Is it Legal for Drivers to Carpool in Singapore?
It is legal for drivers to offer carpooling services in Singapore. However, whether you are intending to do so under a ride-sharing service, or you are making your own private arrangements with friends/colleagues, take note of the following requirements.
General Rule: Max 2 Carpool Trips a Day
Drivers can offer carpool services without obtaining any additional licences for up to 2 carpool trips a day. For example, your colleague can carpool in your car to and from work every day.
While providing such services however, you will have to make sure:
You do not solicit for passengers on roads, carparks, bus terminals or taxi stands
You are not driving your car with the main purpose of sending your passenger to his destination
Before the start of the trip, you inform the passenger of your destination. You also agree with him on the pick-up date, drop-off point, and payment for your carpool service (whether in cash or in kind)
The payment(s) collected does not exceed the cost and expenses incurred from driving the passenger(s)
There is nothing in your car that displays or refers to the fares for hiring your car
What if You Want to Make More than 2 Carpool Trips a Day?
Apart from the above requirements, you will need to obtain a Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licence (PDVL) if you want to provide more than 2 carpool trips a day.
This is regardless of whether you are offering private carpool arrangements, or carpool services through private-hire operators such as Grab.
Requirements for obtaining a Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licence
To apply for a PDVL, applicants must have a Class 3/3A driving licence which is valid for at least 2 years.
Applicants will be required to undergo a medical examination and background checks. They will also need to attend a 10-hour training course.
You can download the PDVL application form here.
Identification of private-hire car
From 1 July 2017, private-hire car drivers are required to display a tamper-evident private-hire decal on the front and back windscreens of their cars.
Apart from allowing passengers to identify private-hire cars, this decal will also facilitate enforcement of the laws in the Road Traffic Act (including those on carpooling).
Penalties
Drivers who provide more than 2 carpool trips per day without a valid PDVL can be fined up to $3,000 and/or jailed for up to 6 months.
Drivers who do not properly display their private-hire decals on their cars can also be fined up to $1,000 and/or jailed up to 3 months. The penalties are doubled for repeat offenders. Errant drivers may also have their PDVLs revoked.
Blackout period for private-hire drivers
Take note that you will not be able to provide carpool services under a private-hire operator if 3 or more of the operator’s drivers have been convicted of offences while driving for that operator within 1 year.
This blackout period can last up to 1 month. If you continue to provide such carpool services while the blackout period is in force, you can be fined up to $1,000 and/or jailed up to 3 months. Your PDVL may also be suspended or revoked.
Repeat offenders can be punished with a fine up to $2,000 and/or up to 6 months’ jail.
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