How to Travel Legally from Singapore to Johor Bahru: Buses, Taxis, Train, Cars, and QR Tips

Why app rides across the Causeway are off limits

Ride hailing for door to door trips between Singapore and Johor Bahru remains illegal. Both countries restrict who can pick up passengers, where they can cross, and what insurance covers cross border travel. Enforcement has intensified after illegal operators targeted travellers outside checkpoints and shopping areas. Authorities in Singapore and Malaysia have stopped and seized vehicles that tried to operate as unlicensed cross border services. Drivers face fines and possible vehicle impoundment. Passengers carry risk because trips by unlicensed cars are usually not covered by proper insurance if an accident occurs.

Officials from both countries continue to review legal transport options, including better access to licensed taxis and more bus capacity. There are no plans to fully permit app based cross border ride hailing at this stage. Until rules change, travellers should use only licensed modes.

Every legal way to get from Singapore to Johor Bahru today

The good news is that several legal, reliable options can take you across the Causeway every day. The best choice depends on your budget, flexibility, and the size of your group. Here is the landscape at a glance, with details in the sections below.

• Public buses and licensed coach services
• Licensed taxis under the Cross Border Taxi Scheme
• Private cars and rentals driven by you or someone you know
• The Shuttle Tebrau train until the RTS Link opens
• Walking or cycling across the Causeway

Buses, the cheapest frequent option

Public bus lines run all day between Singapore and Johor Bahru via Woodlands. From Singapore, SBS Transit services 160, 170 and 170X, and SMRT service 950, cross into Malaysia with fares from about S$1.81 to S$2.41. Private operator Causeway Link also runs buses and licensed tour coaches, with cross border fares typically S$2.60 to S$6 depending on route and operator.

At the checkpoints you will need to alight twice. First, get off to clear Singapore departure. After immigration, board the next bus on the same route, then alight again at Malaysian entry for immigration and customs before continuing into Johor Bahru. Expect lines at peak hours. Payment on Singapore buses can be made with stored value cards or exact cash. Carry small notes if you plan to use cash on the Malaysian side.

Coaches are useful for direct trips to attractions or cities deeper in Malaysia, such as Legoland, Desaru or Malacca. These services use the bus lanes at checkpoints, and luggage may need to be screened. Check departure points and schedules in advance because tickets can sell out on busy weekends.

Licensed taxis and new booking options

The only legal point to point car service between the two cities is the Cross Border Taxi Scheme. Up to 200 taxis from each side hold licences for the route. Singapore taxis can pick up passengers anywhere in Singapore but can only drop off at Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru. Malaysian taxis may pick up passengers in Malaysia and can bring them into Singapore, but they can only drop off at Ban San Street Terminal in Rochor. Private hire vehicles and app rides are not allowed for the cross border run.

Fares are regulated and charged per taxi, not per person. From Ban San Street Terminal, the fare to Larkin Sentral is S$60. Home or hotel pick ups in Singapore cost S$80. Trips from the airport cost S$120. Taxis typically accommodate up to four passengers with hand luggage.

A new convenience is arriving. Singapore’s largest taxi operator, ComfortDelGro, is launching cross border bookings from Sep 25. Rides will cost a fixed S$80 from most pick up points in Singapore to Larkin Sentral, S$60 from the Ban San Street taxi stand, and S$120 from the airport. The company plans to deploy 90 cabbies with valid cross border licences, and will accept bookings up to 24 hours in advance via its hotline at 6552 1111.

Officials are also studying ways to allow app booking for licensed cross border taxis and to widen boarding and alighting points. Any adjustments require agreement by both governments, so changes will take time. For now, use the two designated terminals for drop offs on the other side and ignore touts offering door to door rides.

• Look for official decals and queue lines at Larkin Sentral and Ban San Street Terminal.
• Share a taxi with fellow travellers at the terminal to split the fixed fare.
• Avoid unlicensed drivers who offer to take you across. These rides are illegal and usually uninsured.
• Keep cash ready, and confirm the fixed fare before boarding.

Driving your own car or a rental

Driving a private car into Malaysia is allowed. This does not include private hire vehicles, which are not permitted to provide cross border services. Before you go, check that your car insurance covers travel in Malaysia and that your passport and vehicle documents are in order.

Malaysia now requires a Vehicle Entry Permit for foreign registered vehicles. From July 2025, VEP registration and an RFID tag are compulsory to enter Malaysia. You can register online and follow instructions to collect or install the RFID tag. You will also need a way to pay tolls, for example a Touch n Go card or an RFID linked wallet for Malaysian highways and checkpoint charges.

• Register for VEP at the official site https://vep.jpj.gov.my/ and keep your confirmation.
• Bring your driving licence and vehicle documents, and confirm your insurance covers Malaysia.
• Top up a Touch n Go card or set up RFID payment for tolls.
• Save your route in a map app and check live traffic before you depart.

Shuttle Tebrau now, RTS Link soon

Until the Rapid Transit System Link opens, the only rail option is KTM’s Shuttle Tebrau between JB Sentral and Woodlands Train Checkpoint. Tickets cost RM5 into Singapore and S$5 into Malaysia. The ride takes about five minutes. Seats are limited and peak hour services sell out quickly, so buy tickets in advance at the KTM site https://www.ktmb.com.my/. The Shuttle Tebrau will cease within six months after the RTS Link begins service.

The RTS Link is slated to start operations at the end of 2026. It will connect Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North in Singapore, with high capacity designed for peak commuter flows. Officials have not announced fares yet. The link is expected to reduce pressure on the Causeway by shifting many daily trips to rail.

Walking or cycling across the Causeway

Pedestrians can walk across the Causeway. After clearing immigration, a dedicated walkway on the Malaysian side leads across the straits. The distance is modest, but the environment can be hot and noisy. Carry water, wear comfortable shoes, and mind your belongings near traffic.

Cyclists clear immigration alongside motorcyclists, then ride across the Causeway using the same general flow. Lights and helmets are recommended. Take extra care in wet weather and at night.

Checkpoint documents, QR codes, and e gates

Bring a passport with at least six months validity. Many visitors to Malaysia must submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card up to three days before entry. Check the latest rules and submit the form at the official portal if required https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main. Tourists heading back to Singapore should file the SG Arrival Card within three days before arrival https://www.ica.gov.sg/.

Malaysia is trialling QR code immigration clearance at Johor Bahru checkpoints until Feb 28, 2026. Families or groups can generate a single group QR that summarises traveller details for faster processing. Every traveller must still carry a passport. Singapore also supports QR code clearance for car passengers at land checkpoints through the MyICA mobile app, which can generate a group QR for inspection at car counters.

Many Singapore passport holders can use e gates in Johor Bahru after a one time manual verification. This helps clear queues at busy times. Keep your documents ready and avoid using mobile phones while in the clearance zones unless instructed by officers.

When to go, costs to expect, and practical tips

Queue times swing with the calendar. Weekday mornings before 10 am and afternoons before 4 pm are usually smoother. Friday evenings, the eve of public holidays, and long weekends often see very long lines. Check traffic cameras and operator updates before you start, and build in buffer time if you have a flight or a fixed reservation.

Here is a quick guide to typical prices and trade offs by mode. Bus is the cheapest, though you will alight at both checkpoints and wait for the next available service. Licensed taxis give you door to terminal convenience at a fixed taxi fare. Driving is flexible for families or groups, but comes with VEP registration and toll payments. The train is the fastest when you secure seats in advance.

• Public buses: roughly S$1.81 to S$2.41 for Singapore services, and about S$2.60 to S$6 on Causeway Link and similar operators.
• Licensed taxi: S$60 from Ban San Street Terminal to Larkin Sentral, S$80 for most Singapore pick ups, S$120 from the airports, per taxi for up to four passengers.
• Shuttle Tebrau: RM5 into Singapore and S$5 into Malaysia, tickets released by KTM in advance.
• Private car: costs vary by distance, tolls, and parking. Add VEP related fees and any rental surcharge if you are using a hire car.

Avoid illegal e hailing. Malaysian officers have seized Singapore registered vehicles found operating without permits in Johor Bahru. These rides can leave you uninsured and can disrupt your trip if the car is detained at a checkpoint.

At a Glance

• App based ride hailing across the border is illegal, and enforcement on both sides has intensified.
• Legal options include public buses and coaches, licensed taxis, private cars driven by you, the Shuttle Tebrau train, and walking or cycling.
• Public bus routes 160, 170, 170X, and 950 run via Woodlands. Causeway Link and licensed coaches add more routes.
• The Cross Border Taxi Scheme fixes fares at S$60 from Ban San Street Terminal, S$80 for most pick ups in Singapore, and S$120 from airports, per taxi to Larkin Sentral.
• ComfortDelGro begins cross border bookings on Sep 25, with 90 licensed cabbies and a fixed S$80 fare from most pick up points to Larkin Sentral.
• Private cars are allowed, but from July 2025 foreign vehicles need a Malaysia Vehicle Entry Permit and an RFID tag to enter.
• Shuttle Tebrau costs RM5 or S$5 and will stop within six months after the RTS Link opens, which is slated for end 2026.
• Malaysia is trialling QR immigration clearance in Johor Bahru until Feb 28, 2026. Singapore also supports group QR for car passengers.
• Best crossing times are weekday mornings and mid afternoons. Avoid Friday evenings and long weekends if you can.
• Use only licensed services. Illegal drivers risk fines and seizure, and passengers risk being uninsured.