It’s best to avoid getting a parking ticket in Singapore to minimize hassles and unplanned expenses.

But if the dreaded white paper is already stuck under your wipers by the time you get back to your car from a quick errand, you would need to know how to navigate the situation. 

The ideal scenario is that you’ll get off the hook, while the worst is getting summoned to court (yikes)!

Wherever you end up, you can refer to this detailed guide on how to deal with parking ticket situations in The Lion City. The country has a plethora of rules to adhere to, so a refresher won’t hurt!

Can you appeal a parking ticket in Singapore?

Appealing a parking ticket in Singapore is doable but only if your case is convincing and strong enough. 

A parking fine is often waived if your violation has something to do with a medical emergency or if you’re a first-time offender. 

Outside of these situations, your appeal’s chances of success will be slimmer.

Inside This Guide to Parking Tickets in Singapore

• How to Deal with a Parking Ticket in Singapore
• How to Pay for a Parking Ticket in Singapore
• How to Avoid Getting a Parking Ticket in Singapore

To fully equip you in the event that you find yourself with a parking ticket in Singapore, we’ll talk about ways to appeal your case. 

And if you aren’t successful, we’ll give you information on fines that await you, how you can pay them, plus pieces of advice so you won’t end up being summoned to court.

Lastly, we’ll give you tips on how to avoid committing a parking violation in Singapore altogether so you won’t have to deal with parking tickets in the first place! 

How to Deal with a Parking Ticket in Singapore

You can deal with a parking ticket in Singapore in two ways– either file an appeal or simply pay the fine. 

If it’s the former, you’ll have to consider a few factors before lodging your appeal.

How do I appeal a parking fine in Singapore? 

Appealing a parking fine in Singapore involves the following steps:

1. Know what organization gave you the fine
2. Secure photo and documentary evidence
3. Write your explanation
4. Fill out the relevant appeal form
5. Wait for the response

1. Know what organization gave you the fine

When you’re appealing a parking fine in Singapore, you need to know what organization gave you the ticket first. This way, you will be sure to whom you’ll address your plea.

You can find the name of the organization on the ticket.

Organizations that fine parking violators in Singapore include the Land Transportation Authority (LTA), Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Housing Development Board (HDB), and the town council.

2. Secure photo and documentary evidence

Once you realize that you’ve been fined, try to get a photo of your situation that can support your explanation. Your in-car camera footage may also help with your case.

For medical emergencies, documentary evidence from the hospital may raise the success of your appeal.

3. Write your explanation

An explanation about why you’re contesting the parking ticket is required when lodging an appeal. 

Your explanation should convince the case reviewer that you deserve the waiving of fees, so ensure that you write it as honestly, clearly, and politely as possible.

How do you write a letter appealing a parking fine in Singapore?

To write a letter appealing a parking fine in Singapore, follow these tips:

Create a draft first. Include in your draft all essential details about yourself and the parking offense in question. 

That way, the reviewer will have an easier time locating your case. 

Also, acknowledge your mistake with honesty. 

Alternatively, aim for a professional and respectful tone if you want to explain that the error is on the fining officer’s end.

You should also explain why you had to violate parking rules and be as straightforward and sincere about it. Elicit a bit of sympathy if your situation warrants it (e.g. your relative was rushed to the hospital or you lack money to pay for the fine).

That said, avoid overdoing the storytelling, or the reviewer might think that you’re just making a long-winded, convoluted excuse!

Once you finish your draft, go over it and correct any errors. Have a friend or relative check the draft for you so you can get a fresh perspective.

What is the best excuse to appeal a parking ticket in Singapore?

The best excuse when appealing a parking ticket in Singapore is the one that organizations consider to be a “good” reason. 

For instance, URA and LTA consider medical emergencies and wrongly issued parking tickets as the only acceptable cases for an appeal. 

On the other hand, HDB has more leeway, provided that you are able to explain your case well and provide convincing proof. 

4. Fill out the relevant appeal form

In conjunction with writing your explanation is filling out the appeal forms. Fortunately, you can access them online by checking the pertinent organization’s website.

Check out this online form to reach out to the LTA or this one for URA. The HDB’s form can be accessed here.

Note that you need to lodge your appeal within 14 days from the day you received the notice. Confirm the time frame by checking the period stipulated on your ticket.

A word of caution: You might be put off by URA’s appeal portal, as it explicitly says that the majority of appeals lodged to them are rejected (ouch)! 

If the ticket is given by the town council, it’s more convenient to visit their office and fill out the appeal form in person. Not all councils provide an online portal for parking fines.

5. Wait for the response

After lodging your appeal, all you need to do is wait for the outcome. The process should take 2 to 6 weeks, depending on your case. 

Don’t worry about the deadlines for fines too. You will not be required to pay anything until a decision on your appeal is made!

Lodging an appeal for a parking fine requires a bit of effort on your end, but it’s worth doing if you believe that your ticket is unwarranted. 

Do prepare yourself and your wallet, though, as the possibility that you will pay the parking fine is high. 

How to Pay for a Parking Ticket in Singapore

To pay for a parking ticket in Singapore, you need only to access the fining organization’s website and settle your dues online. 

The exception is when you’re paying parking fines slapped by the town council. As prices differ per location and not all have an online payment portal, it’s better to settle your ticket in person.

Though, we admit that such payments, online or not, are not favorable to your wallet! 

How much is a parking fine in Singapore?

A parking fine in Singapore can cost anywhere from $4 to $400 and up, depending on the parking offense and your vehicle type. 

Your location also affects the exact cost, as different authorities are assigned to different car parks and roads across the island country. The fines the organizations impose differ to some degree. 

Here are some of the parking offenses and the penalties that Singaporean authorities implement.

Fines by the Land Transportation Authority (LTA)

It’s worth knowing that LTA sets a deadline for paying parking fines and will add $20 to the amount if you fail to pay on time. If you don’t pay, you will be summoned to court and will have to deal with higher fines.

The organization classifies parking offenses as either worth a fine only or worth a fine and a demerit point for the offending driver.

Each offense under the latter classification equates to multiple demerit points, which will likely hurt your driving record in Singapore.

An important fact: Under the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS), a motorist with no prior suspension record will be suspended if they accumulate 24 demerit points and up within 24 months. The suspension will last 3 months.

All motorists without prior offense start at 0 points. You can check your demerit points status online via the Singapore Police Force’s website.

How long does it take for demerit points to clear in Singapore?

It will take 12 months to clear your accrued demerit points from traffic violations in Singapore. 

Note that you should be free from any relevant offenses within the said period to be cleared.

LTA Fines for Illegal Parking Offenses (Fines Only)

Here is a list of the offenses fined by LTA (without demerit points).

Offense	Light Vehicle	Heavy Vehicle
Non-compliance to the “no stopping” or “no waiting” sign	$70 / $110*	$100 / $150
Failing to stop parallel with and close to the edge of the left-hand side of the road	$70 / $110	$100 / $150
Stopping in a way that will cause unnecessary obstruction to other motorists	$70 / $110	$100 / $150
Stopping without facing the direction in which the traffic moves	$70 / $110	$100 / $150
Stopping on the right side of a two-way road	$70 / $110	$100 / $150
Parking on a road with an unbroken white line or unbroken double white lines	$70 / $110	$100 / $150
Parking on a road with an unbroken yellow line or unbroken double yellow lines	$70 / $110	$100 / $150
Parking on the grass verge of the road	$70 / $110	$100 / $150
Parking on a slip road, filter lane, fly-over, or underpass	$70 / $110	$100 / $150
Parking on the footway of the road	$70 / $110	$100 / $150
Parking a heavy vehicle on a non-designated parking space	–	$100 / $150
Stopping in a way that will cause danger to other road users	$300 / $450	$300 / $450
Stopping or parking on a taxi stop or stand	$50 / $80	$80 / $120
Stopping on a central divider of an expressway	$70 / $110	$100 / $150

*Repeat offenders pay the higher fine

LTA Fines for Illegal Parking Offenses (with Demerit Points)

Here is a list of parking violations fined by LTA along with the equivalent demerit points.

Offense	Light Vehicle	Heavy Vehicle	Demerit Points
Parking within a pedestrian crossing	$120 / $180*	$150 / $230	3
Parking on a road with a single yellow zig-zag line or on the adjacent footpath	$120 / $180	$150 / $230	3
Stopping on a road with double yellow zig-zag lines or on the adjacent footpath	$120 / $180	$150 / $230	3
Parking abreast another vehicle and causing unnecessary obstruction	$120 / $180	$150 / $230	3
Stopping in a zebra-controlled area	$120 / $180	$150 / $230	3
Stopping on a carriageway, shoulder, or verge of an expressway	$130 / $200	$160 / $240	4

*Repeat offenders pay the higher fine

Fines by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) 

Fines imposed by the URA are based on Singapore’s Parking Places Rules. Here are some of the offenses and corresponding fines for your reference.

URA Fines for Parking Lot Offenses 

Offense	Motorcycle	Car	Heavy Vehicle
Parking other than in a parking lot	$35	$70	$100
Using a parking place for unauthorized purposes	$100 – $400 or charge in court	$100 – $400 or charge in court	$100 – $400 or charge in court
Parking in a parking place not designated for the vehicle’s use	$35	$70	$100
Parking against traffic flow	$35	$70	$100
Not obeying signs posted in the parking place	$35	$70	$100
Parking beyond the parking lot’s boundaries	$35	$70	$100
Parking or stopping in a way that causes obstruction	$35	$70	$100
Failure to obey lawful directions given by Parking Wardens	$35	$70	$100
Parking in a season parking place without a valid season parking ticket	$35	$70	$100
Unauthorized parking in a reserved parking lot	$35	$70	$100
Unauthorized parking in an accessible parking lot	$200	$200	$200

URA Fines for Coupon and Digital Parking Offenses

Offense	Motorcycle	Car	Heavy Vehicle
Parking without displaying valid coupons and no digital parking session	$8	$40	$50
Parking without displaying valid coupons or displaying an insufficient amount of coupons	$8 / $80*	$40 / $80	$50 / $80
Failure to display coupons in a clear and visible manner	$8	$40	$50
Displaying a parking coupon with the time of commencement indicated ahead of actual time parking	–	$40	$80
Parking after the expiry of a parking session for half an hour or less	$4	$8	$16
Parking after the expiry of a parking session for more than an hour	$4	$24	$48
Displaying altered, erased, or tampered coupons	$400 / $600 or charge in court	$400 / $600 or charge in court	$400 / $600 or charge in court
Failure to produce coupons for inspection and retention	$400 or charge in court	$400 or charge in court	$400 or charge in court

*Repeat offenders pay the higher fine

Fines by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) 

The HDB imposes parking fines based on the country’s Parking Places Rules, with a mix of penalties for motorists parking on shared properties. 

Here are some of the parking offenses and corresponding fines under HDB’s jurisdiction that you should know.

HDB Fines for Parking Lot Offenses

Offense	Motorcycle	Car	Heavy Vehicle
Failure to pay parking charge at the payment station before leaving the parking place	$35	$70	$100
Drawing/driving/pushing/parking in a disorderly manner without regard for the safety of other people and vehicles	$35	$70	$100
Pushing or removing vehicle without the owner or driver’s permission	$35	$70	$100
Entering a parking place other than through the designated access	$35	$70	$100
Leaving a parking place other than through the designated exit	$35	$70	$100
Repairing or allowing repairs of a vehicle in a parking place	$80	$80	$80
Using a vehicle within a parking place for sale or promoting the sale of any kind of goods	$80	$80	$80
Cauing or allowing a vehicle to be washed in a parking place	$80	$80	$80
Unauthorized parking in a reserved parking lot or parking without displaying an authorized label	$35 / $200*	$70 / $200	$100 / $200
Displaying any altered, erased, or tampered authorization	$300	$300	$300
Failure to produce the authorization when demanded inspection and retention	$300	$300	$300

*Repeat offenders pay the higher fine

HDB Fines for Coupon Parking Offenses

Offense	Motorcycle	Car	Heavy Vehicle
Selecting a wrong car park (of a lower parking charge) for a parking session	$8	$40	$50
Selecting a wrong vehicle class (of a lower parking charge) for a parking session	–	$40	$50
Displaying altered, erased, or tampered coupons	$80 / $400 / $600*	$80 / $400 / $600*	$80 / $400 / $600*

*Repeat offenders pay the higher fine

HDB Fine for Common Property and Open Spaces Offense

Offense	Motorcycle	Car	Heavy Vehicle
Illegal parking in common property	$100	$100	$100

How do I pay a parking fine in Singapore?

You can pay your parking fine in Singapore by transacting through the pertinent online payment portal. The LTA, URA, and HDB each have an e-service to process your payments.

You can pay your fine to LTA here, to URA here or here, and to HDB here. 

You can also refer to this list of payment modes accepted by each e-service to prepare your cards and top-ups accordingly.

Organization	Payment Mode
LTA	– SGQR Paynow – eNETS debit – Credit card or debit card (VISA and MasterCard only) – Apple Pay – Google Pay – Pay Pal
URA	– eNETS debit – Credit card or debit card (VISA and MasterCard only)
HDB	– Credit card – Direct debit

The three agencies also accept payments via AXS stations, Singapore’s self-service kiosks that you can use to pay bills and fines. There are over 600 stations available across the country.

Alternatively, the HDB allows fine payments by cheque or cash.

Is there an app to pay a parking fine in Singapore?

To pay a parking fine in Singapore via mobile app, you can download the AXS m-Station. The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

Type “AXS payment” to search for the app in Google Play or App Store.

What happens if you can’t afford to pay a parking fine in Singapore?

If you can’t afford to pay a parking fine in Singapore and the due date lapses, you may face the following:

• Higher amount of fine payable
• Court action 

Agencies overseeing parking violations in Singapore offer an initial composition fine so you can settle your ticket within a minimum of 3 days from the date you received the notice. If you fail to do so, the composition fine you’d pay will be higher. 

Or you will be summoned to court and would have to pay court fines, which will come in a significantly higher amount.

That said, you have options to avoid paying or to make the payment easier on your wallet.

• Appeal your case. Contesting your parking notice will help delay payment dues. If your appeal is accepted, you will not have to pay for anything. 

If it isn’t, you will have bought time to look for money to pay the fine.

• Request to pay in installments. You can try applying for a request to pay your fine in installments, subject to the concerned agency’s rules and requirements.

• Seek financial assistance. If all else fails, you might want to consider applying for a loan so you can settle your ticket on time. 

There are credit agencies in Singapore that offer particular loans for fine payments (such as iCredit).

Ensure that you can pay the loan by the due date, though, or you risk more money problems down the road!

How to Avoid Getting a Parking Ticket in Singapore

Paying parking fines in Singapore is an expensive affair, so it’s best to avoid it altogether.

Consider our tips on how to park your vehicle without breaking the rules so that no parking ticket can ruin your day! 

1. Pay for parking and park in the proper parking areas
2. Watch out for the road markings
3. Memorize where to not park
4. Display your parking coupon so that it’s viewed clearly
5. Take advantage of free parking periods

1. Pay for parking and park in the proper parking areas

You can lower your risk of getting a ticket if you park your vehicle in the proper parking areas and pay the fees like a good citizen. 

The only stopping acceptable on Singapore’s roads is when you are setting down people, goods, or luggage. 

Stopping by the roadside to buy ice cream, chat with a friend, or any kind of stop that will take more than a few minutes (and with the authorities or security cameras nearby) may be considered illegal parking, with staggering fines to boot.

Fortunately, you can look for parking locations using the Parking.SG app. Moreover, you can use it to pay for your parking coupons.

And speaking of parking coupons…

2. Display your parking coupon so that it’s viewed clearly

Ensure that the roving parking attendant can see your coupons clearly from your car’s dashboard or from any conspicuous place on your motorcycle, or risk paying up to $50. 

The date and start time stipulated on your coupons should also match the time your vehicle is parked in the area. 

Forget about altering or tampering with coupons too. You’ll end up paying $300 or being summoned to court if you’re unsuccessful! 

3. Watch out for the road markings

Watch out for straight and zigzag yellow and white lines on the road. You can’t park in these areas at any time! 

The only exception is parking on roads with a single yellow line, which is allowed any day between 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM excluding Sundays and public holidays.

4. Memorize where not to park

Aside from watching out for road markings, you should also avoid parking near fire hydrants, intersections, bus stops, pick-up bays, and pedestrian crossings. In other words, don’t cause any inconvenience to road users!

Also, check what areas the agencies consider off-limits before parking anywhere within their jurisdiction.

5. Take advantage of free parking periods 

Paying for parking can be a hassle at times. Thankfully, there are places in Singapore where you can park your vehicle for free.

That said, you need to look for these parking havens yourself. The Internet is your friend though!

How do I get free parking in Singapore?

You can get free parking in Singapore by searching for parks, shopping malls, neighborhoods, and other public places that offer it. 

Many of these car park areas are free all day, while some are open during lunch hours or on an hourly basis.

Be sure to check your online map first to locate free car parks before driving to your destination!

What time is parking free in Singapore?

Free parking times in Singapore vary from place to place. Some parks offer free parking every day, while others allow parking from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM only. 

A few places allow half a day of free parking too.

Check the information about parking at your destination so you can plan your driving itinerary accordingly.