Ready to get your Singapore driving license? We’ve got you covered with a step-by-step guide.
So you’re looking to get behind the wheel of a car some time soon? We get that. Being able to hop into a car and cruise down the highways of a city as beautiful as Singapore can be dreamy. Plus, the convenience of being able to drive yourself around is unmatched. This means taking a trip up to Johor Bahru will be even easier! Whether you’ve just turned 18 or made the big move to the Lion City, here’s what you need to know about getting a driving license in Singapore.
How to get your driving license in Singapore
Getting your driving license in Singapore: The basics
Like anything in our city, you’ll have to fulfil a few requirements before moving forward. Only Singapore citizens and permanent residents above the age of 18 are allowed to apply for driving school in Singapore. For foreigners, you can get a Singaporean driving license if you fill either criteria – you’ve lived in Singapore for more than 12 months, or are employed as a driver with a valid work permit or S-pass.
Anyone with medical conditions or physical disabilities may need to provide additional forms and go through further assessments from driving testers before you can register at a driving school. The same goes for anyone above 65 years of age. After submitting your medical exams, you’ll either have your license validity extended, or you’ll be asked to revoke your license.
The steps to turn that foreign driving license into a Singapore one
The requirements for converting your foreign driving license vary depending on your living situation in Singapore, so buckle up!
For foreigners who have been living in Singapore for less than 12 months, you won’t need to convert your license as long as your current driving license is in English. If it isn’t, you’ll need an international driving permit to supplement your license. For those with a student pass, employment pass, and long-term visit pass, you must convert your license to a Singapore one once you’ve lived in Singapore for more than 12 months. However, for those holding work permits or S-passes, your licenses will need to be converted after six months.
The great news though – all you need to do to convert your driving license in Singapore is to pass the basic theory test (BTT). Once you’ve passed, you can apply for your conversion. Remember to bring your passport, original driving license, a passport size photo of yourself, supporting documents of your residency, and your BTT result slip. If you don’t have permanent residency status, be sure to keep an eye on the expiration date on your license too so you know when to renew it. You can apply for a renewal online under ‘e-services’ via the Singapore Police Force website.
Roadtrip requirement: Getting an international driving permit
International driving permits are a dream for when you drive overseas. Thankfully, the process of getting one isn’t convoluted. Simply visit the Automobile Association of Singapore’s website and you can apply for one online and have it delivered to you. If you need one urgently, you can also book an appointment to visit any of the association’s outlets to get one immediately.
The nitty gritty: Steps to getting your driving license in Singapore
Now that we’ve gotten all the basic details out of the way, let’s get into the finer details of what to expect and what you need to do to get your license.
First of all, you’ll need to register yourself at a registered driving centre. There are three you can pick from – Bukit Batok Driving Centre, Comfortdelgro Driving Centre, and Singapore Safety Driving Centre. From there, you can decide if you want to go with a private instructor or follow the school course.
Once you clear an eye and colour test, you can book your BTT. There are textbooks, online resources, and theory lessons to help cram you with all the information you need to pass. Private learners can also sign up for a trial theory test if you want to have a practice run before sitting for the real thing. When you achieve a 90% score, you can apply for your provisional driving license and start booking your practical lessons!
After clearing your final theory test (FTT) and simulator lessons, you can proceed to book your practical driving test. When you clear both the driving circuit and the public road components with a minimal number of penalty points, congrats! You’ve just scored yourself a Singapore driving license.
All in all, you should be prepared to invest around $1,500 to $2,500 to get your license. This cost assumes you don’t have to retake any major tests and take an average of 20 to 25 lessons.
Our top tips and other helpful info
Because you’ll be taking your BTT, FTT, and practical lessons at the driving centre, it’s highly recommended you pick one close to you for convenience. If you take a Class 3A license, you’re likely to clear lessons faster as there are fewer components to cover. However, Class 3A licenses only let you drive auto transmission vehicles. Class 3 licenses let you drive both auto and manual transmission, which can be more convenient if you’re planning to drive a car overseas. For those who decide to take a Class 3 license, don’t be discouraged if you fail your practical test the first few times. It’s surprisingly common.
Whether you should take your lessons with the driver’s centre or a private instructor is also a matter of preference. So do your research and consider your options before you decide which to go with. Driving centres need you to clear a minimum number of lessons before you can take your final two tests. However, most of the process is pretty straightforward when you go with the driving centres. It might take a while to source a private instructor that’s perfect for you. But private instructors allow more flexibility in your scheduling and the syllabus.
For those taking the driving centre route, keep in mind that you can only book a limited number of lessons a month. Our top tip is to book back-to-back lessons so you can clear your courses quicker without making multiple trips to the driving centre. Oh, and when you book your driving tests, we recommend picking times when there are fewer cars on the road to make it easier for you.
Ready to finally get your driving license in Singapore? Good luck!
