Autopass Card & Maid's Exit Card

When u are driving into Singapore in ur own vehicle (vehicles with M’sian registration plate are treated as foreign vehicles), don’t forget to get ur Autopass Card (effective since 1st June, 2005 - dat was new to us). The card can be obtained at the Singapore Immigration booth or at the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP)/Toll offices. U have to insert the Autopass card into the card reader at the Immigration booth.

A form has to be filled in when applying for the Autopass Card and its priced S$10.00 (Singapore dollar). Once the Card is handed to u, automatically S$6.00 will be deducted for the price of the non-refundable card and the stored value of S$4.00 is just enough for u to leave Singpaore (Toll charge at Checkout points is S$3.70).

U can drive into Singapore for 10 days without paying VEP (Vehicle Entry Permit) fees. After the 10 VEP-free days have been fully utilised, drivers will have to pay the prevailing VEP fees for subsequent days if they continue to use or drive their vehicles in Singapore. This card is oso used for the payment of any ERP (Electronic Road Pricing) charges (e.g. tolls).

So, make sure u top up ur Autopass Card with enough value. Topping-up can be done at any 7-Eleven convenience outlets. This card is not tranferable to another vehicle. And please bring along ur Autopass Card each time u drive into Singapore. Under the law, it is an offence to drive a foreign-registered vehicle into Singapore without an Autopass Card. The penalty is a fine up to a maximum of S$2000! Wua lau eh! Dat’s about RM4560!!!!!

AND BE SURE TO SLOT UR AUTOPASS CARD INTO THE READER AT THE IMMIGRATION BOOTH BEFORE U LEAVE SINGAPORE!!!!!

My hubby FORGOT to slot his Autopass Card when we left the Singapore Immigration Booth!!!!! …. *slap head* …..

I called the LTA (Land Transport Authority) of Singapore and was informed dat we could not do anything. We have to go to the Singapore’s Immigration the next time we visit Singapore and will be advised what to do. I asked the officer if I could send the card to my BIL to do the slotting for us and the answer was NO (hee, hee, was trying to be smart). The car and the Autopass have been registered and once u slot the Autopass Card, the registered vehicle has to pass thru as well. Boo hoo hoo … now our car has been BLACKLISTED! (maybe can ‘talk talk’ over with the Immigration officers when we visit Singapore the next time) Or …. another alternative is ….. we have to travel in another vehicle and apply for a new Autopass Card. Or even have to travel by plane, bus or train.


Maid's Exit Card

Another matter which I would like to bring up is regarding my maid again. When u bring a foreign maid OUT of Singapore, u have to fill in a card again. I didn’t know dat I have to fill in another card (they call it the ‘pak card’ (white card) in Cantonese or the Exit Card) to get her out of Singapore. The card can be obtained from the Immigration Booth. I thought the one which I filled when we entered the country would be sufficient but no, I had to fill in another card. What the …. Luckily there were spaces for us to park our car if not ‘jialat liao’ with the queue behind us and so ‘lau kui’ (embarrassing). After filling the card, the butt was returned to me and I have to attach it to her passport for future use when she leaves Malaysia. My hubby was grumbling all the way – why so troublesome, why need this and that and I was …… speechless (I was thinking, next time we better travel by bus, train or plane and don't bring maid along).