RIDE-HAIL, STREET-HAIL, CARPOOL LICENCES
LTA granted the following companies a three-year full ride-hail service operator licence:
- Grab
- Ryde
- Tada
- Gojek
- ComfortDelGro
Grab and Ryde were also issued a three-year carpool service operator licence, while the following companies were awarded the 10-year street-hail service operator licence:
- CityCab
- ComfortDelGro
- Prime Taxi Services
- Strides Premier
- Trans-cab
Geo Lah and Trans-cab were granted a one-year provisional licence to enable them to “fine-tune their operational capabilities to meet LTA’s regulatory standards for safety and service provision” before they are considered for a full ride-hail service operator licence.
“Licensees must comply with the conditions of their licences, including meeting LTA’s safety standards and ensuring that partnership arrangements with drivers are non-exclusive in nature,” said the authority.
The licences will take effect from Jan 1, 2025.
STREAMLINING OF TAXI DRIVERS’ VOCATIONAL LICENCE TRAINING
LTA said it will also streamline the training curriculum and lower the course fees for the Taxi Driver’s Vocational Licence (TDVL) to further encourage drivers to consider taxi driving.
The total training hours required to obtain a TDVL will be reduced to 12 hours, down from 16 hours. The number of training hours required to convert a Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licence (PDVL) to a TDVL will also be reduced from eight hours to five hours.
“The TDVL curriculum has been reviewed and updated to be more relevant to the demands of driving a taxi today,” said LTA.
The cost to obtain a TDVL and to convert a PDVL to TDVL will also be reduced from S$275 to S$250, and S$145 to S$132.50 (before Goods and Services Tax) respectively.
LTA added that it is working on the second phase of the P2P industry structure review, with an aim to provide an update in March 2025.
“We will continue to engage industry stakeholders on other ways to improve the overall stability of P2P supply to meet evolving commuter needs and to strengthen the contestability of the P2P market so that drivers’ and commuters’ interests are protected.
