ERP 2.0 on-board units to be prefitted in all new vehicles from May 1: What you need to know

SINGAPORE — From May 1, all newly registered vehicles will be prefitted with new on-board units (OBUs), while existing motorcycle users will be notified to install OBUs from June 1 onwards, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Thursday (March 28). 

The OBU installation exercise for all other existing vehicles will begin in the second half of 2024.

LTA said authorised motor distributors and dealers will speak with prospective buyers on finalising their installation options, such as the placement of the processing unit and whether to install the touchscreen display. 

The OBUs are part of the refreshed Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system, known as ERP 2.0. 

Based on the new global navigation satellite system, it will soon remove the need for bulky gantries on roads, while providing more accurate data to improve congestion management and transport planning. 

The first phase of installation in fleet vehicles started last November, and over 13,000 vehicles have been fitted with the units. Installation for new motorcycles began on Feb 13. 

LTA added that it has also made refinements to address feedback from early adopters.

Here are three things motorists should know about the latest update:

WHEN CAN YOU INSTALL THE OBU IF YOU HAVE OR PLAN TO BUY A CAR? 

If you buy a new car and register it on or after May 1, you do not have to install the OBU yourself — your vehicle should be prefitted with the new unit. 

As for existing owners, you will receive a notification of installation sometime in the second half of this year. 

The installation fee is S$70, but it is free if it is completed within the first two months of the notification date. LTA will provide more details about this in due course. 

The OBU replaces the current in-vehicle unit (IU) and comprises three components: a processing unit, an antenna, and a touchscreen display. 

Motorists can choose to have all three components installed, which would allow them to access the full suite of functionalities. 

But they can also opt out of the touchscreen display and receive key information by downloading a mobile application. 

The installation duration depends on the make, model, and condition of the vehicle, as well as the selected workshop. For most vehicles, it will take around three hours.

WHAT ABOUT MOTORCYCLES? 

New motorcycles registered on or after May 1 will also be prefitted with the new OBU.

The OBU for motorcycles integrates the three aforementioned components into a single-piece unit, with a small touchscreen tailored for mounting on a motorcycle. 

Current motorcycle owners will begin receiving notifications from May 1 for their OBU installation via letter, email or SMS from LTA. 

Owners can then make an appointment with their preferred workshop when the installation phase officially starts on June 1. 

Those who complete their installation within the first two months can get it done free of charge. After this period, a subsidised installation fee of S$35 will be charged. 

On the day of the installation, the motorcycle owner or designated representative only needs to bring the motorcycle to the selected workshop. No additional documents are needed.

WHAT NEW FEATURES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED? 

After receiving feedback from early adopters, the OBU will now feature a button on the touchscreen display to deactivate the CEPAS card temporarily.

Users who opt for a non-touchscreen unit will receive this feature at a later date. 

This will be useful for drivers with complimentary parking tickets, as they do not need to remove the CEPAS card from the processing unit. 

LTA said it would consider developing further features of ERP 2.0 based on feedback from motorists.

Some upcoming features include displaying real-time traffic incident alerts, and informing motorists when approaching ERP-charging locations, school zones, silver zones, and nearby bus lanes.