Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption for Vehicles More Than 3 Years Old) (No. 2) Order 2024
- Act Code: RTA1961-S515-2024
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act 1961 (specifically, powers under section 142)
- Order Number: (No. 2) Order 2024
- Singapore Legislation Citation: SL 515/2024
- Enacting Formula: Made by the Minister for Transport in exercise of powers under section 142 of the Road Traffic Act 1961
- Date Made: 4 June 2024
- Commencement Date: 17 June 2024
- Current Version Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions (from extract): Section 1 (Citation and commencement); Section 2 (Exemption)
- Relevant Rules Mentioned: Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption for Vehicles More Than 3 Years Old) (No. 2) Order 2024 is a narrowly targeted legal instrument. In plain terms, it grants a specific exemption from a particular rule in the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules for one identified motor vehicle.
Unlike broad regulatory reforms that change licensing or registration regimes generally, this Order operates as a “case-specific” or “vehicle-specific” exemption. It does not create a new licensing category or alter the general framework for vehicle registration. Instead, it identifies a particular vehicle by its engine number and chassis number, and it exempts that vehicle from the application of Rule 5(1) of the relevant subsidiary rules.
The Order is made under the Road Traffic Act 1961, which empowers the Minister for Transport to make subsidiary legislation and, where appropriate, to provide exemptions. Here, the exemption is connected to the theme “vehicles more than 3 years old”, but the operative effect is not a general relaxation for all older vehicles. Rather, the exemption is limited to the vehicle registered in the name of a named individual: Koh Rong Hui Joel.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1: Citation and commencement sets out the formal identification of the instrument and when it takes effect. The Order is cited as the “Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption for Vehicles More Than 3 Years Old) (No. 2) Order 2024” and it comes into operation on 17 June 2024. For practitioners, this commencement date matters because it determines the period during which the exemption is legally available.
Section 2: Exemption is the operative provision. It states that Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (referred to in the extract as “R 5”) does not apply to the vehicle bearing the specified engine number and chassis number, that is registered in the name of Koh Rong Hui Joel.
The vehicle is identified with precision: engine number 1UR0847061 and chassis number URJ2024212803. This level of specificity is typical of exemptions that are intended to address a particular administrative or compliance issue affecting a particular vehicle. By tying the exemption to both the vehicle identifiers and the registered owner’s name, the Order reduces ambiguity and limits the exemption’s scope.
From a legal effects perspective, the phrase “Rule 5(1) … does not apply” means that, for the exempted vehicle, the requirement(s) contained in Rule 5(1) are suspended or inapplicable. The extract does not reproduce Rule 5(1) itself, so a practitioner should consult the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules to determine exactly what Rule 5(1) requires. However, the structure of the exemption indicates that the exemption is designed to remove a specific legal constraint that would otherwise apply to the vehicle due to its age (or other characteristics captured by the Rules).
It is also important to note the administrative nature of the exemption. The Order does not appear to create a general right for owners of older vehicles. Instead, it provides a targeted relief mechanism—likely used where a particular vehicle’s circumstances justify exemption from a rule that would otherwise prevent or complicate registration or licensing.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is extremely short and consists of two sections:
(1) Citation and commencement—identifies the instrument and specifies the date it takes effect.
(2) Exemption—states the legal exemption and identifies the exempted vehicle and the rule from which it is exempt.
There are no additional parts, schedules, or complex procedural provisions in the extract. The brevity is consistent with an exemption order that is intended to be self-contained and immediately understandable for enforcement and administrative purposes.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The exemption applies to a specific vehicle—identified by its engine number and chassis number—and registered in the name of a specific person, namely Koh Rong Hui Joel. Therefore, the Order’s personal scope is limited: it does not apply to all vehicle owners, nor does it apply to a class of vehicles in general.
Practically, this means that the exemption is not transferable in a straightforward way. If the vehicle is registered under a different name, or if the vehicle identifiers are not the same as those stated in the Order, the exemption would likely not apply. For counsel advising on compliance, this is a critical point: the exemption is tied to the legal identity of the vehicle and the registered owner at the time relevant to the exemption.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though this Order is narrow, it is legally significant because it demonstrates how Singapore’s road traffic regulatory framework can be adjusted through targeted exemptions. For practitioners, such exemptions are often relevant in matters involving vehicle registration, licensing, and compliance with technical or administrative requirements under the subsidiary rules.
From an enforcement and compliance standpoint, the Order provides clarity to the relevant authorities and to the vehicle owner: Rule 5(1) is not applicable to the specified vehicle. This can prevent disputes about whether the vehicle must meet the requirement(s) in Rule 5(1), and it can reduce the risk of administrative rejection or enforcement action based on the otherwise applicable rule.
For legal practitioners, the key practical value lies in understanding the mechanism and limits of the exemption. The Order is made under the Road Traffic Act 1961 and is effective from a specified date. It is also highly constrained by vehicle identifiers and the registered owner’s name. Counsel advising clients who are seeking exemptions should therefore treat such orders as precise instruments: they should be reviewed for (i) the exact rule being exempted, (ii) the exact vehicle identifiers, (iii) the exact registered name, and (iv) the commencement date.
Finally, the Order’s existence underscores that “vehicles more than 3 years old” is not necessarily a blanket category in this context. Instead, the regulatory system may require specific compliance steps for older vehicles, and exemptions may be granted where justified. This is particularly relevant where a client’s vehicle has unique circumstances (for example, documentation issues, technical conformity questions, or administrative timing), and where the authority’s discretion is exercised through a formal exemption order.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act 1961 (authorising provision: section 142)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (including Rule 5(1) referenced as “R 5”)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption for Vehicles More Than 3 Years Old) (No. 2) Order 2024 (SL 515/2024)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption for Vehicles More Than 3 Years Old) (No. 2) Order 2024 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.