Subscription Modal Banner
Weekly newsletter subscription
Get SingSaver’s top tips and deals, plus an exclusive free guide to investing, sent straight to your inbox.

I agree to the terms and conditions and agree to receive relevant marketing content according to the privacy policy.

Success Tick Icon
Congratulations on successfully joining Singsaver Newsletter

Singapore-Malaysia Land Border Reopening: What You’ll Need Before Driving to Johor Bahru

Sean Yee

Sean Yee

Last updated 16 February, 2023

Singaporeans can look forward to visiting Malaysia without the hassle of quarantines and incessant COVID-19 tests. Here are some important things you’ll need before driving over the Causeway.

Great news! After thorough discussions between Singapore and Malaysia, representatives from both sides have agreed that it is the right time to reopen the land border for all modes of travel. 

They attributed this to the increasing vaccination rates, the successful containment of the disease and strong ties between both countries.

This is very much in tune with Singapore’s current trajectory, given the recent relaxation in COVID-19 measures and drastic streamlining of testing and quarantine measures that will allow more people to travel abroad

Given our stagnant tourism and hospitality sector, this is definitely a much-needed reprieve.

SingSaver's Best Price Travel Campaign: All successful applicants of participating Travel Insurance products will receive 1x (single trip) or 3x (annual trip) draw chance to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed (up to a maximum of $2,000) and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Valid till 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.

Travel Insurance Premium for Individual Cover Covid-19 Coverage Promotion

Starr TraveLead Travel Insurance


 

from S$11.05 (for 1 week in ASEAN)
Yes

Get up to $50 Grab Vouchers (min. Premium $30) and get 35% off when you use promo code SSVTL35. Valid till 10 Dec 2023. T&Cs apply.  Plus, till 31 December, every applicant will also score an Apple AirTag — perfect for keeping tabs on your luggage on your next trip — or a ReboundTag. T&Cs apply.

 

 

Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw. 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.

 

Additionally, enjoy 1x chance to win your share your share of up to S$200,000 in prizes in our epic 101! Milestone Giveaway, including S$5,000 bonus cash each week on top of ongoing promotions!

MSIG Travel Easy

 

from S$34.10 (for 1 week in ASEAN)
Yes

Enjoy 40% off when you apply for Single Trips and 20% off for Annual Plan plus get up to $38 Grab Vouchers when you purchase now!! Valid till 17 December 2023. T&Cs apply. Plus, till 31 December, every applicant will also score an Apple AirTag — perfect for keeping tabs on your luggage on your next trip — or a ReboundTag. T&Cs apply.

 

Enjoy up to 3x chances to enter our Weekly Lucky Draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply.

 

Additionally, enjoy 1x chance to win your share your share of up to S$200,000 in prizes in our epic 101! Milestone Giveaway, including S$5,000 bonus cash each week on top of ongoing promotions!

Allianz Travel Insurance
AZ logo

 

from S$34.10 (for 1 week in Asean)
Yes

Use promo code SSV50 to get 50% discount, up to $35 Grab Vouchers, and 1x Airalo eSim with up to 3GB data (minimum premium of $60) when you apply NOW! Valid till 8 December 2023. T&Cs apply.

 

Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.

FWD Travel Insurance

 

from S$22.50 (for 1 week in Asean)
Yes

Use the promo code 12TWELVE to get a 35% discount on Single Trip and 30% discount on Annual Trip plans! Valid till 5 Dec 2023. T&Cs apply. Also receive:

1x Airalo eSIM with up to 3GB data before your fly (minimum premium $60). Valid till 31 December 2023.

1x Apple AirTag (worth $45) for the first 3,800 applicants. Valid till 5 January 2024.

Additionally, be included in the following draws below:

Best Price TI weekly draw: Enjoy 3x chances to enter our Weekly Lucky Draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480.
101! Milestone Giveaway: Enjoy 1x chance to win your share your share of up to S$200,000 in prizes in our epic 101! Milestone Giveaway, including S$5,000 bonus cash each week on top of ongoing promotions!

Etiqa (TIQ) Travel Insurance
Tiq_Etiqa_LogoLockUp-02


from S$39 (for 1 week in Asean)
Yes

Single Trip: Use the promo code TIQSINGSAVER to get 40% off. Valid till 31 Dec 2023. T&Cs apply.

 

Annual Trip: Use promo code TIQSINGSAVER to get 60% off COVID-19 add-on. Valid till 31 Dec 2023. T&Cs apply.

 

Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023.  T&Cs apply.

 

Additionally, stand to win S$3,000 in TIQ Travel Insurance Monthly Lucky Draw Campaign 2023 (Fulfillment by TIQ). Valid till 31 Dec 2023.

Singlife Travel Insurance

SINGLIFE_LOGO_200x50-2 


 

 from S$46.20 (for 1 week in ASEAN)
 Yes

Score an Airalo eSIM with up to 3GB data and receive it before you fly when you apply now! Valid till 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.

 

Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.

 


Single Trip:
Enjoy a 25% discount when you use the promo code TRAVEL25. Additionally, get a free 6 months heatstroke insurance. Valid till 10 Dec 2023. T&Cs apply.

Allied World  Travel Insurance

Allied-World-Insurance-2

 

 

 from S$45 (for one week in Asean)
Yes

Enjoy a 45% discount for Single Trip and 15% discount for Annual Trip when you apply now! Valid till 31 Dec 2023. T&Cs apply.

 

Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply

AIG Travel Guard® Direct 

aig-logo

 

from S$30 (for 1 week in Asean)
Yes

Single Trip:  Enjoy 20% off with promo code SS20OFF. Valid till 12 Dec 2023. Additionally get $20 PayNow! (minimum premium of $80). Plus, every 12th customer gets an additional $45 Paynow. Valid till 31 Dec.

 

Annual Trip: Apply promo code SSTGD to receive $200 PayNow! Plus, every 12th customer gets an additional $45 Paynow. Valid till 31 Dec 2023.  

 

Additionally, enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.

Great Eastern Travel Insurance

Great-Eastern-1

 

 from S$52 (for one week in Asean)
Yes

Single Trip: Get an 30% discount when you use the promo code TSP30S. Valid till 31 Dec 2023. T&Cs apply.

 

Annual Trip: Get an 10% discount when you use the promo code TSP10A. Valid till 31 Dec 2023. T&Cs apply.

Discount is only valid for Elite and Classic plans.

 

Enjoy 1x chance (Single Trip) or 3x chances (Annual Trip) to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.

Seedly Travel Insurance

seedly TI logo

 

from S$49.80 (for 1 week in Asean)
No

Receive 25% off and 1x Airalo eSIM worth up to 3GB data when you apply NOW! Valid till 31 December 2023.  T&Cs apply.

Win the equivalent of a return flight for 2 to Bali (via S$600 Klook voucher). T&Cs apply.

Enjoy 1x chance to enter our weekly lucky draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply. Promotion ends on 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.


 

What does this announcement entail?

From 1 April 2022, all Singaporeans will be allowed to travel by land between Singapore and Malaysia.

It includes private cars and motorcycles that will complement existing travel bus services. We may even see cross-border public bus services added to the list as Singapore and Malaysia move forward with the arrangement.

Singaporean motorists may enter Malaysia without quarantine or tests, including the pre-departure and on-arrival tests.

Most notably, there will no longer be a cap on the number of daily land travellers, a vast improvement from the previous daily cap of 4,000 people. 

 

What should you expect?

With families and friends eager to visit their loved ones in Malaysia, you should expect heavy traffic congestion at the checkpoints. You should hold off any travel plans to Malaysia if it is not critical to allow a seamless transition into this new arrangement.

 

What do you need to prepare for your trip to Malaysia?

Before you even start packing that luggage, you must ensure your travel essentials are in order to avoid disruptions to your long-awaited trip. Besides a valid passport, here are the necessary documents you must prepare:

 

1. Vehicle Insurance

Car (or Motorcycle) insurance is mandatory for all vehicles entering Malaysia. Ensure that your current insurance policy covers your time in Malaysia and that your coverage amount is adequate in the event of unforeseeable circumstances. 

In fact, this is an apt time for you to revisit your current policy and upgrade it as you see fit. 


SingSaver Exclusive Promotion: Get up to $150 petrol vouchers when you apply now. Fulfillment by MSIG. Valid till 17 December 2023. T&Cs apply.

MSIG MotorMax: $100 petrol voucher

MSIG MotorMax Plus: $150 petrol voucher

 

 

2. Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is no longer mandatory when driving into Malaysia. However, purchasing travel insurance does offer peace of mind, especially if your travels are disrupted by unforeseen circumstances.

If you have family in Malaysia or intend to make multiple trips to Malaysia this year, do consider purchasing an annual travel insurance plan instead of a single trip plan. Besides convenience, buying an annual plan can save you more in the long run!

 

 

3. Touch N’ Go Card (TNG)

If you are driving to Malaysia, you will be expected to pay for highway and checkpoint tolls via your Touch N’ Go card. This is similar to the NETS cashcard that we have in the in-vehicle units (IU) of our cars.

If you don’t already possess one, consider picking up an EZ-Link x Touch ‘n Go Motoring Card. Available at selected 7-11 outlets in Singapore, it is a dual-currency cross-border contactless smart card for Singaporean motorists travelling to Malaysia.

The EZ-Link x Touch ‘n Go Motoring Card holds two electric purses for SGD and MYR, and funds are not transferable between the purses. Top-ups for SGD can be done at 7-Eleven outlets, DBS/POSB ATMs, OCBC ATMs and AXS Stations that accept EZ-Link card payments. 

For top-ups in MYR, it can be done at selected locations in Malaysia or through the Touch ‘n Go app.

Besides paying for highway and checkpoint toll charges in Malaysia, you can also use the EZ-Link x Touch ‘n Go Motoring Card for parking fees, bus fare, MRT fees, and retail and dining to earn rewards points. You may use the card to pay for ERP charges and parking fees in Singapore.

If you see yourself travelling to Malaysia frequently or are looking to replace your existing NETS cashcard, you should consider picking up this dual-purpose card!

 

4. Vaccination

All travellers, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status, will be allowed into Malaysia.

Furthermore, no pre-departure or on-arrival COVID-19 test is necessary. Last but not least, there are no quarantine requirements upon arrival.

 

5. Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP)

A VEP will still be required for anyone intending to commute to Malaysia via a personal vehicle (if it's foreign-registered). You can apply for a VEP through the VEP-JPJ portal. You can simplify the registration process by downloading the PDF version of your log card from LTA. 

More importantly, you may use the confirmation slip of your VEP application or a TNG card as a substitute until your VEP RFID Tag is ready for collection.

A VEP account may also be used for a lifetime once you have successfully registered for one.

 

What happens if I contact COVID-19 while in Malaysia?

Travellers who develop COVID-19 symptoms in Malaysia will need to get tested. If they are found to be positive, they must undergo isolation for 7 days under the Home Surveillance Order (HSO).

They can be released from isolation on the 4th to 6th day if they are asymptomatic and the results of their RTK Ag test by a registered medical practitioner is negative.

Discharge from isolation on the 7th day does not require a COVID-19 detection test.

 

SingSaver's Allianz Travel Insurance Exclusive Promotion: Use promo code SSV50 to get 50% discount, up to $35 Grab Vouchers, and 1x Airalo eSIM with up to 3GB (minimum premium of $60) when you apply NOW! Valid till 31 December 2023. T&Cs apply.

Enjoy up to 3x chances to enter our Weekly Lucky Draw, where 1 lucky winner will stand to have their flight ticket reimbursed and 12 lucky winners will receive a Samsonite Volant Spinner 68/25 EXP worth S$480. T&Cs apply.

Allianz Travel Insurance includes coverage for both COVID-19 and Cruises to Nowhere.

 

 

Travel safe and stay vigilant

While this is indeed amazing news for those looking to fuel their wanderlust, we must not take our stabilising situation for granted.

With the volatile nature of the pandemic, it is crucial that we adhere to existing safety measures and precautions so as to minimise any disruptions to your travel plans.

Ensure that you have all the necessary documentation ready as you cross the border while protecting yourself adequately with travel essentials such as the relevant insurance, a Touch N’ Go Card (TNG) and the MySejahtera tracking application


 

 

Read these next:
Driving to Malaysia in 2022: The Ultimate One-Stop Guide
Johor Bahru Shopping Guide 2022 – Where to Shop in JB
What to Look for in a Car Insurance When Driving to Malaysia
Best Travel Insurance Plans And Promotions In Singapore (November 2022)
Best Travel Insurance Plans With COVID-19 Coverage

Sean loves all things that is food (except bitter gourd — the bane of all cuisines). However, he loves his wallet too. As such, he has set himself on a quest to find deliciously cheap food while exploring opportunities to grow his wallet; just so that he can get more food. A vicious cycle really.

FINANCIAL TIP:

Use a personal loan to consolidate your outstanding debt at a lower interest rate!

Sign up for our newsletter for financial tips, tricks and exclusive information that can be personalised to your preferences!