55 Vehicles Are Already Being U-Turned At Customs For Not Having Three-Quarters Tank Full

Did you know about this new rule?
By: Agnes / April 5, 2022

It’s no surprise that the main thing Singaporeans look forward to when travelling to Malaysia is cheaper fuel. Back then, leaving the country just to pump fuel in Malaysia was a common thing. But now, a new three-quarter tank rule is being enforced, along with other things you will need before heading to Malaysia. According to CNA, a total of 55 vehicles have since been turned back as they did not comply with the new rule. Here at Glitz, we dug deep into the new rule and the difference between RON95 and RON97.

Three-Quarter Tank Rule

When leaving Singapore via land checkpoints, Singapore-registered vehicles are obliged to have a minimum amount of motor fuel (at least three-quarters of the tank) under the Customs Act 1960. The “three-quarter tank rule” is what this is known as. Currently, the three-quarter tank restriction applies to cars that run on gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG). Drivers of hybrid vehicles that use both gasoline and CNG should ensure that both fuel tanks are at least three-quarters full.

Pic cred: Unsplash / Winel Sutanto

The three-quarter tank rule will be extended to Singapore-registered diesel-powered automobiles from April 1, 2019. This is in accordance with the announcement in Budget 2017 of a usage-based diesel charge to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution. Drivers who do not comply with the rule may be fined up to $500 or prosecuted in court. If drivers are found committing the offence, they may be forced to make a U-turn at land checks.

If the gasoline gauge on the car is tampered with, the driver may face charges in court for tampering with the fuel measurement equipment. For further details, see the categories of customs offences section. To avoid any disruption to your foreign travel, Singapore Customs advises drivers to leave the land checkpoints with at least three-quarters of their gasoline tank filled.

Should I Pump RON95 Or RON97?

Recently, pictures of Singaporean car owners pumping RON95 have been surfacing online. However, it is important to note that RON95 fuel is specifically reserved for Malaysians. This is because RON95 is subsidised by the government, especially for Malaysians. Therefore, foreign-registered vehicles are actually not allowed to buy RON95. 

According to a post by former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, he explains the loss that Malaysia is taking every time a Singaporean car fills up with RON95. He also urges authorities and petrol stations to be more alert on this matter.

The Price Difference Of RON95 & RON97

When it comes to the price difference between RON95 and RON97, we can see that there’s a huge difference. In fact, fuel prices in Malaysia and Singapore are big as well.

The RON95 is priced at RM2.05 ($0.66) per litre while the RON97 is RM3.91 ($1.26). On the contrary, fuel is $3 per litre (RM9.32) in Singapore. It’s evident that the RON95 is the cheaper option. But let’s not take advantage of our friendly neighbours as the RON95 is subsidised to reduce their cost of living as they rely a lot on transportation. Let’s be responsible and not spoil the fuel market for our fellow Malaysian friends.

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