What LTA actually says about locks, covers and accessories on your ERP 2.0 OBU — and what really voids your warranty.
Short answer: Yes — a bolt-on OBU lock is legal in Singapore. LTA's rules target installing, relocating or rewiring the OBU itself, which must be done by an authorised workshop. A lock that clips over the existing unit — no removal, no relocation, no wiring — is an accessory, not a modification. It does not void the OBU's 5-year warranty, and it does not need LTA approval. MOTOLOCK is the only metal OBU lock in Singapore: 2mm SUS201 stainless steel, tamper-proof screws, real padlock mechanism, SGD 19.90.
Searching "is an OBU lock legal" usually means one of two things: you read something about LTA and authorised workshops and got worried, or a friend told you a lock will void your OBU warranty. This article gives you the straight answer, with exactly what LTA has said on the record.
In 2025, The Straits Times reported on motorcyclists moving their ERP 2.0 units to improve carpark detection. LTA's response, on the record:
Read that carefully. The rule is about who touches the OBU itself — who installs it, who relocates it, who handles it. It says nothing about accessories that attach to the outside of the unit.
Here is the distinction that matters, and it is the one almost no page on the internet makes:
A bolt-on OBU lock like MOTOLOCK installs in minutes with a screwdriver, over the existing unit, without disconnecting anything. The OBU stays exactly where the authorised workshop put it. That is the difference between a modification (regulated) and an accessory (not regulated).
For context: LTA has also said motorcyclists "may also customise their mounts at their own cost, after consulting an LTA authorised workshop on the requirements" — the system is built around the unit being handled properly, not around forbidding riders from adding things to their bikes.
Based on LTA's published statements, the warranty risks are:
A lock that clips over the front of the unit, leaves the sensors and vents clear, and can be removed in under a minute without tools touching the OBU — none of those apply. If you ever need to service the OBU, take the lock off first (quick release: under 2 seconds) and the unit is exactly as the workshop installed it.
This is the other question riders ask, because the OBU's card slot has to keep working for ERP and carpark payments. A properly designed lock does not block the slot — it covers it while locked, and gives you quick access when you need the card:
No removal of the OBU, no tools, no delay at the carpark gantry. The OBU keeps working exactly as installed — the lock just decides who can reach the card.
Yes. A bolt-on lock is an accessory, not an OBU modification. LTA's authorised-workshop rule covers installing or relocating the OBU itself — not accessories that attach over it. No approval is needed.
No — as long as it is a bolt-on accessory that does not remove, relocate, rewire or open the unit. LTA has said the 5-year warranty can be voided when the OBU is "handled by unauthorised workshops" — that means installs and relocations, not a lock clipped over the front.
Yes. Installing a bolt-on lock is like fitting a phone mount — a screwdriver, a few minutes, no wiring, no disassembly of the OBU. The authorised-workshop rule does not apply to accessories. Step-by-step install guide here.
No. LTA does not approve or register accessories like locks, covers or mounts. There is no approval process because there is nothing to approve — the OBU itself is untouched.
MOTOLOCK is an independent accessory — it is not an LTA device and is not affiliated with LTA, so there is no LTA approval to seek. It is a bolt-on lock box that fits standard Singapore OBU units without modifying them.
MOTOLOCK is the only OBU lock in Singapore that is full 2mm SUS201 stainless steel with tamper-proof screws and a real padlock mechanism — the only real lock, not a plastic cover. Bolt-on install, no OBU modification, quick release in under 2 seconds.
One-time purchase. SGD 19.90. Top up $120, leave it in, forget about it.
BUY MOTOLOCK — $19.90