 Sin Ming Drive Singapore 575701.

7.    Collect your Registration Notification Letter and receipt from the LTA Customer Service Centre.

8.     Upon successful registration, a vehicle registration number will be assigned to the vintage vehicle, unless a retained or bid vehicle registration number is used. You have 7 calendar days to affix the vehicle registration number plates on your vehicle, and then seal them at an LTA-Authorised Inspection Centre (AIC). The number plate for vintage vehicles looks like this:

Vehicle registration number plates for the Vintage (Normal) Vehicle Scheme 

Vehicle registration number plates for the Vintage (Restricted) Vehicle Scheme/Revised Vintage Vehicle Scheme


 

 Download the guide to import and register a vintage car (PDF, 242kB)

 Download the guide to import and register a vintage motorcycle or scooter (PDF, 342kB)

Converting from one Vintage Vehicle Scheme to another

For some Vintage Vehicle Schemes, you can convert a vintage vehicle* from one Vintage Vehicle Scheme to another. When a vintage vehicle is converted out of the Vintage (Restricted) Scheme, the conversion cannot be reversed.

*On 6 April 2018, NEA announced that motorcycles or scooters registered under the Vintage (Normal) Vehicle Scheme have a restricted lifespan until 30 June 2028. After this date, they can no longer be used on Singapore roads.  Owners of motorcycles or scooters under the Vintage (Normal) Vehicle Scheme can choose to deregister or convert them to the Revised Vintage Vehicle Scheme on or before 30 June 2028.  Please visit NEA’s website for more information on the initiative to phase out older, more pollutive motorcycles, and the incentives to deregister them.

For each conversion, you have to pay an administrative fee of $100.

After you convert your vehicle, any unused COE under the current scheme will be forfeited.  Any ARF paid is also not refunded.

Conversions that are allowed:

Learn how to convert your vehicle into a vintage vehicle