Deregister car in Singapore: the sequence for PARF and non-PARF vehicles
To deregister car registration in Singapore, apply to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on OneMotoring, dispose of the car by scrap, EPZ or export, and get proof to LTA within 1 month. The order flips with PARF status.
- PARF and non-PARF order
- LTA procedure fetched 14 Sept 2026
- Free itemised quote
By Carscrap TeamFigures checked against primary sourcesUpdated
- Car shown as deregistered LTA record
- Disposal documents accepted within 1 month
- PARF / COE rebate granted GOV valid 12 months
- Loan released before you apply
AS OF 14 SEP 2026LTA ONEMOTORING
The short answer
Deregistration, disposal and payment are three separate events
To deregister car registration in Singapore, apply on OneMotoring with Singpass 2FA, then scrap the car at a scrapyard appointed by LTA, store it at an EPZ or export it. The disposal documents must reach LTA within 1 month, and a non-PARF car must be delivered within 8 calendar days.
- Deregistration: LTA cancels the registration and notifies the last registered owner.
- Disposal: the scrapyard or EPZ operator, or you for an export, submits the proof.
- Payment: LTA grants any rebate; a buyer pays any body value separately.
Vehicle deregistration is the first record only; handing over the keys is not the same as deregistering the car.
Jump to
On this page
Car deregistration deadlines
The clocks that start on deregistration day
Deregistration starts three clocks: 8 calendar days to deliver a non-PARF car, 1 month for disposal documents, and 12 months to use any rebate.
A Bill would shorten the 1-month clock
Not yet in force as of 14 September 2026: a Bill read on 8 September 2026 would cut the 1-month period to 14 days.
How we work
What Carscrap does and does not do in a deregistration
Carscrap arranges vehicle scrapping, deregistration and export in Singapore through a partner scrapyard. Carscrap itself does not hold an LTA scrapyard appointment; our partner's name and status will be published on our About page. We do not handle rebates or LTA submissions for you.
- [x] COPY 1
Owners pay nothing
Carscrap never charges the car owner. - [x] COPY 2
One partner scrapyard
We arrange scrap, EPZ or export through it. - [x] COPY 3
Your LTA steps stay yours
You apply on OneMotoring and receive any rebate. - [x] COPY 4
Checked figures
From LTA or SSO, fetched 14 September 2026.
Five steps
What is the process to deregister a vehicle in SG?
Check PARF eligibility, clear loans and dues, book the facility or freight, then apply on OneMotoring in the order your route requires. That is how to deregister car in Singapore; proof must then reach LTA within 1 month.
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1. Check PARF eligibility
Use the LTA rebate enquiry to confirm whether the car is PARF-eligible, because eligibility sets the order of every later step. -
2. Clear loans and dues
Settle any car loan and outstanding road tax or LTA fees, since the car should not be under financing when it is deregistered. -
3. Book the facility or freight
Make an appointment with a scrapyard or Export Processing Zone appointed by LTA, or arrange the export shipment. -
4. Apply on OneMotoring in your route order
Deregister with Singpass 2FA on arrival for a PARF car at a scrapyard or EPZ, or authorise delivery first for a non-PARF car. -
5. Prove disposal within 1 month
Make sure the disposal documents reach LTA within 1 month of deregistration, then check the rebate on OneMotoring.
A stolen car can be deregistered only 3 months after the police report, under the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules. Motorcycle owners should read about deregistering a motorcycle; all steps follow LTA's Deregister a Vehicle page.
Deregister car sequence
Why PARF status changes the order of every route
A PARF-eligible car reaches the scrapyard or EPZ before it is deregistered, while a non-PARF car is deregistered first. For export the order flips: PARF cars deregister before shipping and non-PARF cars ship first.
The deregistration order by route and PARF status
PARF-eligible car to a scrapyard: arrive first, deregister on arrival
Drive or tow the car to the LTA-appointed scrapyard at your appointment, then deregister with Singpass 2FA on arrival. The operator submits the disposal documents; check what an LTA appointment covers.
Non-PARF car to a scrapyard: authorise first, deliver within 8 calendar days
Authorise yourself or another person in the Deregister vehicle service; they have 8 calendar days to deliver, with a physical NRIC or pass. LTA's 2017 deregistration video said 5 days; the current page governs.
Export: PARF cars deregister before shipping, non-PARF cars ship first
- By sea: a Singapore Customs Cargo Clearance Permit plus an endorsed Bill of Lading.
- By land: the permit plus the Malaysian Customs import declaration.
See the documents and EPZ rules for exporting a car.
EPZ storage: up to 12 months, then 14 days for export documents
An EPZ stores the car for up to 12 months; export documents go to the operator within 14 calendar days of leaving. An EPZ is a waiting room, not an exit.
No Singpass: the LTA Customer Service Centre route and form D01
Owners without Singpass book the Customer Service Centre and bring form D01.
Before the clock starts
Book the facility and the last drive before you deregister
The 1-month clock starts on the day you deregister, not the day you are paid. Get an itemised quote from our partner scrapyard
Eligibility
Check PARF eligibility before you pick a sequence
Being under 10 years old does not make a car PARF-eligible; check with LTA's rebate enquiry before choosing the sequence.
- PARF is only for cars and taxis.
- Vehicle lay-up removes PARF; read how lay-up affects PARF.
- Run LTA's Enquire PARF/COE rebate e-service first.
Imported-used cars: the 3-year rule at Singapore registration
An imported used car qualifies only if it was not more than 3 years old when registered here on or after 1 September 2007, counted from its original, possibly overseas, date. Otherwise it follows the non-PARF sequence, per PARF and COE rebate rules.
The money
How much will I get back if I deregister my car?
You get back only what applies to your car: a PARF rebate if eligible, a COE rebate on unused COE, unused road tax, and any body value a buyer pays, less loan settlement and fees.
| Line | Paid by | Rule | Scenario E |
|---|---|---|---|
| PARF rebate | LTA | Eligible cars, by age and cohort | $24,000 |
| COE rebate | LTA | QP or PQP x unused months / 120 | $5,000 |
| Body or export value | Buyer | Negotiated | $2,000 |
| Unused road tax | LTA | Automatic, to the last registered owner | automatic |
| Loan, towing, fees | Deducted | Your figures | ask |
An insurance refund depends on your policy, while the road tax refund on deregistration is automatic. Estimate the PARF and COE rebate for your car first.
Illustration: the same car in two PARF cohorts
The $30,000 cap applies only to COEs from the 2nd February 2026 bidding, per LTA's February 2026 PARF revision and our guide to PARF cohorts and caps.
- 75% of $80,000 net ARF GOV cap $60,000 $60,000
- 30% of $80,000 net ARF GOV cap $30,000 $24,000
Why a COE rebate at COE expiry is usually $0
The rebate is paid on unused months, so on the expiry date it is $0. Early export within 2 years caps it at 80% of QP.
COE rebate by unused months, hypothetical QP $100,000
If your COE ends soon, read what happens at COE expiry.
Financed cars
Financed cars: the lender is settled before the register moves
OneMotoring says: "Please ensure that the vehicle is not under financing when you are deregistering it." Settle the loan first.
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1. Get the settlement figure
Ask the finance company for it. -
2. Settle, keep the release
The release letter is your proof. -
3. Deregister
Follow your route order. -
4. Net it off the quote
Show settlement as its own line.
- A dated November 2018 LTA FAQ for agents says applying anyway notifies the finance company (hire purchase) and HPFLAS and tags the car for 8 calendar days; confirm the current flow on OneMotoring.
Court record
LTA pays the COE rebate to the registered owner, not the financier
E15: LTA pays the COE rebate to the registered owner, not the financier
An account of one judgment, not advice. In Land Transport Authority v Kenso Leasing Pte Ltd [2022] SGHC 222, a financier legally owned a hire-purchase car, but the untraceable hirer stayed on the register.
On 16 September 2022 the High Court held LTA may pay the COE rebate only to the registered owner or nominee, and ordered the financier to pay $8,000 costs. Registration, not finance ownership, controls the rebate.
Who does what
Dealer, exporter or do it yourself: a decision matrix
Whoever moves or buys the car, the registered owner stays responsible for deregistration and disposal proof.
| If | Then | Still yours |
|---|---|---|
| PARF-eligible and scrapping | You deregister on arrival | Checking the notice |
| Non-PARF, dealer collects | The authorisation names who has 8 calendar days | Choosing that person |
| Exporter or EPZ | The exporter ships | Export documents on record |
| Doing it yourself | You book, apply, upload | Every deadline |
LTA suggests dealers with CaseTrust-SVTA accreditation, a status separate from LTA appointment. Start with reading a scrap car quote in Singapore line by line. Get itemised quotes for your route
Deadline
Plan the last drive: what a deregistered car cannot do
Can you keep a deregistered car in Singapore?
No. It cannot be kept or driven, so book the tow or facility before you deregister.
Keeping or using a deregistered vehicle
Up to $20,000 or 2 years under the Road Traffic Act 1961; repeat, $40,000 or 4 years. Failing to prove disposal: up to $2,000 or 3 months.
In Scenario D, an owner deregisters on Monday and plans delivery next week, leaving a car that cannot be driven. The proposed 14-day disposal period is proposed, not yet in force as of 14 September 2026. Read about offences and enforcement for deregistered vehicles.
Court record
A financed car’s rebate belongs to the finance company, whoever takes it
E17: a financed car’s rebate belongs to the finance company, whoever takes it
A 2004 court record, not a present-day pattern. In Cycle and Carriage Motor Dealer Pte Ltd v Hong Leong Finance Ltd [2004] SGHC 274, a financed Mercedes S280 was deregistered on 18 October 2000 with a $92,710 PARF certificate.
A trader sold it to a dealer the same day; the High Court held it was the financier's property and upheld judgment for the full $92,710. Settle the loan before the rebate is used.
Evidence
Documents to keep until the LTA record shows completion
Keep every quotation, handover, finance-release and export document until LTA shows the car deregistered, disposal accepted and rebate granted.
- [ ] COPY 1
Deregistration notice
Sent to the last registered owner. - [ ] COPY 2
Disposal proof
Operator submission, or your export papers. - [ ] COPY 3
Finance release letter
Loan closed before deregistration. - [ ] COPY 4
Rebate and number
Rebate record; retain the number within a month.
Check it
How to check a car is deregistered and its rebate granted
Use the OneMotoring rebate enquiry for your deregistered vehicle; LTA also notifies the last registered owner.
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1. Read LTA’s notice
It shows status, rebates and arrears. -
2. Run the enquiry
It shows the rebates granted. -
3. Watch the month
If disposal is not accepted, chase the operator. -
4. Use the rebate
12 months; divide $21.80, transfer $20.
Answers first
Deregistration questions the LTA page leaves open
Can I deregister a car that still has a loan?
LTA asks that the car is not under financing when you deregister it, so settle the loan first. A dated 2018 LTA FAQ describes an 8-calendar-day financing tag if you apply anyway.
Who receives the COE rebate if a finance company owns the car?
The registered owner, or their nominee. In LTA v Kenso Leasing [2022] SGHC 222 the High Court held LTA could not pay the rebate to the financier that legally owned the car. This is an account of one judgment, not legal advice.
If a dealer takes my financed car's rebate, whose money is it?
In a 2004 case the High Court held a financed car's PARF certificate belonged to the finance company, and the dealer who used it paid its full $92,710 value. Settle the finance first.
Does the person I authorise get 5 days or 8 calendar days to deliver a non-PARF car?
8 calendar days, per LTA OneMotoring as fetched on 14 September 2026. An older LTA video from 2017 said 5 days; the current page governs.
Do I deregister before or after exporting my car?
It depends on PARF eligibility. A PARF-eligible car is deregistered first, exported, and its disposal documents uploaded within 1 month; a non-PARF car is exported first, then deregistered with the export documents.
Is my imported used car PARF-eligible if it is under 10 years old?
Not automatically. An imported used car qualifies only if it was not more than 3 years old when registered in Singapore on or after 1 September 2007. If it does not qualify, it follows the non-PARF sequence.
Is there a COE rebate if I deregister on the day my COE expires?
Usually not. The COE rebate is the QP or PQP times unused months over 120, and on the expiry date no months are unused. PARF, if the car is eligible, is a separate line.
How long do I have to use my PARF and COE rebates?
12 months from the deregistration date. Dividing a rebate costs $21.80 per new portion and transferring one costs $20, both including GST.
What proves my deregistration is complete?
Three records: the car shown as deregistered, the disposal documents accepted, and the rebate granted. Keep the quotation, handover and payment records until all three appear on LTA's record.
Is the 14-day disposal period already law?
No. Proposed, not yet in force as of 14 September 2026. The Bill read on 8 September 2026 would cut the disposal period from 1 month to 14 days; today the requirement is still 1 month.
Get an itemised quote before you deregister
Get your itemised deregister car quote
You can also request itemised quotes on a separate page.
Sources
Sources and fetched dates
- Deregister a Vehicle
- PARF and COE Rebate
- Revision of PARF Rebate Schedule and Cap
- Strengthening Enforcement Against Deregistered Vehicles
- Road Traffic Act 1961
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules
- Vehicle Lay-up
- Road Tax
- Enquire Rebate Before Deregistration
- Accreditation for Motoring Businesses
- Land Transport Authority of Singapore v Kenso Leasing [2022] SGHC 222
- Cycle & Carriage v Hong Leong Finance [2004] SGHC 274
- Deregistering your vehicle (LTA video, 2017)