To operate a bus on the road, you need to meet different licensing and permit requirements, depending on the type of bus. To learn how to register a bus, click here.
At a Glance
There are different licensing requirements for the 5 types of buses: You also need to submit an application to the LTA to:
Learn about blind spot safety requirements for buses with maximum laden weight (MLW) over 8,000kg.
To operate a bus ferrying school children, you must comply with the additional safety requirements.
Buses are allowed to carry standing passengers subject to certain conditions.
You should also take note that buses are not allowed in the Sentosa Gateway Tunnel. |
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Operating buses
There are 5 types of buses. A bus can only be used for the purpose for which it is registered.
- A Private Bus is used to ferry employees or people related to the business of the bus owner.
- A Private Hire Bus is used to ferry students to and from schools or workers to and from their workplace. It can also be chartered out for other purpose, such as to ferry a group of passengers to an event.
- An Excursion Bus is mainly used to ferry tourists. It can also be used to ferry students and workers.
- A School Bus is used to ferry students to and from school. It can also be used to ferry workers to and from their workplace, if the bus has an Adult Workers’ Contract (AWC) permit.
- An Omnibus is a bus operated by public transport operators.
To drive a bus, you need a Bus Driver’s Vocational Licence (BDVL) and a driving licence for the correct class of vehicle. Contact the Traffic Police if you have queries on driving licences.
Read more below about what you need to know for operating the different types of buses.
You must register a Private Bus under a company. You can only use it to ferry employees or people related to the business at no profit.
You can register a Private Hire Bus under a company or an individual. You can use it for the following purposes:
- Ferry workers to and from their workplace
- Charter it out for other purpose, such as to ferry a group of passengers to an event
- Ferry students to and from schools. You may enjoy a 50% road tax rebate and additional cash rebate (for diesel buses during the qualifying period of 1 Aug 2019 to 31 Jul 2022) if the bus is sufficiently used to ferry school children for at least 6 consecutive months.
- Click here to access the digital service with your Sing pass to submit your application for 50% road tax rebate and additional cash rebate.
- Click here for the user guide on how to submit the application to the LTA using the digital service.
To drive a Private Hire Bus, you need a Bus Driver’s Vocational Licence (BDVL).
Learn how to apply for a Bus Driver’s Vocational Licence (BDVL)
You must register an Excursion Bus under a company. You can use it for the following purposes:
- Ferry tourists
- Run unscheduled services where passengers pay individual fares
- Ferry workers to and from their workplace
- Charter for other purposes
- Ferry students to and from schools. You may enjoy a 50% road tax rebate and additional cash rebate (for diesel buses during the qualifying period of 1 Aug 2019 to 31 Jul 2022) if the bus is sufficiently used to ferry school children for at least 6 consecutive months.
- Click here to access the digital service with your Singpass to submit your application for 50% road tax rebate and additional cash rebate.
- Click here for the user guide on how to submit the application to the LTA using the digital service.
To drive an excursion bus, you need a Bus Driver’s Vocational Licence (BDVL).
Learn how to apply for a Bus Driver’s Vocational Licence (BDVL)
You can register a School Bus under a company or an individual. A School Bus is hired under a contract to ferry students to and from schools.
You can also use it to ferry workers to and from their workplace if the bus has an Adult Workers’ Contract (AWC) permit issued by the LTA. You cannot use a School Bus to ferry other passengers unless permitted by the LTA.
Owners of School Buses are exempt from COE, when they replace their older buses. There are no new licences being issued for School Buses. To obtain a School Bus licence, you can buy one on the open market, subject to approval from the Registrar of Vehicles.
To drive a School Bus, you need a Bus Driver’s Vocational Licence (BDVL).
Learn how to apply for a Bus Driver’s Vocational Licence
Note: Owners of School Buses are required to submit information on the student transportation activities for the School Bus(es) under their ownership to the LTA by 31 Jan of each year.
Click here to access the digital service with your Singpass to submit information on the student transportation activities for your School Bus(es).
Click here (PDF, 1.6MB) for the user guide on how to submit the information to the LTA using the digital service.
To drive an Omnibus, you need:
- Class 4A driving licence
- Omnibus Driver’s Vocational Licence (ODVL)
Only bus captains employed by a public transport operator can hold a Class 4A licence and an Omnibus Driver’s Vocational Licence. Once a bus captain leaves the company, the licence will be cancelled. Apply for a new one if you are re-employed as a bus captain with a public transport operator.
Using public bus stops for pick-up and drop-off
To use public bus stops for pick-up and drop-off, you must submit an application to the LTA for approval. Email the completed form (PDF, 248kB) to LTA_Bus_Licence@lta.gov.sg
Blind spot safety requirements for buses with MLW over 8,000kg
To improve the safety of vehicles and other road users, buses with maximum laden weight (MLW) over 8,000kg which are registered from 1 October 2015 must be equipped with mirrors or camera devices to cover blind spot areas on the left and front of the bus. This is in addition to the previous requirement of having two rear view mirrors. The additional blind spot mirrors or devices will help bus drivers to better detect pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and other motorists who are in their blind spots, reducing the risk of accidents when buses turn at traffic junctions or change lanes. Buses with MLW over 8,000kg include school buses and coaches.
You can approach your vehicle’s authorized agent for advice on how to meet the requirements.
Examples of Compliant Mirrors for Buses
For buses with MLW over 8,000 kg which are registered before 1 October 2015, bus owners can choose to either retrofit the additional blind spot mirrors or camera devices, or install a Fresnel lens (at least A4 size) on the passenger side window.
The Fresnel lens gives the driver a better view of the blind spot directly next to the passenger door.
The list of companies that supply compliant A4-sized Fresnel lens can be found below.
Example of Fresnel lens fitted on a HGV
Safety requirements for buses ferrying school children
There are certain safety requirements for buses ferrying school children.
Three children of up to 12 years old can occupy a double seater bench seat meant for two adults, while a single seat can only be occupied by one child. However, if there are seat belts, the number of children on each seat must not be more than the number of seat belts.
A reflective “Children Crossing” sign (PDF, 215kB) with red blinking LEDs (light emitting diodes) must be placed at the rear of the bus. If there are school children on board, the LED lights must light up when the entrance or exit door is opened. The LED lights can be switched off when the bus is not carrying school children.
Hazard warning lights must be automatically switched on when the entrance or exit door is opened.
Buses used to ferry children to childcare centres or kindergartens, and buses which are authorised to carry more than 30 children, must have a bus attendant on board.
Bus attendants must hold a Bus Attendant’s Vocational Licence.
Installing safety features for buses
To install safety features for buses, contact the Singapore School and Private Hire Bus Owners Association (SSPHBOA), or the Singapore School Transport Association (SSTA).
Avoid penalties by complying with the safety requirements. Offenders can be fined up to $2,000, or jailed up to 6 months.
Guidelines for Standing Passengers in Buses
From 31 May 2018, an Excursion Bus, a Private Hire Bus, Private Bus and School Bus are allowed to carry standing passengers, if the bus meets the technical requirements and completes the application procedure.
School children below 18 years of age are not allowed to stand in the bus, when the bus is used for ferrying school children to and from school or to other places for school-organised activites.
The technical requirements are:
- The bus’ maximum laden weight exceeds 3,500kg, or it has a seating capacity more than 15 persons (excluding the driver)
- The bus is fitted with enough handrails or handstraps for the safety of standing passengers
Step 1: Bring the bus for inspection
Bring the bus, which has enough handrails or handstraps installed, to one of the four LTA-Authorised Inspection Centres below with these documents:
Application form for change of vehicle particulars
Vehicle registration details. The bus owner can login to the digital service below and print the details.
Enquire My Vehicle Details
Front and back photocopy of bus owner or applicant’s NRIC
Sketches of vehicle, including dimensions, endorsed by the bus owner
Invoice from workshop for installation of handrails or handstraps
LTA-Authorised Inspection Centres for Buses with Standing Passengers
JIC Inspection Services Pte Ltd (Jurong)
53 Pioneer Road
Singapore 628505
Tel: 6863 9639
STA Inspection Pte Ltd (Boon Lay)
249 Jalan Boon Lay
Singapore 619523
Tel: 6261 6178
STA Inspection Pte Ltd (Sin Ming)
302 Sin Ming Road
Singapore 575627
Tel: 6452 1398
Vicom Inspection Centre Pte Ltd
385 Sin Ming Drive
Singapore 575718
Tel: 6458 4555
Step 2: Check if you need to further update LTA on changed vehicle particulars
After the inspection has been approved, check that the bus’ vehicle particulars have been updated in the inspection approval letter. If not, proceed to the LTA Customer Service Centre with the inspection approval letter. You may need to pay additional road tax due to the added passenger capacity.
LTA Customer Service Centre
Vehicle Registration Division
10 Sin Ming Drive
Singapore 575701
Opening hours:
8.00 am to 4.30 pm, Mondays to Fridays
8.00 am to 12.00 pm, Saturdays
Step 3: Update the new licensed passenger capacity on chassis plate of the bus
Step 4: Make sure you have insurance to cover all standing and seated passengers