Export car Singapore: documents, EPZ storage and what stays with the owner
An export car Singapore job means deregistering the car, shipping it directly or storing it in an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) for up to 12 months, then getting export documents accepted by LTA. Until then, your name stays on the car.
- No charge to owners
- One itemised partner quote
- LTA deadlines itemised
By Carscrap TeamFigures checked against primary sourcesUpdated
- COE rebate by formula QP x 100 / 120 $91,667
- Cap: 80% of QP GOV GOV $88,000
- PARF, by cohort GOV your cohort
- Export value BUYER ask
- Less loan settlement your figure
AS OF 14 SEP 2026LTA ONEMOTORING, SSO
The three routes
Scrapyard, EPZ or direct export: routes, clocks and proof side by side
To export a car from Singapore, or to scrap or store it, every route starts with deregistration and end with documents LTA accepts. A scrapyard proves destruction, an EPZ buys up to 12 months to find a buyer, and a direct export ships at once on a Bill of Lading.
| Route | Storage limit | Document deadline | Rebates | Proof of completion | Owner risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrapyard appointed by LTA | None | 1 month from deregistration | Normal rules | Disposal record accepted by LTA | Missing disposal record |
| EPZ, then export | 6 months, plus 6 for $35 | 14 calendar days after leaving, or at 12 months, whichever is earlier | COE rebate capped at 80% of QP within 2 years | Cargo Clearance Permit and endorsed Bill of Lading | Outstaying, or mismatched documents |
| Direct export | None | 1 month from deregistration | Same 80% cap within 2 years | Cargo Clearance Permit and endorsed Bill of Lading | False or late documents |
Next step
Get an itemised export and scrap quote
Send one enquiry to our partner scrapyard
The short version
Exporting a car from Singapore, in one answer
Deregister the car, ship it or store it at an EPZ for up to 12 months, then get the export documents to LTA on time.
- Rebates follow the scrapping rules, except the 80% of QP cap within 2 years.
- The only buyer-funded line is the export or body value.
- You stay the last registered owner until LTA accepts the documents.
The rebate rules sit on LTA OneMotoring: PARF and COE rebates; an exporter can only price the car itself.
Who this page is for
What 'export car Singapore' means for an owner, and what it does not
For an owner, export is a disposal route: an exporter buys a Singapore-registered car and ships it abroad, and LTA still needs proof it left within 1 month.
- Search export car Singapore and much of what comes back is stock lists for overseas importers; this page is for owners choosing between scrapping and export.
Vehicle export from Singapore starts at LTA, not the port. Car export Singapore paperwork is split: the permit sits with Singapore Customs, while deregistration, rebates and disposal proof sit with LTA.
Jump to
On this page
Method
How this page is sourced, and what Carscrap does not do
- [x] COPY 1
Primary sources only
LTA, SSO and Singapore Customs, fetched 14 September 2026. - [x] COPY 2
Not an exporter
Carscrap does not export, store or ship cars. - [x] COPY 3
One partner scrapyard
Your enquiry goes only to our partner scrapyard. - [x] COPY 4
No charge to owners
Our partner pays Carscrap for arranging the job.
The page follows the eight-step Vehicle Exit Check, from status to retaining evidence.
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.
Used car export in Singapore: fixed numbers
The export figures fixed by rule
| Figure | What it governs | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 12 months | Longest EPZ storage | LTA OneMotoring |
| 14 calendar days | Documents after the car leaves the EPZ | LTA OneMotoring |
| 80% of QP | COE rebate cap if exported within 2 years | LTA OneMotoring |
| $35 | Further 6 months of EPZ storage | SSO, rule 34A |
| 1 month | Disposal documents (current law) | Road Traffic Act s 27 |
The checklist
What do you need to export a car?
You need a car free of loans and dues, a deregistration, a Cargo Clearance Permit and an endorsed Bill of Lading, all accepted by LTA within 1 month.
-
Clean status
No outstanding loan interest, dues or fines. -
Deregistration
On the agreed date, last drive booked. -
Cargo Clearance Permit
Through Singapore Customs. -
Endorsed Bill of Lading
Engine and chassis numbers, shipped-on-board date.Ask for these in your quote
Read the deregistration sequence for PARF and non-PARF cars before you agree a date.
Five steps
How do I sell my car to an exporter?
Get a written quote that splits rebates from export value, then agree in writing who deregisters, where the car goes and who sends documents to LTA. Payment and handover complete nothing.
-
Establish status
COE, loan, lay-up history and rebate eligibility. -
Itemised quote
Rebates and export value on separate lines. -
Agree the route
Who deregisters, when, EPZ or direct. -
Assign the documents
Who sends them to LTA, by when. -
Keep copies
Until LTA confirms completion. -
Check the record
Deregistration and rebate grant on OneMotoring.
Practitioner's note: plan the car's last drive before you deregister it
A deregistered car cannot be driven, so book the tow or drive first; LTA's steps differ for PARF and non-PARF cars.
Scrap or export the car
How much will I get if I scrap my car in Singapore?
You get any PARF rebate, a COE rebate for unused months and a negotiated body value, less deductions. In a hypothetical $31,000 headline, $29,000 is government money and $2,000 is the buyer's.
- Switch the quote to export and only the buyer's line changes: body value becomes export value.
- Compare net proceeds, not headline quotes.
See an itemised scrap figure for the same car. Get both routes quoted line by line
Who funds a $31,000 headline in Scenario E
Why the rebate is the same on both routes, and only the body or export value differs
Rebates are government payments triggered by deregistration, not by who takes the car. One forum owner reported an export offer that beat scrap until reverting modifications ate the gap.
Newer cars
The 80% QP cap: when exporting within two years costs rebate
If you export a car within 2 years of registration, LTA caps the COE rebate at 80% of the QP paid. A car scrapped at the same age is not capped this way.
The COE rebate stops at the cap, whatever the formula says
Hypothetically, $110,000 QP with 100 unused months gives $91,667, capped at $88,000. Check PARF separately.
Scenario C: formula against the early-export cap
Who the early-export cap reaches, and who it never touches
It reaches owners relocating soon after buying, never cars at their PARF or COE end. Rule: OneMotoring rebates. Tell the quote form your registration date
Export Processing Zone
EPZ explained: a timed waiting room, not an exit
An EPZ holds a deregistered car for up to 12 months while a buyer is found; it does not dispose of it. Disposal completes when export documents reach LTA in time.
EPZ storage is a timed exemption, and the offences return when it ends
The Registration and Licensing Rules rule 34A allow 6 months in a designated area, extendable by 6 for $35. The Exemption Order O 19 suspends the keeping offences only while that approval lasts.
Documents go to the EPZ operator within 14 calendar days of the car leaving, or at 12 months, whichever is earlier. Limitation: the rule does not name EPZs, so treating them as rule 34A areas is an inference, and older cars may fall under historical extensions.
The EPZ clock, drawn from day 0 to month 12
The paperwork
What the export documents must show: permit, Bill of Lading, engine and chassis numbers
LTA needs a Cargo Clearance Permit and an endorsed Bill of Lading whose engine and chassis numbers match the car's record, with the shipped-on-board date.
| Document | Check |
|---|---|
| Cargo Clearance Permit | Issued for this car |
| Bill of Lading | Endorsed by the carrier |
| Engine and chassis numbers | Match the record exactly |
| Shipped-on-board date | Inside the deadline |
Ask the exporter to confirm these in writing.
After the port
Where Singapore export cars go, and who ships them
Singapore cars are right-hand drive, so other right-hand-drive markets are the natural buyers; exporters ship by roll-on roll-off vessel or container. One forum owner reported a car exported to Malaysia.
Carscrap names no exporter until one is verified and signed.
Fit
Which cars suit export, and which are better scrapped
- [ ] COPY 1
Leans export
Good condition, stock parts, a model wanted abroad. - [ ] COPY 2
Leans scrap
Severe damage, or no buyer abroad. - [ ] COPY 3
Laid-up history
PARF is gone on either route. - [ ] COPY 4
The deciding line
Export value against body value.
Completion
The three proofs that close an export
An export car Singapore sale is closed when three records exist: the deregistration, LTA's acceptance of the export documents, and the rebate redeemed within 12 months.
- [ ] COPY 1
Deregistration record
On OneMotoring with its date. - [ ] COPY 2
Documents accepted
Permit and Bill of Lading. - [ ] COPY 3
Rebate redeemed
Within 12 months.
Keep the paperwork until the LTA record says you are done.
Owner liability
Why your name stays on an exported car: LTA refers misuse to the last registered owner
LTA investigates through the last registered owner, and now clamps deregistered cars
LTA's 13 May 2026 release says misuse of a dealer-exported deregistered car is referred to the last registered owner. From September 2026, deregistered cars found on LTA and SPF patrols are wheel-clamped for seizure.
A referral is not a finding of guilt, and no counts are published. Your agreement, permit and Bill of Lading copy are the answer.
The June 2021 operation: 20 cars declared exported but still in Singapore
An exporter was charged for false declarations, per LTA's September 2021 release. One case, not a rate: match the Bill of Lading numbers to your log card.
Law, then proposal
Current law vs the 8 Sep 2026 Bill: 14 days and an exporter scheme
| Item | Current law | Proposed |
|---|---|---|
| Disposal documents | Within 1 month | Within 14 days |
| Who may export | Any exporter | Exporters listed under a scheme |
| No disposal proof, s 27(3) | $2,000 or 3 months; repeat $5,000 or 6 months | Not stated |
| Using a deregistered car, s 10(3) | $20,000 or 2 years (from 27 Feb 2026) | Not stated |
Current law: the Road Traffic Act 1961.
Proposed: the Bill on deregistered vehicles, First Reading 8 Sep 2026, per the LTA, MOT and SPF joint release. Proposed, not yet in force as of 14 September 2026.
Decide
If this is your situation, this is the route to ask about
| If | Ask about | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| COE ending, good stock condition | Export and scrap together | Export value line |
| Under 2 years, relocating | Export or local sale | 80% of QP cap |
| Buyer not ready | EPZ storage | 12-month and 14-day clocks |
| Still financed | Settle first | Financing interest released |
| Damaged or laid up | Scrapyard | Disposal record within 1 month |
Financed cars
Exporting a car that still has a loan
You can export a car on a car loan (hire-purchase financing) once it is settled and the financing interest released. The settlement comes off the proceeds, so it belongs on the written quote, per LTA's steps.
Practitioner notes
Export mistakes owners make, and how to avoid each one
-
Deregistering too early
Book the last drive first (Scenario D). -
EPZ entry as disposal
The clock runs until LTA has documents. -
Headline quotes
Compare the export value line. -
COE rebate at expiry
Zero unused months pays $0.
Refunds
Road tax, insurance and refunds that are not the same thing
| Item | What happens |
|---|---|
| Unused road tax | Refunded automatically to the last registered owner |
| Motor insurance | Depends on the policy |
| PARF and COE rebates | Valid 12 months from deregistration |
| Transfer or division | $20 per transfer; $21.80 per new portion, including GST |
Verify
How to check an exporter or EPZ operator before handover
- [ ] COPY 1
LTA list, dated
Record the date you checked the facility. - [ ] COPY 2
Consumer status is separate
A CaseTrust-SVTA bond is capped at S$50,000. - [ ] COPY 3
Written quotation
Names who submits the documents. - [ ] COPY 4
Dispute route
Small Claims Tribunals: $20,000, or $30,000 with consent.
Answers first
Export car questions owners ask next
Is my car disposed of once it enters an EPZ?
No. Disposal completes only when the export documents reach LTA, within 14 calendar days of the car leaving the EPZ or at 12 months.
If an exporter misuses my deregistered car, why would LTA contact me?
LTA refers misuse of a dealer-exported deregistered car to the last registered owner. A referral is not a finding of guilt; your documents are your answer.
What do you need to export a car?
A deregistration, a Cargo Clearance Permit and an endorsed Bill of Lading with engine and chassis numbers and the shipped-on-board date, accepted by LTA.
Does exporting my car get a higher rebate than scrapping it?
No. The rules match on both routes, except the 80% of QP COE rebate cap within 2 years.
How much COE rebate do I lose if I export a car within two years?
Anything above 80% of QP. Hypothetically, $91,667 by formula is capped at $88,000 on a $110,000 QP.
How long can a deregistered car stay in an EPZ in Singapore?
Up to 12 months: 6 months under rule 34A plus 6 more for a $35 fee.
Is the 14-day disposal rule already law in Singapore?
No. Current law is 1 month. Proposed, not yet in force as of 14 September 2026.
Does handing my car to an exporter end my legal responsibility?
Not by itself. You stay the last registered owner until LTA accepts the documents.
Can I export a car in Singapore that still has a loan?
Only after the loan is settled and the financing interest released.
How do I sell my car to an exporter?
Get a written, itemised quote naming who deregisters, where the car goes and who sends documents to LTA.
Is my road tax refunded when my car is exported?
Yes, automatically to the last registered owner. Insurance refunds depend on the policy.
What must the Bill of Lading show for LTA to accept an export?
An endorsement, the engine and chassis numbers and the shipped-on-board date.
Where do exported Singapore cars end up?
Mostly other right-hand-drive markets; one forum owner reported Malaysia. Carscrap names no exporter.
How can I check an exporter before handing over my car in Singapore?
Check LTA's list and note the date, get document duties in writing, and know the $20,000 small claims limit.
Every figure
Sources
- Deregister a Vehicle
- PARF and COE Rebate
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules
- Road Traffic (Export Processing Zone) Order
- Road Traffic Act 1961
- Strengthening Enforcement Against Deregistered Vehicles
- Three individuals charged for using deregistered vehicles
- Car exporter charged for false declarations and illegal possession
- Exporting Vehicles
- Road Tax
- Accreditation for Motoring Businesses
- Cases eligible for a small claim
Get a quote
Send one enquiry, get an itemised export or scrap quote from our partner scrapyard
Whether you export your car from Singapore or scrap it here, the disposal clock starts at deregistration. Get an itemised quote