Class 3, 3A licence holders allowed to drive 4 heavier EV models from Dec 15

SINGAPORE – Class 3 and 3A driving licence holders in Singapore will soon be able to drive four models of heavier electric light goods vehicles and electric small buses, and more after a planned legislative change.

The Traffic Police said in a statement on Dec 12 that it will allow these licence holders to drive these four models, which have an unladen weight (ULW) of between 2,501kg and 3,000kg:

This will take effect from Dec 15 through an Exemption Order for these two groups of drivers.

The Traffic Police said the four models were identified based on industry requests.

Class 3 and 3A licence holders can currently operate light goods vehicles (LGVs) and small buses up to an ULW of 2,500kg, and those who operate vehicles exceeding this weight must possess a Class 4 or Class 4P driving licence.

Existing Class 3 and 3A licence holders automatically qualify for this change, and no additional endorsement, update or modification to their licence is needed.

TP said that these vehicles under the new limit have similar handling characteristics and dimensions as their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts with an ULW not exceeding 2,500kg. They are hence assessed to be safe for Class 3 and 3A licence holders to operate.

Electric LGVs and electric small buses are typically 400kg to 500kg heavier than ICE counterparts due to the weight of their batteries, which are usually located beneath the vehicle floor.

TP said that this creates a lower centre of gravity and enhances vehicle stability, but does not impact fundamental road-handling characteristics like steering and turning radius, and dimensions such as wheelbase and vehicle length.

The exemption order is intended to be an interim measure, TP said, while they work on legislative amendments and system enhancements in 2026 to raise the ULW threshold across the board.

After this, Class 3 and 3A licence holders will be able to drive all electric LGVs and electric small buses with an ULW not exceeding 3,000kg.

To verify an electric vehicle’s ULW, vehicle owners can check its registration card or Land Transport Authority registration details through the OneMotoring portal.

They can also contact their vehicle manufacturer or authorised dealer for the technical specifications, or check the manufacturer’s vehicle identification number plate.

It is an offence to drive vehicles that exceed one’s licence class ULW threshold, TP said.

First-time offenders can face a fine of up to $10,000, up to three years in jail, or both. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to six years, or both.