Drive In Singapore

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Top 5 rules of driving in Singapore safely and legally during COVID-19 Circuit Breaker period

when to drive, when to wear a mask, where to park and to go.

Drive a car in Singapore, Own a car in Singapore

Top 5 rules of driving in Singapore safely and legally during COVID-19 Circuit Breaker period

During the COVID-19 Circuit Breaker period (now, till June 1, 2020), you need to follow some new rules and regulations (in addition to the existing rules, e.g., speed limit) to drive in Singapore.

Some of these rules may be vague because they were tabled without extensive debating or deliberating and may be revised when the pandemic situation changes.

This post summarizes the top 5 rules of driving in Singapore safely and legally during COVID-19 Circuit Breaker period for private car drivers: when to drive, when to wear a mask, when it is unnecessary to wear a mask, where to park if you drive to exercise, and where to go for exercises.

Taxi drivers, private-hire car drivers, and delivery car drivers have to follow some specific rules and therefore are NOT covered in this post.

Please also note, you are not allowed to drive north to Malaysia during this period. Malaysia has closed the two checkpoints (Sultan Iskandar Complex and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex) for Singapore private drivers since March 18.  Movement Control Order has been extended to May 12, 2020.

Rule #1: Stay at home unless you really need to go out

The purpose of the COVID-19 Circuit Breaker is to minimize or slow down the spreading of the virus in the communities in Singapore.

To keep you safe, you should try to stay at home. Once you step out of the door, you may expose yourself to the virus.

Of course, if you have to go out, for example, to buy groceries, to see a doctor, to fetch your family member who has to work, then you are allowed to go out and drive.

Based on the latest recommendations and regulations, you have to wear a mask once you leave your home, or leave your car.  … Read the rest

Understand COE Price by 10 Simple Questions

Everything you need to know about car COE in Singapore

Drive a car in Singapore, Own a car in Singapore

COE price history

If you plan to buy a car (even a pre-owned car) in Singapore, you cannot avoid the COE (Certificate of Entitlement). It is part of the car price you have to pay. But many people find it is hard to understand the COE price, as shown above.

So, instead of a lengthy explanation which usually causes more confusions, I think these 10 questions can help you understand COE price fluctuations easily.

Is COE an investment or disposable product?

COE (Certificate of Entitlement)  is definitely NOT an investment, although the price fluctuates as stocks do.

The value of your COE depreciates from the day you register the car.  Each day, you lose about 0.027% of the COE price you paid. Every COE shares the same depreciation rate, but not the absolute value obviously. So, some car owners lose more money each day than others.

For example, if you get the COE at the price of $30000, you will lose $8.1 every day. If you got it at $60000, congratulations, you lose about $16.2 per day.

After 10 years, the value of all COEs regardless of your cost of getting the COE will be $0.

So, COE is not an investment.

In fact, COE is a disposable product:

  • It can only be used for up to 10 years.
  • It can only be used once.

Can I buy a second-hand COE?

One COE can and MUST be tied to one car only.  In other words, once used, the COE becomes an essential part of the vehicle.

So, you cannot sell a COE without selling the car. Similarly, you cannot buy a second-hand COE without purchasing the car.

For this reason, there is a market for second-hand cars in Singapore. But there is no market for the second-hand COE.

An imported second-hand car needs … Read the rest

How to convert a foreign driving license to a Singapore driving license?

Get to know the requirements of conversion of foreign driving license to Singapore one

Drive a car in Singapore

How to convert a foreign driving license to a Singapore driving license?If you are holding a foreign driving license, you may be required to convert the driving license to a Singapore license to drive legally in Singapore.

Of course, there are some exceptions.

This driving in Singapore guide explains who can (and who cannot) use a foreign driving license to drive in Singapore, and the requirements and procedures for converting a foreign driving license to a Singapore driving license.

Who can use a foreign driving license to drive in Singapore?

Although cars are exceptionally expensive in Singapore, many people are willing to pay the price for conveniences.

Generally speaking, you need a Singapore driving license to drive in Singapore.  All Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents MUST have a valid Singapore driving license to drive in Singapore.

But as an internationalized city-state, Singapore does allow a certain group of foreign drivers to use their valid foreign driving license to drive in Singapore.  For example,

  • Foreign visitors, social visitor pass (SVP) holders, short-term pass holders can use a valid foreign driving license to drive in Singapore.
  • Holders of long-term pass including Student Pass (STP), Employment Pass (EP), long-term visit pass (LTVP) and Dependent’s Aass (DP) can use their foreign driving licenses to drive in Singapore for up to 12 months.  The 12-month period is calculated from the date of your last entry into Singapore (before getting the pass), NOT from the date of issuance of the Pass.
  • Holders of Work Permit (WP) and S-Pass who are employed as a driver (or driving is part of the job) can use their foreign driving licenses to drive in Singapore for up to 6 months.  This 6-month period is calculated from the date of issuance of the pass.

Of course, in all cases, … Read the rest

How to get a Touch ‘n Go card as a Singapore driver?

Ways for Singapore drivers to get a Malaysian Touch 'n Go card

Drive to Malaysia

Ways for Singapore drivers to get a Touch 'n Go cardIf you plan to drive north to Malaysia, you need to get a Touch ‘n Go card to pay the Malasia road charge (RC) in the immigration counter and pay expressway tolls.

For Malaysians, it is simple and easy to get a Touch ‘n Go card. Just imagine how easy we can get an EZ-link card in Singapore.

But it is very inconvenient for Singapore drivers to get a Touch ‘n Go card in Singapore.

This driving to Malaysia guide explains different ways for Singapore drivers to get a Touch ‘n Go card, including getting the card in Singapore and upon arriving at Malaysia.

Why is Touch ‘n Go card not sold in Singapore?

Plain and simple, Touch ‘n Go card is not allowed to sell in Singapore due to related financial regulations.

A special agreement or a permit is needed if Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd intends to sell the card in Singapore. Due to the market size, I guess Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd does not bother.

This creates a problem for Singapore drivers: they need to get a Touch ‘n Go card to enter Malaysia, but they cannot get it outside of Malaysia.

As mentioned in Malaysia VEP guide, you can use Touch ‘n Go eWallet to pay the RM20 road charge if you get the VEP tag.  You can reload the Touch ‘n Go eWallet through the app.

The remaining issue is that you still need a Touch ‘n Go card for the trip to collect the VEP tag, which can only be collected in Malaysia.

Of course, there are some (not just one)  solutions to this issue.

How to get a Touch ‘n Go card in Singapore?

Although Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd cannot sell the card in Singapore, Singaporeans, as … Read the rest

What is covered in the car warranty in Singapore? What is not?

Understand the coverage of car warranty in Singapore and the fine print in the car warranty booklet

Drive a car in Singapore, Maintain and service a car in Singapore, Own a car in Singapore

Understand the coverage of car warranty in Singapore and the fine print in the car warranty bookletCompared to other products, the warranty of your car is usually more complicated.  The coverage of car warranty may vary depending on the dealers/brands and the “timing” you purchased the car.

In Singapore, the pro-business laws and regulations tend to give dealers the advantages in “defining” the terms and conditions of the warranty in Singapore.

This driving in Singapore guide explains the typical coverage of car warranty in Singapore, and the caveats and even traps in the terms and conditions of most Singapore car warranty policies.

Warranty coverage in Singapore: it’s more complicated than you thought

If you think car warranty from all car dealers in Singapore is identical, then you are wrong, deadly wrong.

Singapore does not have the regulations on compulsory coverage of car warranty except the 3rd party coverage. It is up to the market (and eventually the car dealer) to “offer”.

On the bright side, this creates some sorts of competition among car dealers. Some of them may offer better warranty coverage to attract new customers.

But on the dark side, the car dealers may use exaggerated words or the fine print to mislead the car buyers. The lemon law, section 12A-12F of the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (CPFTA), is not a strong weapon for car buyers when disputes on car warranty arise.

In Singapore, there is NO standard (or basic or compulsory) coverage of car warranty:

  • Each dealer may offer different coverage and terms and conditions of the warranty.
  • From the same dealer, different coverage and terms may be offered for different cars.
  • From the same dealer, and for the same car, different coverage and terms may be offered at a different time.

So, as a car owner, you need to know the coverage and the strings attached.

Some car dealers in … Read the rest

What is the Singapore Road Speed Limit?

Get to know the different speed limits of different roads and penalties for speeding in Singapore

Drive a car in Singapore

Singapore road speed limitIf you “assume” you know the speed limit of Singapore roads, you may end up spending.

This driving in Singapore guide explains the different Singapore road speed limits to help you drive safely in Singapore.

Why do you need to know the Singapore road speed limit?

Just like many other countries, Singapore imposes the maximum allowed speed on all roads.

All vehicles, except fire engines, ambulances, police cars, SCDF cars, and government cars that are on duty,  must not exceed the gazetted speed limit for that road or that section of the road.

Different roads and different sections of a road may have different speed limits. In school zones, the speed limit depends on the time.

The penalty for speeding in Singapore is severe (read on).

Besides, keeping your vehicle within the speed limit can help keep you safe on the road.

To avoid speeding penalty and your own safety, you need to know the speed limit of Singapore roads.  For example, many drivers assume 90km/h is the speed limit in expressways in Singapore. Actually, in some sections, the speed limit is 70km/h or 80km/h.  Similarly, some roads in Singapore have a speed limit of 40km/h, instead of the well-known 50km/h.

What is the “default” Singapore road speed limit?

By law, the default speed limit of Singapore roads is 50km/h if the speed limit of that road is not gazetted.

But do not assume.

What are the different speed limits of Singapore roads?

school zone: different speed limits of Singapore roadsIn school zones, the speed limit is reduced to 40km/h in the morning ( from 6.30 am to 7.45 am), afternoon ( from 12.00 pm to 2.30 pm)  and evening (from 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm) on school days. During this period, you will see the  “40km/h When Lights Flash” sign flashing as shown in … Read the rest

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