Grab, Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing and services app, has been awarded the first Cross-Border Ride-Hail Service Operator Licence (CRSOL) under the enhanced Cross-Border Taxi Scheme jointly introduced by Singapore’s Ministry of Transport and Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport. The license enables Grab to launch a regulated cross-border taxi booking service via its app.
Under the new framework, Grab started on May 4, 2026, a cross-border taxi service connecting any point in Singapore with selected areas in Malaysia, including Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Forest City, Kulai, and Senai. Branded as Cross-Border SG–JB (Beta), the service is designed to improve travel across one of the world’s busiest land border corridors.
The pilot will roll out gradually starting May 4, 2026, with further expansion expected as more licensed taxis join the programme and operational feedback is incorporated.
Advance booking and fixed fares
A key feature of the new service is advance booking, allowing passengers to schedule rides between 12 hours and up to seven days in advance directly through the Grab app.
Fares will be fixed upfront at the time of booking, based on existing regulated cross-border taxi pricing. To encourage adoption during the pilot phase, Grab will offer an introductory discount of up to 20%.
The service supports both 4-seater and 6-seater vehicles, including premium options aimed at families, business travelers, and group commuters.
The new system introduces also door-to-door travel, enabling passengers to book rides from any location in Singapore to any destination within the designated Malaysian operating zones.
However, due to regulatory requirements, return-trip pick-ups for cross-border taxis remain restricted. Licensed drivers may only pick up passengers from approved fixed locations when returning to their home country after completing cross-border trips.
Singapore-licensed taxis returning from Malaysia may pick up passengers from:
- Toppen Shopping Centre
- Mid Valley Southkey Mall
- Angsana Mall
- Larkin Sentral Terminal
Malaysia-licensed taxis returning from Singapore may pick up passengers from:
- Near VivoCity
- Near Century Square Shopping Mall
- Joo Koon MRT station
- Ban San Street Terminal
Safety, insurance, and platform features
Grab’s cross-border service integrates its standard safety and platform features, including:
- 24/7 in-app safety tools such as AudioProtect and trip monitoring
- Emergency SOS support during journeys
- Mandatory insurance coverage extensions for all cross-border passengers
These measures are intended to ensure continuity of safety protections across international journeys.
In 2026, Singapore and Malaysia will issue 300 cross-border taxi licences per country, expanding participation in the scheme and improving service availability.
Grab has already begun onboarding licensed drivers, including operators from its newly launched taxi fleet, GrabCab. Some GrabCab drivers have received additional authorisation from Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Agency, allowing them to operate cross-border services.
The company has also introduced back-end improvements to streamline cross-border earnings management, including multi-currency handling and simplified compliance with regulatory requirements across both markets.
