Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption for Vehicles More Than 3 Years Old) Order 2024
- Act Code: RTA1961-S384-2024
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act 1961
- Enacting Power: Section 142 of the Road Traffic Act 1961
- Order Number: S 384/2024
- Date Made: 30 April 2024
- Commencement: 6 May 2024
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key Provisions (from extract): Section 1 (Citation and commencement); Section 2 (Exemption)
- Relevant Rules Referenced: 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) Order 2024 is a narrowly targeted exemption order made under the Road Traffic Act 1961. In plain terms, it allows a specific motor vehicle—identified by its engine number and chassis number—to be treated differently from the general rule set out in the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules.
Although the title refers broadly to “vehicles more than 3 years old,” the operative effect of this particular Order is not a general class-based exemption for all older vehicles. Instead, it grants an exemption for one particular vehicle registered in the name of a named individual. The Order therefore functions as a bespoke administrative/legal instrument: it modifies the application of Rule 5(1) for a defined vehicle and registered owner.
For practitioners, the key point is that this is not a “policy change” in the usual sense. It is an exemption order that carves out a specific exception from a rule that would otherwise apply. Such orders are commonly used where a particular vehicle’s circumstances warrant relief, while still preserving the general regulatory framework.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1: Citation and commencement. Section 1 provides the formal title of the Order and states when it comes into operation. The Order is cited as the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption for Vehicles More Than 3 Years Old) Order 2024 and it commences on 6 May 2024. This matters for compliance timing: any exemption effect is tied to the commencement date, so parties should ensure that registration/licensing steps relying on the exemption are aligned with the Order’s effective date.
Section 2: Exemption from Rule 5(1). The substantive provision is Section 2. It states that Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5) does not apply to a vehicle bearing the specified engine number and chassis number, and that is registered in the name of the named person: Jaclyn Kaur Tien Hui.
The vehicle is identified with precision: engine number 65692980101683 and chassis number W1N1671232A202845. The exemption is therefore vehicle-specific and owner-specific. This drafting approach reduces ambiguity and limits the exemption’s reach to the exact vehicle described, preventing spillover to other vehicles with similar characteristics.
Practical implications of “does not apply”. The phrase “Rule 5(1) … does not apply” indicates that the regulatory requirement(s) contained in Rule 5(1) are suspended or inapplicable for the exempt vehicle. While the extract does not reproduce Rule 5(1) itself, the legal effect is clear: the vehicle is relieved from whatever condition, restriction, or procedural requirement Rule 5(1) imposes. For counsel advising on registration, licensing, or compliance steps, the exemption should be treated as a legal basis to proceed without meeting the Rule 5(1) requirement—at least insofar as the exemption covers the described vehicle and the specified registered owner.
Authority and form. The Order is made in exercise of powers conferred by section 142 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. This is important for legal validity and for understanding the hierarchy of norms: the Minister’s power under the Act authorises subsidiary legislation/exemption orders that modify how the Rules operate in particular circumstances. Practitioners should therefore view the Order as a lawful modification of the Rules, not as a mere administrative waiver.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is extremely short and consists of a standard enacting structure typical of exemption instruments. It contains:
(a) Enacting formula (introductory paragraph): confirms the Minister’s power under section 142 of the Road Traffic Act 1961.
(b) Section 1: Citation and commencement: sets out the name of the Order and its commencement date (6 May 2024).
(c) Section 2: Exemption: specifies the exact vehicle (engine and chassis numbers) and the registered owner, and states that Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules does not apply to that vehicle.
There are no schedules, definitions, or additional conditions in the extract. The simplicity of the instrument is consistent with its function: it grants a discrete exemption without establishing broader regulatory frameworks.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The exemption applies to one identified vehicle—as defined by its engine number and chassis number—and to that vehicle when registered in the name of Jaclyn Kaur Tien Hui. Accordingly, the Order’s scope is not general; it is limited by both vehicle identifiers and the registered owner.
From a legal risk perspective, the owner-specific element is crucial. If the vehicle were transferred to a different owner, the exemption’s continued applicability could become uncertain, because the Order expressly ties the exemption to registration “in the name of” the named individual. Similarly, if the vehicle’s identifying details were to be altered (for example, through replacement of major components) in a way that affects the engine or chassis numbers, the factual basis for the exemption could be challenged. Practitioners should therefore treat the exemption as contingent on the vehicle remaining the same as described and remaining registered in the named person’s name.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Order is narrow, it is legally significant for at least three reasons. First, it demonstrates how Singapore’s road traffic regulatory system uses targeted subsidiary legislation to manage exceptional cases. Rather than rewriting the general Rules, the Government can grant relief through a specific exemption order.
Second, the Order provides a clear legal basis to depart from Rule 5(1) for the exempt vehicle. For lawyers and compliance professionals, this reduces uncertainty and supports defensible decision-making. If a licensing or registration authority would otherwise require compliance with Rule 5(1), the exemption order can be relied upon to justify non-application of that rule to the specified vehicle.
Third, the vehicle-specific drafting highlights the importance of accurate identification and record-keeping. In practice, exemptions of this kind often turn on documentary evidence: the engine number and chassis number must match the vehicle in question, and the registration details must align with the named owner. Counsel should therefore ensure that any reliance on the exemption is supported by the relevant registration records and vehicle identification documentation.
Finally, the Order’s commencement date (6 May 2024) matters for timing disputes. If an administrative action was taken before commencement, the exemption may not have been available at that time. Conversely, actions taken after commencement should be assessed in light of the exemption’s effect.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act 1961 (including section 142, the authorising provision)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5), specifically Rule 5(1)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption for Vehicles More Than 3 Years Old) Order 2024 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.