Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption for Vehicles More Than 3 Years Old) Order 2026
- Act Code: RTA1961-S13-2026
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act 1961 (powers under section 142)
- Enacting Formula: Acting Minister for Transport makes the Order in exercise of powers conferred by section 142 of the Road Traffic Act 1961
- Commencement: 15 January 2026
- Date Made: 13 January 2026
- Key Provisions: Section 1 (Citation and commencement); Section 2 (Exemption)
- Primary Rule Exempted: Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5)
- Exempted Vehicles: Two specified vehicles identified by engine number and chassis number, registered to named persons/entities
- Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) (Exemption for Vehicles More Than 3 Years Old) Order 2026 is a narrowly tailored subsidiary legislation instrument. In plain terms, it grants an exemption from a specific regulatory requirement in the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules for two particular motor vehicles.
Although the Order is titled as an “exemption for vehicles more than 3 years old,” the operative mechanism is not a general age-based exemption for all vehicles. Instead, the exemption is vehicle-specific: it applies only to the two vehicles identified in the Order by their engine numbers and chassis numbers, and only where those vehicles are registered in the names stated.
Practically, this type of Order is used to resolve compliance issues or administrative constraints that arise in relation to particular vehicles—such as where a vehicle’s registration or licensing status would otherwise be affected by Rule 5(1). The Order therefore functions as a targeted legal adjustment within the broader regulatory framework established by the Road Traffic Act 1961 and the subsidiary Rules made under it.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1: Citation and commencement. Section 1 provides the formal title of the instrument 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 2026” and it comes into operation on 15 January 2026. For practitioners, this commencement date is critical when assessing whether any licensing, registration, or enforcement action taken before that date would be affected.
Section 2: Exemption. Section 2 is the substantive provision. It states that Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5) does not apply to the specified vehicles. The exemption is structured as two limbs:
(a) Vehicle registered to ST Powered Motoring Pte. Ltd. The exemption applies to the vehicle bearing:
- Engine number: EBG076501
- Chassis number: WP0ZZZY1ZNSA79063
provided that the vehicle is registered in the name of ST Powered Motoring Pte. Ltd. (UEN 202021729G).
(b) Vehicle registered to Quek Chiu‑Han Simon. The exemption applies to the vehicle bearing:
- Engine number: F154CG529502
- Chassis number: ZFF93LMC000281018
provided that the vehicle is registered in the name of Quek Chiu‑Han Simon.
Legal effect of the exemption. The phrasing “Rule 5(1 … does not apply to—” is significant. It means the exempted vehicles are carved out from the operation of Rule 5(1) entirely, rather than being subject to a modified or partial compliance requirement. In other words, for these vehicles, the regulatory consequence that Rule 5(1) would otherwise trigger is suspended or removed by virtue of the Order.
Vehicle identification and registration condition. The exemption is not merely based on the vehicle’s physical identifiers (engine and chassis numbers). It also depends on the registration name. This dual condition is a common drafting technique to prevent the exemption from “moving” to a different owner or entity. If the vehicle were re-registered to another person or company, the exemption would likely cease to apply because the condition “registered in the name of …” would no longer be satisfied.
Made date and authority. The Order was made on 13 January 2026 by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Singapore (LAU PEET MENG). The enacting formula indicates it is made under section 142 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. For legal analysis, this confirms the instrument’s legal basis and the scope of delegated power to grant exemptions from specified rules.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is extremely concise and consists of two operative provisions:
Part/Section 1: Citation and commencement. This is standard for subsidiary legislation and establishes the instrument’s identity and effective date.
Part/Section 2: Exemption. This is the only substantive section. It identifies the specific rule (Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5)) and then lists the exempted vehicles using engine number, chassis number, and the required registration name(s).
There are no schedules, definitions, or procedural provisions in the extract provided. The instrument’s structure suggests it is intended as a targeted administrative fix rather than a broad policy reform.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to the two specific motor vehicles identified by their engine and chassis numbers. However, because the exemption is conditioned on registration in the name of particular parties, the practical “applicants” or affected parties are the named registrants: ST Powered Motoring Pte. Ltd. and Quek Chiu‑Han Simon.
Accordingly, the exemption is relevant to:
- the registered owners (or entities) of those vehicles;
- any party acting on their behalf in relation to registration/licensing compliance; and
- enforcement or administrative bodies determining whether Rule 5(1) applies to those vehicles during the relevant period.
Because the exemption is not expressed as a general rule for “vehicles more than 3 years old,” it is unlikely to benefit other vehicles, even if they are similar in age or type. It is also unlikely to benefit the same physical vehicle if it is re-registered to a different owner, unless the Order is amended or another exemption is granted.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Even though the Order is short, it can have significant practical consequences. Rule 5(1) of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5) presumably imposes a compliance requirement or triggers a regulatory outcome for certain vehicles. By expressly stating that Rule 5(1) does not apply, the Order prevents that regulatory outcome from arising for the specified vehicles.
For practitioners, the importance lies in the precision of the exemption. The Order is drafted to be vehicle- and owner-specific. This means that legal advice should focus on verifying:
- the accuracy of the engine number and chassis number; and
- whether the vehicle is indeed registered in the stated name at the time the exemption is relied upon.
From an enforcement perspective, the Order provides administrative certainty. Authorities can treat the exempted vehicles as outside the scope of Rule 5(1), reducing the risk of inconsistent enforcement. From a compliance perspective, it provides a lawful basis to proceed with registration/licensing activities without triggering the particular requirement that Rule 5(1) would otherwise impose.
Finally, the Order illustrates how Singapore’s regulatory system uses subsidiary legislation to address discrete issues. Lawyers should therefore treat such Orders as legally operative instruments that can override or disapply specific rule provisions for defined circumstances, rather than as mere administrative notices.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act 1961 (authorising powers under section 142)
- 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 2026 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.