As of 2018, there were a total of 16,340 Off-Peak Cars (OPC) on the road. That’s almost half of what was reported in 2015, 30,469 Off-Peak Cars. The Off-Peak Car (OPC) and Revised Off-Peak Car (ROPC) scheme were introduced in Singapore to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and also reduce traffic during peak hours.

The scheme is widely viewed as being unsuccessful, but don’t be too quick to jump to conclusions. You must first understand the benefits of having a car under either OPC or ROPC scheme.

Here’s all you need to know about the OPC and ROPC schemes in Singapore.

Knowing Your Car Scheme

There are 3 types of car schemes – Weekend Car, Off-Peak Car or Revised Off-Peak Car.

Off-Peak Car (OPC)/ Weekend Car (WEC)

First introduced in 1994, its main objective was to curb the high traffic volume during peak hours. Under this scheme, a car could be driven anytime, anywhere outside the restricted hours, amounting to around 100 hours a week. However, since 25 January 2010, this scheme is no longer valid.

Benefits of having cars under this scheme:

• Get up to $17,000 rebate under the Vehicle Quota Scheme (VQS) premium for their Certificate of Entitlement (COE) and for any additional payable fees.
• Also a flat discount of $800 on their annual road tax, with a minimum payable road tax of $50 annually.

Restrictions of the old OPC cars:

• Weekdays (except public holidays): 7 AM – 7 PM
• Saturdays (except public holidays): 7 AM – 3 PM
• Eves of New Year, Lunar New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas: 7 AM – 3 PM

Do note that car owners with cars under this scheme had to buy a Day License (e-Day Licence), which could only be used within a restricted period.

Revised Off-Peak Car (ROPC) Scheme (for new cars)

The restrictions for Saturdays and Eves of Public Holidays made the OPC scheme unpopular among the public. Hence, the Government proposed the new ROPC Scheme.

All OPC cars registered from 25th of January 2010 onwards are subject to the ROPC scheme instead. The same applies to the OPC/WEC scheme, where the cars can be driven anytime and anywhere outside the restricted hours.

With more relaxed restrictions, you can freely drive your car up to 132 hours in a Chinese New Year week. However, because of the extended usage period, rebates are definitely not as generous as the original OPC scheme.

Benefits of owning cars under this scheme:

• Get up to $17,000 rebate under their Vehicle Quota Scheme (VQS) premium for their Certificate of Entitlement (COE) and for any additional payable fees (for new cars)
• Also a flat discount of $500 off the annual road tax, with a minimum payable road tax of $70 annually

Restrictions of the old OPC cars:

• Weekdays (except public holidays): 7 AM – 7 PM

Do note that cars under the scheme have to buy a Day licence (e-Day Licence), to be used within a restricted period.

OPC/ WEC vs ROPC

Wondering how the new ROPC benefits drivers more than the OPC. Below is a table comparison of OPC and ROPC.

Looking at the above table you can see ROPC would allow you to move around with fewer restrictions compared to the older OPC.

Conversions

Normal plate to ROPC

Benefits:

• Similar to the newly registered ROPC car, these cars are eligible for the $500 discount off annual tax with a minimum of $70 per year.
• Besides, there will also be an OPC cash rebate of up to $1,100 every 6 months until your car reaches 10 years old.

Losses:

• Restrictions on car usage.

Do note that there is a $100 fee. After a successful conversion, you have to get your new plate within 3 calendar days.

OPC to ROPC

Benefits:

• Fewer restriction hours

Losses:

• Higher minimum road tax payable

The same to be applied, there is a $100 fee. This process is irreversible.

A normal plate that was converted to OPC to ROPC

Benefits:

• Eligible for the $500 discount on annual tax with a minimum of $70 per year payable
• If the car is eligible for Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF), up to $2,200 additional PARF rebate can be given every year since the year the car was a converted OPC (under OPC scheme)
• Up to $1,100 OPC cash rebate given for every 6 months, the car remains under the ROPC Scheme until the car reaches 10 years old

Losses:

• Your freedom to drive your car

The same to be applied, there is a $100 fee. Likewise, it is irreversible.

ROPC/OPC to Normal Plate

Benefits:

• You will get great freedom to drive your car

Loses:

• All the benefits of your OPC scheme

$100 is applicable and the documents required vary according to the type of car ownership.

E-Day Licence – To Drive During Restricted Hours

Buy an e-day licence for $20, at least 2 weeks ahead, or at least pay for your e-day licence before 2359 hours the next day. Or you will kenna saman :/

Things to Note:

De-registration

Upon deregistration of a Singapore Car before the 10 years of COE expiry, there will be PARF rebate, a rebate that is derived from the number of months of the unused COE.

PARF/COE REBATE:

However, all cars that are deregistered under OPC/ROPC scheme will be subject to a Top-Up Fee. You can use this fee to offset the one-time OPC cash rebate. There’s also a cap on these fees, at $17,000.

The top-up fee is calculated by:

Therefore, you can use part of the PARF Rebate to fulfil the top-up fee. Also, besides PARF rebate, you would also receive money according to the agreed car price transfer when you deregister and scrap your car.

Affordable Car Ownership

The OPC/ROPC scheme makes car ownership a bit more affordable but still comes with a lot of restrictions. You can’t drive the car during the restricted hours and you’ll still need to fork out a big sum of cash for the downpayment, COE and more.

So how can you enjoy an affordable car ownership experience that has no restrictions?

Enter Singapore’s First Car Subscription service! Unlike traditional car ownership, car subscriptions allow you to own a car with no commitments and no restrictions.

Enjoy a fully flexible journey that doesn’t tie you down with a long term contract – giving you the ability to switch cars whenever you want, penalty-free.

Don’t worry about the hefty downpayment or loans, all you need to do is pay a flat monthly fee (from just $1,399/month) that covers everything you need – maintenance, insurance, road tax and even roadside assistance.

You can now enjoy all the perks of owning a car, without the hassle that it traditionally comes with.