ERP Gantries in Singapore
Everything drivers need to know about Electronic Road Pricing — where the gantries are, when you'll be charged, how much it costs, and practical strategies to keep your ERP bill low.
What is ERP?
Electronic Road Pricing is Singapore's congestion management system, in operation since 1998. The idea is straightforward: charge drivers a variable fee for using busy roads during peak hours, so that traffic remains flowing rather than gridlocked. When fewer drivers choose a particular route at a particular time, charges drop; when demand rises, charges increase.
The system uses overhead gantry arches positioned at strategic chokepoints — expressway entrances, CBD entry corridors, and congested arterial roads. As your vehicle passes under a gantry, a short-range radio signal communicates with an In-vehicle Unit (IU) mounted on your dashboard. The IU deducts the applicable charge from a stored-value card inserted into it. The whole transaction happens wirelessly at highway speed — no stopping, no barriers, no toll booth.
Unlike fixed tolls that charge a flat amount regardless of time, ERP rates are dynamic. They vary by location, time of day, and day of the week, calibrated to keep traffic speeds within target ranges. If traffic at a gantry location stays consistently above the target speed, LTA reduces the rate or removes the charge entirely. If congestion worsens, rates go up.
ERP 2.0 — the satellite-based future
Singapore is transitioning from the current gantry-based system to ERP 2.0, a next-generation platform that uses Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning instead of physical overhead arches. Under ERP 2.0, a new On-Board Unit (OBU) replaces the old IU. The OBU tracks the vehicle's position via satellite and can apply distance-based or zone-based pricing without needing gantry infrastructure at all.
This opens up far more flexible pricing models: instead of charging only at fixed points, the system can implement corridor-based pricing, per-kilometre charges during peak hours, or congestion zones with virtual boundaries. Physical gantries would be progressively decommissioned once the satellite system is fully operational.
As of mid-2026, all new vehicles are fitted with the ERP 2.0 OBU, and existing vehicle owners have been progressively replacing their old IUs at designated workshops. However, the satellite-based charging model has not yet been activated — the current gantry system remains the live charging mechanism. For now, the OBU functions identically to the old IU: it communicates with physical gantries just as before. LTA has indicated that satellite-based pricing will be phased in gradually, with the gantry system running in parallel during the transition period.
Where the gantries are
There are roughly 80 gantry points across Singapore, concentrated in three categories:
CBD cordon ring
A ring of gantries surrounds the Central Business District, covering virtually every entry point — Shenton Way, Robinson Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, Victoria Street, Ophir Road, Nicoll Highway and more. Driving into the CBD during operating hours means passing through at least one cordon gantry.
Expressways
Gantries on the CTE (Central Expressway), AYE (Ayer Rajah Expressway), PIE (Pan Island Expressway), ECP (East Coast Parkway), TPE (Tampines Expressway), KPE (Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway), SLE (Seletar Expressway) and BKE (Bukit Timah Expressway). These typically target the direction of peak flow — towards the city in the morning, away from the city in the evening.
Arterial roads
Selected surface roads with chronic congestion also have gantries — Orchard Road, Dunearn Road, Balestier Road, Thomson Road, River Valley Road and others. These are typically active only during specific peak windows.
When charges apply
ERP is not a 24/7 charge. Most gantries are only active during peak congestion windows:
| Period | Typical hours | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday AM peak | 7:30 – 9:30 AM | Expressways (city-bound), CBD cordon, arterials |
| Weekday lunchtime | 12:00 – 2:00 PM | Some Orchard/CBD gantries only |
| Weekday PM peak | 5:30 – 8:00 PM | Expressways (outbound), some arterials |
| Saturday morning | 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Orchard area gantries only |
| Sundays & public holidays | — | No charges at all |
The exact operating hours vary by gantry. A CTE gantry might charge from 7:30 to 9:30 AM, while a CBD cordon gantry may run from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on weekdays. LTA publishes the full schedule and reviews it quarterly.
How much does ERP cost?
Rates range from $0.50 to $6.00 per pass for passenger cars, depending on location, time, and congestion levels. The highest charges apply during the absolute peak of peak — typically 8:00 to 8:30 AM on the CTE southbound or major CBD entries.
Rates are structured in half-hour time bands. A gantry might charge $2.00 from 7:30–8:00, then $4.00 from 8:00–8:30 (peak of peak), then drop back to $2.00 from 8:30–9:00, and $1.00 from 9:00–9:30 before becoming free. This graduated structure rewards drivers who shift their departure time even slightly.
LTA reviews and adjusts rates every quarter based on measured traffic speeds. If the average speed through a gantry zone stays above the target (45–65 km/h for expressways, 20–30 km/h for arterial roads), the rate may be reduced or removed. If congestion worsens, the rate increases by $0.50 or $1.00 increments.
Common gantry rates (passenger cars)
CTE (Braddell to city)
$2.00 – $5.00 (AM peak)
CBD cordon entries
$1.00 – $4.00 (AM/PM peak)
AYE (towards city)
$1.00 – $3.00 (AM peak)
PIE (peak direction)
$1.50 – $3.50 (AM/PM peak)
Orchard Road
$1.00 – $2.50 (weekdays + Sat)
ECP (towards city)
$1.00 – $3.00 (AM peak)
Rates by vehicle type
The published rates above apply to passenger cars (Category 1). Other vehicle categories pay different amounts:
Motorcycles
Pay roughly half the car rate. If a gantry charges $4.00 for cars, motorcycles typically pay $2.00. This applies uniformly across all gantries.
Taxis & PHVs
Pay the same rate as passenger cars. Some taxi operators absorb the ERP cost; others pass it to passengers as an additional charge on the meter. Private-hire vehicles (Grab, Gojek) also incur ERP — the cost is typically built into the dynamic fare shown to the passenger.
Heavy vehicles & buses
Light goods vehicles (Category 2) pay 1.5× the car rate. Heavy goods vehicles and small buses pay 2× the car rate. Very heavy vehicles and large buses pay up to 3× the car rate. This tiered approach reflects the greater road space these vehicles occupy.
How to pay
Payment is automatic — there's nothing to do at the gantry itself. The system requires two things already in your vehicle:
In-vehicle Unit (IU) or On-Board Unit (OBU) — a small device mounted on your windshield that communicates with gantry sensors. Every Singapore-registered vehicle must have one fitted. It's installed at authorised workshops and paired to your vehicle registration.
Stored-value card — insert a CashCard or EZ-Link/NETS card into the IU slot. The ERP charge is deducted from the card's balance instantly as you pass the gantry. Keep it topped up at ATMs, 7-Eleven outlets, or via banking apps.
What if your card has insufficient value?
If your card balance is too low (or no card is inserted), the gantry's camera captures your licence plate and you'll receive a letter with the ERP charge plus a $10 administrative fee. Repeat offences may incur higher penalties. The IU beeps a warning when your balance drops below $4 — top up promptly to avoid the surcharge.
Strategies to reduce your ERP bill
ERP is designed to be avoidable — that's the whole point. Here are practical ways to spend less:
Time your departure
Rates change in half-hour blocks and the difference can be dramatic. Leaving home just 15 minutes earlier might move you from the $5 band to the $2 band. Similarly, departing 15 minutes later than peak can halve your charge. Check the rate schedule for your regular gantries and find the sweet spot — the traffic is often lighter in the shoulder periods too, so you gain time as well as money.
Use alternative routes
Not all roads leading to the same destination have gantries. Parallel surface roads are often gantry-free, though potentially slower. Sometimes a slightly longer route passes through one gantry instead of two, saving you $3–5 per trip. For instance, drivers heading to the CBD from the north can consider Lornie Road instead of the CTE to avoid the most expensive expressway gantry.
Park-and-ride
Drive to a suburban MRT station with cheap all-day parking (many HDB carparks near stations charge $3–5 per day), then take the train into the city. You skip all CBD cordon gantries, save on expensive CBD parking, and avoid the stress of navigating one-way streets downtown. This is especially effective if your commute crosses multiple gantries.
Take public transport during peak
The most straightforward way to pay $0 in ERP: leave the car at home during peak hours. A bus or MRT ride into the CBD costs $1.50–2.50 — often less than a single ERP gantry pass. If your workplace offers flexible arrangements, consider driving only on days with off-peak meetings.
Consolidate trips
If you pass gantries for multiple separate errands, batch them into one trip outside peak hours. ERP charges per pass — two trips through the same gantry means paying twice. Running all your CBD errands in a single afternoon visit after 7 PM costs nothing in ERP.
Visitors & rental cars
If you're visiting Singapore and renting a car, you don't need to worry about installing an IU — all rental cars come with a working IU pre-installed. Some rental agencies insert a stored-value card for you; others leave the slot empty and provide instructions to buy a CashCard at any petrol station or 7-Eleven.
ERP charges incurred during your rental are either deducted from the card in real time (if one is inserted and has sufficient balance), or billed to you by the rental company after the fact — typically with an administrative surcharge per violation. Ask your rental company about their specific ERP policy when collecting the vehicle.
Foreign-registered vehicles entering Singapore (such as Malaysian-registered cars crossing via the Causeway or Second Link) must carry a valid Autopass card in their IU. The IU can be rented or purchased at the checkpoints.
Tracking your ERP spending
Every ERP deduction is logged. You can review your transaction history through several channels:
- MyTransport.SG app — view your ERP transaction history, check gantry locations on a map, and see the current rate schedule for any gantry.
- IU card balance — your IU displays the remaining card balance after each deduction. A quick glance tells you if a top-up is needed.
- Monthly statements — if you use a motoring-linked credit card or NETS card, ERP charges appear in your monthly statement.
- LTA website — the full ERP rate table is published quarterly with effective dates, so you can plan ahead when rates change.
Quick reference
Free days
Sundays, public holidays, after hours
Cheapest peak times
Before 7:30 AM, after 9:30 AM (most gantries)
Most expensive
8:00–8:30 AM on CTE/CBD cordon
Motorcycle discount
~50% of car rate at all gantries
Insufficient balance penalty
ERP charge + $10 admin fee per offence
Rate reviews
Quarterly (Feb, May, Aug, Nov)
Skipping the CBD? Find parking near an MRT
Park-and-ride is the smartest way to avoid ERP gantries. SGHere shows you real-time parking availability at carparks across Singapore — find a spot near your station before you leave home.
Check parking availabilityERP rates and operating hours are set by the Land Transport Authority and reviewed quarterly. Information correct as of July 2026 — for the latest rates, visit the LTA or MyTransport.SG websites.