We know, we know. We’ve covered a lot of guides on getting from Singapore to JB, including hopping on one of the Singapore-Johor buses and going on a road trip by driving to JB. Now, let’s say you want the comfort of a car but don’t want the hassle of manoeuvring it through traffic – the best option then is to hire a private driver.
So, you go online and search for “private car hires to Malaysia” and see a tonne of results pop up. Now for the bad news – almost all the results you see will be of illegal cross-border services to JB. In fact, only the officially licensed taxis under the cross-border taxi scheme are allowed to drop you off in JB.
To save you the trouble of being stopped at customs, here’s a list of some of them, which entirely seem legit when you click on their website, but in reality are not licensed to bring you across the border.
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Needless to say, the best part about going to JB in a car is that there’s no need to disembark from your vehicle at immigration. Just wind down your window to show your passport to the officer, or better yet, just scan the MyICA QR code.
A huge draw is that these illegal cross-border services offer door-to-door services, which means you get to choose the pick-up point in Singapore and the final drop-off point in JB; even if it means going as far as LEGOLAND. On the other hand, you’re restricted to Ban San Street Terminal and Larkin Sentral as the main start and end points of your journey with the licensed taxis.
That said, even these officially-licensed taxis offer pick-up services from your doorstep – apart from Seletar and Changi Airport – if you book in advance. For a slightly higher fare of $80, they can fetch you from your residence, with the catch that they’ll have to drop you off directly at Larkin Sentral in JB.
Another attractive point is their variety of vehicles, from SUVs to minivans, that can fit larger groups of people or provide extra comfort for longer journeys.
Well, these illegal cross-border taxis and private hires are not licensed to offer this service, so there are chances of the driver being caught at the checkpoint.
Image credit: Sun Xueling via Facebook
Apart from being stopped at immigration checkpoints and being told to return, you could also face problems if these cars get into an accident. They generally do not have insurance that covers them in Singapore.
In addition, there have been cases where the drivers end up scamming their passengers by taking deposits and never turning up. If they are based in Malaysia, you’ll probably never see your money again, given that those numbers become uncontactable. Be especially aware of sites that require you to send them private messages on social media platforms.
There are a number of challenges the authorities could be facing, which explain why these websites can still be found online. For one, they might be hosted in Malaysia or other countries and would require the involvement of overseas regulatory bodies and foreign jurisdiction. Note that many websites will list a Malaysian WhatsApp number starting with “+60” as their contact for booking. Such cross-border cooperation is often a slow process and may not be effective.
The website may also be using technical methods to avoid being taken down, such as changing its domain or using decentralised hosting, which makes it difficult to locate and shut down. There are also limitations on what authorities in Singapore can do to enforce existing regulations when the business has an ongoing large clientele.
Well, you can’t take a regular Grab car to cross the border or any other ride-sharing services for that matter. But you can take a Grab bus to JB. Even the local taxis can only bring you till the checkpoint in Singapore, after which you’ll be on your own.
So, the only way to cross the border in a car is by using your personal vehicle or by booking a licensed taxi. Be wary, as LTA has recently clamped down on unlicensed cross-border services, some of which have even been listed on sites like Carousel. Here are some of the legit-looking illegal cross-border services to JB we found online:
Given the names, we won’t fault you for thinking these companies offer legit services to cross the border. Featuring at the top of the results page, these 2 sites are probably the first private car companies you’ll come across. We’re giving them props for considering SEO when naming their sites.
Screenshot from: VIP Transport Sdn Bhd
While it has a similar naming system to the previous 2 websites, SGMY VIP Transport has a really well-built page that could fool anyone into thinking it’s legit. We’re talking 5-star ratings pulled from Google reviews.
There’s also a section right at the bottom that shows alleged support from Tourism Malaysia and other statutory boards. Like we said, don’t be fooled.
Self-proclaimed “best SG& JB transport agency”, J&Y Transport Travel lists 8 reasons you should choose them for your next cross-border adventure. They’ll provide you with a local Chinese driver with trusted driving skills, who is available 24/7, and provides professional service, such as being on time and having a customer-first approach.
Plus, the cars are safe, comfortable, and reasonably priced. We’re almost sold… if only it weren’t an unlicensed cross-border service.
Those looking for luxurious MPVs to ferry them to JB might come across Top Taxi on the list of potential private car services. Sadly, this one is illegal too, although their attractive prices look too good to pass.
With listings on the homepage offering rides to KSL City Mall, Mount Austin, and Mid Valley Southkey, they sure know how to entice people into booking their services.
SGMY Trips – another site banking on the “SGMY” term. This one is smart in tugging at your fears – their price includes insurance, 24-hour breakdown service, and accident assistance on the off chance something happens to the car anytime throughout the journey. This might be a huge reason people opt for their service, but we’re here to remind you it’s still not worth it, considering they are unlicensed.
Image credit: Comfort 99 Transport Service via Facebook
Hop onto the website of Comfort 99 Tours & Travel, and you’ll be bombarded with lots of happy customers posing with smiles and thumbs up. You might even spot 2 familiar Singaporean celebrities in those pictures. Looks pretty legit even in our opinion, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Image credit: SGMYCAR
At this point, you’re probably getting the drift – a name with “SGMY” in it probably means the company is offering illegal cross-border services. SGMYCAR is no exception. You might be attracted by their no deposit and pay upon reaching rules, and we don’t blame you. Just note you’re risking taking an unlicensed private car service to JB.
Image credit: Johor Trip
Most of these Singapore-JB taxi service companies are based in Malaysia, so it’s not usually guaranteed that you’ll get a driver who speaks English. However, Johor Trip makes sure that all their drivers can converse in English and are knowledgeable about the local routes to get you to your destination without any trouble.
This illegal cross-border service to JB is just short of providing you with a tour guide. Consider us impressed.
Screenshot from: Nusa Transport
Nusa Transport seems like one of the reputable Singapore-JB taxi services on the scene. A quick look at their glowing reviews online will reveal their booking process to be hassle-free and their drivers to be incredibly responsive via WhatsApp.
Screenshot from: Nusa Transport
In fact, doesn’t their branding look awfully similar to a certain well-known booking site?
From all the sites we combed, SGMY Limo Taxi had some of the lowest rates for ferrying people to JB, starting from $65. Advertising comfort and luxury in their spacious vehicles, this company even offers car hire services during odd hours of the night with off-peak prices. Don’t fall into the trap, though.
While probably the priciest transport option, there’s no doubt that Singapore-JB taxi services are the most convenient. Just make sure you’re taking the licensed ones and not the ones offering illegal cross-border services.
Other ways to get to JB from Singapore:
Cover image adapted from: @sgmyviptransport via Instagram
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