Licensed Cross-Border Cabbies Losing to Unlicensed Door-to-Door Rides

For licensed cabbies working the Singapore-Johor Bahru route, each day feels like a longer wait for fewer passengers. 

The biggest competitors are not other taxis, but unlicensed drivers offering cheaper, door-to-door trips that skip the official terminals entirely.

Official rules restrict cross-border taxis to fixed pick-up and drop-off points, making them far less convenient than private cars that can collect passengers from home and drop them anywhere across the Causeway.

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) says about 300 licensed cross-border taxis are still operating. 
Enforcement has ramped up and 19 illegal vehicles were seized recently, with patrols stepped up at busy spots like Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay. 

Still, drivers say demand remains weak despite over half a million people crossing the border daily.

“They’re stealing my passengers, my livelihood,” said Singaporean driver Mohamed Yazid.

Transport experts point to convenience as the deciding factor for passengers. 

“What people want is to be picked up at their doorstep and dropped off exactly where they’re going,” said Associate Professor Walter Theseira of the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
Some passengers stick with licensed taxis for safety, but many avoid them due to rigid routes and fixed fares. Proposals to let licensed drivers use ride-hailing apps and expand operating areas are gaining attention.

Johor’s Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Onn Hafiz Ghazi has even suggested opening up cross-border ride-hailing to boost tourism ahead of Visit Johor 2026. But cabbies warn more competition without more passengers could hurt their income. 

Source: Malay Mail.