Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Test) Rules - Singapore Statutes Online

Road Traffic Act

(CHAPTER 276, Sections 90 and 140)

Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Test) Rules

R 21

G.N. No. S 391/1981

REVISED EDITION 1999

(30th September 1999)

[1st January 1982]

Citation

1. These Rules may be cited as the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Test) Rules.

Definitions

2. In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —

“authorisation” means any authorisation of a person to carry out an examination of a motor vehicle of such class as may be specified in the authorisation;

“chauffeured private hire car” means a motor car that is the subject of a chauffeured private hire car licence within the meaning of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Rules (R 14);

[S 364/2017 wef 01/07/2017]

“CNG system” and “CNG vehicle” shall have the same meanings as in the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5);

[S 520/2008 wef 20/10/2008]

“examination” means an examination of a motor vehicle for the purposes of ascertaining whether the prescribed statutory requirements applicable to the vehicle have been complied with;

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

“heavy vehicle” means a motor vehicle with at least 4 wheels and which has a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 metric tons;

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

“inspection report” means the report on the detailed results of an examination issued under rule 10(1)(b);

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

[Deleted by S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

“in‑vehicle unit” has the same meaning as in rule 2 of the Road Traffic (Electronic Road Pricing System) Rules 2011 (G.N. No. S 97/2011);

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

“light vehicle” means a motor vehicle with at least 4 wheels and which has a maximum laden weight not exceeding 3.5 metric tons;

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

“passenger car” means a motor vehicle with at least 4 wheels and which is designed and constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects and is adapted to carry not more than 7 persons exclusive of the driver;

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

“prescribed statutory requirements” means the requirements specified in the First Schedule;

“vehicle testing station” means the premises at which the Registrar has authorised an examiner to carry out any examination or the premises provided by the Registrar for carrying out an examination.

Application for authorisation

3.—(1) Every application for authorisation shall be made to the Registrar and shall be signed by the applicant or, where the applicant is a firm or a body corporate, by a person who is duly authorised to do so by the firm or body corporate.

(2) An applicant for authorisation must make to the Registrar a separate application in respect of each vehicle testing station at which the applicant proposes to carry out any examination.

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

Authorisation

4.—(1) Where an application is made under rule 3, the Registrar may, after making such investigation and carrying out such inspection as he thinks fit, authorise the applicant to be an examiner for the purpose of carrying out examinations of any class or classes of motor vehicles or reject the application without assigning any reason.

(2) The Registrar may authorise a person to carry out examinations even if the person has not made an application under rule 3.

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

Conditions to be complied with by authorised examiner

5.—(1) Every authorised examiner shall comply with such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the authorisation and also with the following conditions:

(a)

the examiner shall carry out in accordance with these Rules examinations of motor vehicles in any such class as is specified in the authorisation of the examiner and shall in all other respects comply with such of the provisions of these Rules as applicable to the examiner;

(b)

subject to sub‑paragraph (ba), the examiner must appoint, in respect of each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations —

(i)	a manager to oversee the operations of the station;
(ii)	an engineer to manage and oversee the operations of the station;
(iii)	a chief inspector to manage the operations of the station; and
(iv)	one or more inspectors to carry out or personally supervise examinations at the station and to sign test certificates; [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(ba)

the examiner must not appoint the same person —

(i)	as manager under sub‑paragraph (b)(i) in respect of more than 3 vehicle testing stations;
(ii)	as engineer under sub‑paragraph (b)(ii) in respect of more than one vehicle testing station; or
(iii)	as chief inspector under sub‑paragraph (b)(iii) in respect of more than one vehicle testing station; [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(c)

the examiner must notify the Registrar in writing of —

(i)	the name of each person whom the examiner proposes to appoint as a manager, an engineer, a chief inspector or an inspector; and
(ii)	any cessation in the appointment of any person as a manager, an engineer, a chief inspector or an inspector, no later than 7 days after such cessation in appointment; [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(ca)

the examiner must prepare or cause to be prepared for each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations a daily roster that sets out the name of each inspector, each inspector’s respective assigned vehicle test lane and the time slots during which each inspector is on duty at the inspector’s assigned vehicle test lane;

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(d)

the examiner shall put up and keep exhibited in some conspicuous place in his vehicle testing station so as to be legible to persons submitting vehicles for examination at the station —

(i)	the authorisation in which that vehicle testing station is specified; [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]
(ii)	a list of the names of the inspectors for the time being appointed to carry out or personally supervise examinations at that station and to sign test certificates; and [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]
(iii)	the daily roster referred to in sub‑paragraph (ca) for that vehicle testing station; [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(da)

the examiner must put up and keep exhibited in conspicuous places within the examiner’s vehicle testing station, a sufficient number of signs to indicate the expected waiting time at the station during peak and off‑peak hours;

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(e)

the examiner shall put up and keep exhibited in a conspicuous place outside the vehicle testing station a sign of the size, colour and type shown in the diagram set out in Part I of the Second Schedule and complying with the conditions specified in Part II of that Schedule;

(f)

the examiner shall, after being notified by the Registrar, make his vehicle testing station and the apparatus at that station with which examinations are carried out available for the purpose of an examination to be carried out by the Registrar as a result of an appeal which has been made against the refusal of a test certificate (whether by that or any other authorised examiner);

(g)

the fee charged by the examiner for the carrying out of the examination shall not exceed the maximum fee as may, from time to time, be set by the Registrar unless the Registrar has determined that there shall not, for any period of time, be any maximum fee charged by the examiner;

(h)

where an appeal is made to the Registrar against the refusal of an examiner to issue a test certificate, the examiner shall refund the whole or part of any fee paid for the carrying out of an examination as may be directed by the Registrar if the Registrar is satisfied that the examiner had acted unreasonably in refusing to issue a test certificate; and

(i)

the examiner shall as soon as practicable give notice to the Registrar —

(i)	in a case where the examiner is the sole individual named in an authorisation, of his entering into any partnership with a view to carrying on a business which shall comprise the carrying out of examinations at that station; and
(ii)	in a case where the examiner is a firm, of any change in the constitution of that firm.

(2) A person must not be appointed as a manager for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i) unless —

(a)	the person has at least a degree in engineering (or an equivalent qualification) and 5 years of relevant working experience; and
(b)	the Registrar is of the opinion that the person is competent to act as a manager. [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(3) A person must not be appointed as an engineer for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(ii) unless —

(a)

the person has at least —

(i)	a degree in engineering (or an equivalent qualification); or
(ii)	a diploma in engineering (or an equivalent qualification) and 5 years of relevant working experience; and

(b)

the Registrar is of the opinion that the person is competent to act as an engineer.

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(4) A person must not be appointed as a chief inspector for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(iii) unless —

(a)

the person has 5 years of relevant working experience and at least —

(i)	a National Institute of Technical Education Certificate;
(ii)	a National Technical Certificate 2; or
(iii)	any other equivalent qualification; and

(b)

the Registrar is of the opinion that the person is competent to act as a chief inspector.

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(5) A person must not be appointed as an inspector for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(iv) unless —

(a)	the person has at least a National Institute of Technical Education Certificate, a National Technical Certificate 3 or any other equivalent qualification;
(b)	the person has attended and completed a course in vehicle inspection conducted by the Institute of Technical Education or any training centre approved by the Registrar; and
(c)	the Registrar is of the opinion that the person is competent to act as an inspector. [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(6) A person must not be appointed by an authorised examiner as a manager, an engineer, a chief inspector or an inspector unless the person is —

(a)	in the case where the authorised examiner is an individual, the authorised examiner;
(b)	in the case where the authorised examiner is a partnership, a partner in the authorised examiner;
(c)	in any case, an employee of the authorised examiner. [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

Cancellation of appointment

5A.—(1) If it appears to the Registrar that a person appointed by an authorised examiner as a manager, an engineer, a chief inspector or an inspector (called in this rule the relevant appointee) is unfit to perform the functions and duties of the appointment, the Registrar may by notice in writing require the examiner to cancel the relevant appointee’s appointment as such.

(2) The Registrar must, before requiring an authorised examiner to cancel a relevant appointee’s appointment under paragraph (1), give the examiner and the relevant appointee notice in writing of the Registrar’s intention to do so and an opportunity to submit reasons, within such period as the Registrar may specify in that notice, as to why the relevant appointee’s appointment should not be cancelled.

(3) Pending any decision to require an authorised examiner to cancel a relevant appointee’s appointment under paragraph (1), the Registrar may, if the Registrar considers it necessary in the interest of public safety, by notice in writing require the examiner to immediately stop the relevant appointee from performing the functions and duties of the relevant appointee’s appointment.

(4) The Registrar is not liable for any expenses that an authorised examiner may incur in complying with this rule.

(5) To avoid doubt, nothing in this rule empowers the Registrar to require an authorised examiner to terminate the employment of the examiner’s employee.

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

Examination of vehicle to ascertain compliance with prescribed statutory requirements

6. Every motor vehicle which is submitted for examination in accordance with these Rules shall be examined for the purpose of ascertaining whether the prescribed statutory requirements are at the date of the examination complied with in relation to that vehicle.

Application for examination

7.—(1) Any person who wishes to have an examination of a motor vehicle under these Rules may apply to an authorised examiner for an examination of the motor vehicle.

(2) An application under paragraph (1) may be made —

(a)	by requesting the examiner to make an appointment for the examination; or
(b)	by submitting the vehicle for examination at a vehicle testing station of the examiner otherwise than by any prior appointment.

(2A) No person appointed as an inspector by an authorised examiner under rule 5(1)(b)(iv) may act on behalf of any other person in the making of an application by the other person under paragraph (1) to that authorised examiner.

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(2B) An application under paragraph (1), in respect of a vehicle required to be fitted with a height warning system under rule 24A of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules (R 9), must be accompanied by the following documents, if any:

(a)

a valid certificate, stating that the height warning system of the vehicle complies with the requirements under these Rules relating to height warning systems, issued by —

(i)	a professional engineer registered under section 15 of the Professional Engineers Act (Cap. 253) who holds a valid practising certificate in the branch of electrical or mechanical engineering; or
(ii)	any other competent person acceptable to the Registrar;

(b)

such other relevant documents or information as the Registrar may require.

[S 549/2017 wef 01/10/2017]

(3) An authorised examiner shall ensure that —

(a)	where an appointment is requested for the carrying out of an examination, an appointment is forthwith offered for the carrying out of the examination at the earliest possible time at which it is reasonably practicable for the examination to be carried out;
(b)	where a vehicle is submitted for examination at a vehicle testing station of an examiner without any appointment for the carrying out of the examination having been previously made, the applicant is informed earlier that the examination can be carried out forthwith or, if not, of the earliest time at which it is reasonably practicable for the examination to be carried out; and
(c)	except in so far as prevented by circumstances beyond the control of the examiner, examinations are carried out in accordance with the appointments made or at such other times as may be arranged under this paragraph.

(4) On an appointment being made or a time being arranged for the carrying out of an examination under this rule, the authorised examiner shall record the time and the date thereof and the name of the person by whom the application for the examination is made.

(5) Any authorised examiner and any other person authorised by the Registrar may carry out an examination of a motor vehicle notwithstanding that any of the provisions of this rule has not been complied with.

(6) Nothing in this rule shall entitle an authorised examiner to carry out an examination of a vehicle not falling within a class of motor vehicles specified in the authorisation.

Requirements as to vehicle submitted for examination

8. An authorised examiner or any other person authorised by the Registrar shall not be required to carry out an examination of a motor vehicle in any of the following cases:

(a)	where on the submission of a vehicle for an examination the applicant for the examination does not, after being requested to do so, produce the registration document relating to the vehicle or any other evidence as to the date of its first registration or the inspection report, where applicable;
(b)	where the vehicle or any part thereof or any of its equipment is in such a dirty condition as to make it unreasonably difficult for the examination to be carried out;
(c)	where the examiner or authorised person is not able, with the facilities and apparatus available to him at the vehicle testing station at which the examination would otherwise be carried out, to complete the examination without the vehicle being driven and the vehicle is not, when submitted for examination, provided with fuel or oil to enable it to be driven to such extent as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out the examination;
(d)	where before the carrying out of an examination of the motor vehicle all or any goods or other things which are on the vehicle and are not part of its equipment or accessories are required to be removed from the vehicle or to be secured in such manner as the examiner or authorised person may think necessary and the goods or things are not removed or secured accordingly.

Manner of carrying out examination, facilities, apparatus, etc.

9.—(1) Without prejudice to rule 5(1)(a), an authorised examiner must —

(a)	carry out examinations of motor vehicles in accordance with the Third and Fifth Schedules; and
(b)	comply with the Fourth Schedule in respect of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations.

(2) Without prejudice to the requirements of Part II of the Fourth Schedule, an authorised examiner must —

(a)	maintain in an efficient state every apparatus used in accordance with the Third Schedule or referred to in the Fourth Schedule; and
(b)	ensure that any such apparatus designed to indicate any measurement does so accurately. [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

Results of examination

10.—(1) After an examination of a motor vehicle is completed, an authorised examiner shall —

(a)	issue a test certificate where it is found that the prescribed statutory requirements are complied with in relation to the vehicle; or
(b)	issue an inspection report of the detailed results of the examination where it is not so found on the examination.

(2) A test certificate and an inspection report shall be in such form as may be approved by the Registrar.

Illegal entry in or alteration of inspection report or test certificate

11.—(1) Any person who makes any entry in or any alteration of an inspection report or a test certificate referred to in rule 10(1) without the approval of the Registrar shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

(2) The owner of a motor vehicle in respect of which an examination has been carried out shall ensure that no illegal entry or alteration is made on the inspection report or test certificate of his vehicle.

(3) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with paragraph (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

(4) Any inspection report or test certificate upon which an illegal entry or alteration is made shall be invalid.

Appeal on refusal of test certificate

12.—(1) Any person who is aggrieved by the refusal of a test certificate or the grounds thereof may appeal to the Registrar within 24 hours from the time of the notification of such refusal or grounds.

(2) Every appeal shall be made on a form approved by the Registrar and shall contain the particulars required by that form.

(3) As soon as is reasonably practicable after the receipt of the appeal, the Registrar shall send a notice to the appellant stating where and when an examination for the purposes of the appeal is to take place.

Examination on appeal

13.—(1) The place selected by the Registrar for an examination for the purposes of an appeal under rule 12 may be a vehicle testing station or such other place as the Registrar thinks fit.

(2) The vehicle shall be submitted for examination at the place and time specified in the notice sent under rule 12(3), unless arrangements are made with the Registrar for the carrying out of the examination at some other place and time.

(3) A person submitting a motor vehicle for an examination for the purposes of an appeal shall, if requested to do so by an officer authorised by the Registrar to carry out the examination —

(a)

produce to that officer —

(i)	the inspection report issued in respect of the vehicle; and
(ii)	the registration document relating to the vehicle or any other evidence of the date of its first registration; and

(b)

give that officer such information as he may reasonably require in connection with the carrying out of the examination relating to any alteration made or repairs carried out, or any accident or other event occurring, since the issue of the inspection report, which may have affected the vehicle or any of its equipment or accessories.

(4) The officer shall not be required to carry out the examination unless the inspection report, registration document or other document and information referred to in paragraph (3) are produced or given.

(5) The officer shall, upon completion of the examination —

(a)	issue a test certificate where it is found that the prescribed statutory requirements are complied with by the vehicle; or
(b)	issue an inspection report of the detailed results of the examination where it is not so found on the examination.

(6) Rules 8(b), (c) and (d) and 9 shall apply to an examination for the purposes of an appeal as if any reference therein to an authorised examiner or any other person authorised by the Registrar were a reference to the officer carrying out the examination and as if a reference therein to a vehicle testing station were a reference to the vehicle testing station or other place selected by the Registrar for the examination.

(7) The decision of the Registrar on the result of the examination for the purposes of the appeal shall be final.

Fees on appeals

14.—(1) The fee payable on an appeal under rule 12 shall be $40.

(2) Every such fee shall be paid by the appellant to the Registrar at the same time as the appeal is lodged under rule 12(1).

(3) If the fee is not paid at the same time as the appeal is lodged, the Registrar may refuse to proceed with the appeal.

(4) Any fee paid under this rule shall not be refundable if the vehicle is not submitted for examination under rule 13(2).

(5) Where the Registrar informs an authorised examiner that an examination for the purposes of an appeal is to be carried out at a vehicle testing station of that examiner, the examiner shall provide the facilities for the examination.

(6) An examiner shall bear the cost of providing any facilities under paragraph (5).

Records to be kept and returns to be furnished by examiner

15.—(1) An authorised examiner must keep at each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations a record relating to all examinations carried out at that station in a manner approved by the Registrar, including the following:

(a)

the name of every inspector at that station, the time slots during which the inspector was on duty and the vehicle test lane at which the inspector was on duty, each day;

(b)

in respect of the examination of a passenger car or motor cycle, a copy of the following visual images:

(i)	the front, sides and back of the passenger car or motor cycle;
(ii)	the exhaust system of the passenger car or motor cycle. [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(2) The authorised examiner must ensure that the information and documents relating to an examination which are required to be kept as part of the record under paragraph (1) are so kept as soon as practicable after each examination has been carried out.

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(3) The authorised examiner must, for the purpose of an inspection under rule 16, keep the information and documents relating to an examination, which are required to be kept as part of a record under paragraph (1), for at least 3 years after the date of the examination.

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(4) Despite paragraph (3), the authorised examiner must keep copies of the visual images referred to in paragraph (1)(b) —

(a)	in the case of a passenger car, for a period of not less than 2 years after the date of the examination of the passenger car; and
(b)	in the case of a motor cycle, for a period of not less than one year after the date of the examination of the motor cycle. [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(5) An authorised examiner shall ensure that upon the issue by that examiner of a test certificate or an inspection report, a copy of that certificate or inspection report is made and preserved at the vehicle testing station for a period of not less than 3 years.

(6) An authorised examiner shall furnish any record or information in respect of all examinations carried out at the vehicle testing station when required by the Registrar.

(7) An authorised examiner must, for each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations, submit to the Registrar at such intervals and in such form and manner as the Registrar may require, the results of every examination carried out at that vehicle testing station, and the date and time of the examination.

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(8) An authorised examiner must submit to the Registrar, in such form and manner as the Registrar may require, monthly statistics on the following matters for each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations:

(a)	age profile of vehicles examined;
(b)	relative frequency of examination failure;
(c)	examination frequency;
(d)	breakdown of defects by stages;
(e)	breakdown of defects by systems (for all vehicles and according to each type of vehicle). [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(9) An authorised examiner must submit to the Registrar the statistics for each calendar month —

(a)	for the matters referred to in paragraph (8)(a) and (b), no later than 7 working days after the end of that month; and
(b)	for the matters referred to in paragraph (8)(c), (d) and (e), no later than 14 working days after the end of that month. [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(10) Where a particular type of vehicle was not examined at a vehicle testing station in a calendar month, the authorised examiner of that vehicle testing station must submit a nil return for that type of vehicle in the statistics to be submitted for that calendar month under paragraph (9).

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(11) An authorised examiner must, on reasonable written notice being given by the Registrar, furnish to the Registrar such other information or statistics relating to the examinations carried out at any or all of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations as the Registrar may require, within the time specified in the notice.

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

Inspection of premises, apparatus and record

16. Any person authorised by the Registrar may, on production if so required of his authority, enter any vehicle testing station of that examiner and upon such entry he shall be entitled —

(a)	to inspect the station and the apparatus provided at the station for carrying out any examination and watch any examination taking place, including any part of the examination which is carried out otherwise than at the station;
(b)	to satisfy himself as to the efficiency of such apparatus and, in the case of any apparatus designed to make any measurement, to require evidence to be furnished to him that it will do so accurately within reasonable limits;
(c)	to inspect all records and copies of test certificates and inspection reports which are required to be kept or preserved at that station under rule 15(1), (3), (4) and (5); and [S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]
(d)	to be furnished with such information as he may reasonably require with respect to any of the matters referred to in this rule.

Duration and withdrawal of authorisation

17.—(1) An authorisation of an examiner shall cease to have effect —

(a)	where the person specified in the authorisation is an individual, on the death or bankruptcy of that individual;
(b)	where the person specified in the authorisation is a partnership firm, on the dissolution of that firm; or
(c)	where the person specified in the authorisation is a body corporate, on the making of an order or the passing of a resolution for the winding up of that body, not being a winding up for the purpose of amalgamation or reconstruction only.

(2) A reference to the bankruptcy of an individual in paragraph (1)(a) shall be a reference to the making of a receiving order against him, his filing a petition in bankruptcy or his making an arrangement with or assignment in favour of his creditors.

(3) An authorised examiner may, at any time, give notice to the Registrar stating that after such date as may be specified in the notice the examiner does not propose to continue to act as an authorised examiner under all the authorisations of the examiner or under such authorisation of the examiner as may be specified in the notice.

(4) The date on which an authorised examiner ceases to act as an authorised examiner shall not be earlier than 3 months after the date of any notice given by him under paragraph (3).

(5) The Registrar may by notice withdraw all the authorisations of an authorised examiner or such of them as may be specified in the notice on such date as may be so specified.

(6) Any authorisation to which a notice under paragraph (3) or (5) relates shall cease to have effect on the date specified under that paragraph.

(7) Except where it is specified in a notice under paragraph (5) that the Registrar considers it necessary that any authorisation to which the notice relates shall be withdrawn on an earlier date, the date of any such withdrawal shall not be earlier than 28 days after the date of the notice.

(8) If, within 14 days from the date of the notice, the Registrar receives from the authorised examiner to whom that notice is given or from any person acting on behalf of that examiner representations to the effect that any authorisation to which that notice relates should not be withdrawn, the Registrar shall consider these representations and make such investigations in respect thereof as he thinks fit.

Forms and documents to be returned to Registrar

18.—(1) If a person ceases to be an authorised examiner, he shall send to the Registrar all unused records and copies of test certificates, inspection reports and records kept or preserved by him under rule 15(1), (3), (4) and (5).

[S 891/2014 wef 01/01/2015]

(2) Where an authorisation of an examiner ceases to have effect, but some other authorisation of that examiner continues in force, the Registrar may consent to the retention by that examiner of all or any of the documents referred to in paragraph (1).

[G.N. Nos. S 391/81; S 99/82; S 77/84; S 135/93; S 17/96; S 295/97; S 282/98; S 294/99]

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