Everything about Off-Peak Car - A Quick Guide | DirectAsia
Off-Peak Car (OPC) owners opt to leave their car safely parked at home on weekdays, commuting to work on the MRT or bus. This way save on petrol, ERP, maintenance and parking charges, while enjoying the luxury of their own transport at night and on the weekend.
The savings don’t stop there, we believe if you drive less, you should pay less for car insurance. Benefit from a discount on your premium with our Low Mileage Option if you drive less than 8,000km per year.
All these savings are the smart choice for thousands of Singaporeans. There are three times as many off-peak cars on the road as there were a decade ago. Shrewd owners of higher-end vehicles may also choose to register under the ROPC scheme if the car is not being used every day.
What Is An Off-Peak Car?
An OPC or ROPC car is marked by a red number plate. These plates are welded and sealed to the car’s body. Welding is carried out at any workshop, sealing of the number plates is done at an authorised inspection centre. The seal on the licence plate must be inspected at any LTA inspection centre before the annual road tax can be renewed.
The Government’s OPC scheme is designed to help new car owners save on road taxes and car registration related fees in return for reduced usage of their cars. OK – acronym alert – as with all Government legislation we have some explaining to do:
“Cars registered or converted to the scheme before 25 January 2010 are part of the old OPC Scheme. From 25 January 2010, the old OPC scheme is no longer available for registration and conversion. Cars (including WECs) will remain registered under the old scheme unless their owners apply to LTA to convert them to the ROPC Scheme.” LTA 2016
OPC vs ROPC
The main difference between the old and new schemes is that ROPC drivers have unrestricted use on Saturdays and on the eves of some Public holidays. However, the road tax is higher due to the extended usage.
Benefits And Conditions of OPC / ROPC
| Type of Vehicle Scheme | Benefits and Conditions |
| A car owner who registers his new car under the ROPC Scheme | a. Up to S$17,000 rebate offset against the Quota Premium for a Certificate of Entitlement and the Additional Registration Fee.
b. Flat discount of up to S$500 on annual road tax, subject to a minimum road tax payment of S$70 per year. |
| An existing owner who converts his existing Normal Car to the ROPC | a. Flat discount of up to S$500 on annual road tax, subject to a minimum road tax payment of S$70 per year
b. Up to S$1,100 OPC cash rebate for every 6 months the car remains as a ROPC until the car reaches 10 years old¹ c. An administrative fee of S$100 is payable for the conversion. ¹To enjoy the OPC cash rebate, the car must be kept as an OPC under the ROPC Scheme for at least 6 months after its conversion, except in cases of deregistration or when the car under the ROPC Scheme reaches the age of 10 years. No OPC cash rebate will be given for the period when the car is laid up. |
| An existing owner who converts his originally registered OPC to ROPC | a. Flat discount of up to S$500 on annual road tax, subject to a minimum road tax payment of S$70 per year
b. An administrative fee of S$100 is payable for the conversion. c. When an OPC is converted to a ROPC, it cannot be converted back to the OPC Scheme. |
| An existing owner who converts his converted OPC to ROPC | a. Flat discount of up to S$500 on annual road tax, subject to a minimum road tax payment of S$70 per year
b. If the car is PARF-eligible, S$2,200 additional Preferential Additional c. Registration Fee (PARF) rebate per year that the car remains as a converted OPC under the OPC Scheme² d. Up to S$1,100 OPC cash rebate for every 6 months the car remains as a ROPC until the car reaches 10 years old³ e. An administrative fee of S$100 is payable for the conversion. f. When an OPC is converted to a ROPC, it cannot be converted back to the OPC Scheme. ²A one-time payment of the accumulated additional PARF rebate will be granted at the point of conversion. The one-time payment will be used to offset the S$100 administrative fee, as well as any road tax payable, and any balance will be refunded to the vehicle owner. ³ To enjoy the OPC cash rebate, the car must be kept as an OPC under the ROPC Scheme for at least 6 months after its conversion, except in cases of deregistration or when the car under the ROPC Scheme reaches the age of 10 years. No OPC cash rebate will be given for the period when the car is laid up. |
When Can I Use My ROPC/ OPC/ WEC?
ROPCs, OPCs or WECs can be driven freely outside restricted hours. To drive the car during the following restricted hours, a valid $20 electronic Day Licence (e-Day Licence) is needed:
| Cars Registered under ROPC Scheme – Restricted Hours | |
| Mondays – Fridays (except public holidays in Singapore) |
7am to 7pm |
| Saturdays (except public holidays in Singapore) |
No restriction |
| Eve of New Year, Lunar New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas | No restriction |
| Sundays | No restriction |
| Public Holidays in Singapore | No restriction |
| Cars Registered under OPC / WEC Scheme – Restricted Hours | |
| Mondays – Fridays (except public holidays in Singapore) |
7am to 7pm |
| Saturdays (except public holidays in Singapore) |
7am to 3pm |
| Eve of New Year, Lunar New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas | 7am to 3pm |
| Sundays | No restriction |
| Public Holidays in Singapore | No restriction |
eDay Licences
The $20 eDay License must be purchased to use OPC or ROPC cars during restricted hours. Motorists are given up to 2359hrs the next day to purchase their license after using their car.
Undated licences can also be purchased – they are only valid when the date of use is specified. This date must be provided by 2359 hrs the next day after use.
“It is an offence to drive an OPC or ROPC car without a valid e-Day Licence. The driver or registered owner of the OPC or ROPC car who causes or permits the car to be driven during the restricted hours faces a fine not exceeding $5,000. For a second or subsequent convictions, he or she will face a fine not exceeding $10,000.” LTA 2016
Motorists can purchase their eDay Licenses online here:
LTA's ONE.MOTORING website
AXS machines
iNETS kiosks
MobileP@y service
Automobile Association of Singapore
Any Singapore Post outlets
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