Singaporeans can now drive a GetGo car across the Causeway and into West Malaysia, with the car-sharing company launching a new cross-border feature on Tuesday (Sept 1).
Called Drive to Malaysia, the feature allows eligible GetGo users to pick up a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP)-registered vehicle from a nearby location in Singapore and drive anywhere in West Malaysia, including Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur.
Unlike cross-border taxis and ride-hailing services, which typically transport passengers between fixed pick-up and drop-off points, users are not restricted to specific drop-off points and can drive around West Malaysia for the duration of their booking.
GetGo said the feature is aimed at Singaporeans looking for a more flexible alternative to traditional cross-border car rentals, which can involve placing a deposit, as well as collecting and returning vehicles at rental outlets.
Bookings must be at least 12 hours long and can last up to five days. They can be made up to 30 days in advance.
Users can cross into Malaysia through either the Woodlands Causeway or Tuas Second Link and are allowed to drive anywhere in West Malaysia.
Driving beyond Malaysia into Thailand or other countries is not permitted.
There is no deposit or mileage charge for Drive to Malaysia bookings.
However, users will have to pay a cross-border surcharge of 30 per cent of the time charge, capped according to the vehicle category and day of travel.
For Select vehicles, the surcharge is capped at $20 per day on weekdays and the eve of public holidays, and $30 per day on weekends and public holidays.
For Plus vehicles, the corresponding caps are $25 and $35.
If a booking spans both weekdays and weekends or public holidays, the higher cap applies for the entire booking.
Other charges include a $1.20 platform fee, while users can opt for Standard Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) at 10 per cent of the total booking charge or Enhanced CDW at 20 per cent.
A pre-registered additional driver can also be added for $3.
Users will need to bring a physical passport with at least six months' validity, as well as a valid physical driving licence for every registered driver.
They will also need a Nets CashCard with at least $10 stored value for checkpoint-related charges in Singapore and a physical Touch 'n Go card with at least RM50 (S$16) stored value for Malaysia's cross-border road charge, tolls and parking.
A Touch 'n Go app cannot be used in place of the physical card at the toll gantry.
Drivers should also ensure data roaming is enabled so they can access the GetGo app for vehicle locking and unlocking functions, as well as customer support services while in Malaysia.
GetGo said it will provide 24/7 live chat support for Drive to Malaysia users, who will receive priority assistance.
In the event of a breakdown, the company's Malaysian partner will provide assistance, while additional highway emergency support is available through the PlusRonda network.
The feature comes as cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia continues to see strong demand.
According to a Singapore Business Federation study cited by GetGo, Singaporeans make an estimated 19.4 million round trips to Johor Bahru each year and spend about $1.69 billion annually across retail and food and beverage businesses there.
GetGo said it received close to 2,000 responses from users interested in participating in its beta programme within 48 hours of applications opening, indicating early interest in the service.
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