Driving licence in Singapore
A driving licence in Singapore is required before a person is allowed to drive a motor vehicle of any description on a road in the country. Like many other countries in the world, an individual must possess a valid driving licence before being permitted to drive on the road, and driving licence holders are subject to all traffic rules. The minimum age to drive a motor vehicle and getting a Qualified Driving Licence in Singapore is 18 years old. The driving licence is for the normal lifespan of a person, but continued eligibility to drive requires a medical clearance after reaching the age of 65.
Learners can engage in one of the three operational driving schools or private driving instructors to learn. In an effort to professionalise driver education, no new licences for private driving instructors have been issued since 1987. For those who accumulated 13 demerit points and above within the one-year probationary period, the licence will be revoked. Driving licences in Singapore are administered by the Traffic Police of the Singapore Police Force.
Classes of driving licence
The classification of motor vehicles and eligibility of a driving licence in Singapore is as follows:| Class | Type | Minimum age | Notes |
| 1 | Invalid Carriages. | 18 | Only issued to those with physical disabilities, in lieu of other classes of licences |
| 2B | Motor cycles with an engine capacity not exceeding 200cc. Electric motor cycles with a power rating not exceeding 15 kW. | 18 | |
| 2A | Motor cycles with an engine capacity not exceeding 400cc. Electric motor cycles with a power rating not exceeding 25 kW. | 19 | Possession of Class 2B for at least one year, hence the minimum age is 19 years old. |
| 2 | Motor cycles with an engine capacity exceeding 400cc. Electric motor cycles with a power rating exceeding 25 kW. | 20 | Possession of Class 2A for at least one year, hence the minimum age is 20 years old. |
| 3 | Motor cars of unladen weight not exceeding 3,000 kg with not more than 7 passengers, exclusive of the driver; and Motor tractors and other motor vehicles of unladen weight not exceeding 2,500 kg | 18 | Manual and Automatic Transmissions. |
| 3A | Motor cars without clutch pedals of unladen weight not exceeding 3,000 kg with not more than 7 passengers exclusive of the driver; and Motor tractors and other motor vehicles without clutch pedals of unladen weight not exceeding 2,500 kg. | 18 | Automatic Transmission only. |
| 3C | Motor cars constructed solely and adapted to carry not more than 7 passengers and the weight of which unladen does not exceed 3,000 kilograms only. | 18 | Work Permit and S-Pass holders only need to pass the Basic Theory Test to convert their foreign driving licence to be allowed to drive all Class 3 vehicles except for light goods vehicles, mini vans and small buses. |
| 3CA | Motor cars without clutch pedals of unladen weight not exceeding 3,000 kg with not more than 7 passengers exclusive of the driver. | 18 | The Class 3CA licence is introduced to new drivers who only want to drive automated Class 3C vehicles. |
| 4A | Omnibus | 21 | Licence Holder must be working for a public bus company as a Bus Captain. Licence will be revoked once they leave the company. |
| 4 | Heavy motor vehicles of unladen weight exceeding 2,500 kg which are constructed to carry load or passengers. | 21 | Persons must hold a Class 3 Qualified Licence before applying for a Class 4 licence. The minimum age for driving this class of vehicles is 21 years old. |
| 5 | Heavy motor vehicles not constructed to carry any load and the unladen weight exceeds 7,250 kg. | 21 | Persons must hold a Class 4 Qualified Licence before applying for a Class 5 licence. The minimum age for driving this class of vehicles is 21 years old. |
Tests
Theory Tests
There are three main theory tests in Singapore. Theory tests are three choice multiple theory tests about different aspects of the road as well as the vehicle. Candidates must answer 45 questions correctly out of 50, and the questions are at random from a pool of hundreds on a selection of relevant topics based on the Basic & Final Driving and Riding Theory handbooks. Each theory test costs $6.50 to take, not including administrative fees set by each driving school. Practice sets for these tests are available on the police website.- Basic Theory Test — Valid for a lifetime unless revoked, suspended or disqualified by TP.
- Final Theory Test — Valid for 2 years unless revoked, suspended or disqualified by TP.
- Riding Theory Test — Valid for 1 year unless revoked, suspended or disqualified by TP. Motorcycle riding theory, additional requirement for Class 2B only.
Practical Tests
Unless performing a foreign licence conversion, this test is required for all learners to obtain a QDL. Passing this test entitles the candidate to hold a full driving licence. The driving test consists of two parts, a circuit and on-road section. The circuit contains different courses aimed at assessing driver skills in areas like parking, low speed controls, tight turns and hill starts. The road sections of the test tests the ability on how candidates interact with other road users and comply with traffic rules.In each driving school circuit, there are the following courses: Crank Course — Tests the candidates ability on low speed and steering wheel control through tight spaces. A separate course is used for motorcycles. 'S' Course — Tests the candidates ability on low speed control. Additional manoeuvres are penalised during the test. A separate course is used for motorcycles. Parallel Parking ' — Tests the candidates ability on how to parallel park. The maximum given time for parallel parking is 3 minutes. Vertical Parking ' — Tests the candidates ability on how to vertical park. The maximum given time for vertical parking is 5 minutes. Directional Change ''— Tests the candidates ability on how to change their ability to change directions within confined spaces. Reaction Test — Tests the candidates ability on how to manage accidental forward or backwards surging movement.Emergency Stop — Tests the candidates ability on how to stop a vehicle as quickly and safely as possible. Pylon Slalom — Tests the candidates skills on how to avoid emergency obstacles and hazards. The maximum time to complete this course is 6 seconds. Narrow Plank — Tests the candidates ability on keeping the motorcycle on a straight course at low speeds.
The on-road driving test is conducted on public roads around the driving schools, and learners will travel on routes that test their ability to interact with other road users, comply with traffic rules and perform road manoeuvres like U-Turns, right turns and left turns. In addition, should the examiner need to intervene for safety, this is constituted as a serious mistake and an 'immediate failure', and will constitute as a fail as described below.
Each test is conducted by an examiner appointed by the Traffic Police, who will record each candidates ability on both the circuit section and on-road section. Each mistake is marked and categorised into 'immediate failures' and 'demerit points', with more serious mistakes being the former. Should a candidate obtain one immediate failure or 20 demerit points, this will constitute as a failure on the test. Each test is recorded, and candidates may not enter the on-road section if they fail within the circuit. Candidates must produce their Provisional Driving License prior to the test.
Types of driving licence
Provisional driving licence — possessed by learners in driving schools or under private instructors. A PDL can only be applied after passing the BTT and paying $25, which can be taken at any of the established driving schools in Singapore. This restricted licence itself carries several restrictions, and failure to adhere to them will lead to an immediate revocation of the PDL.- * A certified driving instructor must be present to guide the learner driver.
- * A learner driver is not allowed to use expressways/semi-expressways, and are not allowed to enter certain central areas during peak hours. Learner drivers are also not allowed to enter certain recreation car parks and all public car parks.
- * A "L" plate must be visibly placed at the front and rear of the car.
- * A PDL is valid for 2 years from the date of grant and can be renewed subsequently for every 2 years. Prior to 1 December 2017, a PDL was valid for 6 months and renewable every 6 months.
- * People above the age of 65 will be required to pass a medical examination when they apply for or renew their PDLs.Qualified driving licence — full licence. Upon passing the practical driving test, the learner may now apply for a QDL for $50. The licence holder will subsequently undergo a 1-year probation period, in which they are required to display the high-visibility probationary licence plate which is triangular in shape, at the top right portion of the front windscreen and the rear windscreen, as seen from the outside of the vehicle. If the licence holder accumulates more than 12 demerit points within the probationary year, the licence will be revoked. Failure to display the probationary license plates will also cause the offending driver to receive a fine for the first time, then an immediate revocation of their license for the subsequent time.Vocational driving licence — a special driving licence for commercial vehicle drivers of taxis and buses. There are three types of VDL: bus driver vocational licence, private hire car driver vocational license, and taxi driver vocational licence. To apply for the bus driver vocational licence, the applicant must have a Class 3 Singapore driving licence with at least one year's driving experience, a clean driving and criminal record and be at least 21 years old. To apply for the taxi driver vocational licence, the applicant must be a Singapore citizen of at least 30 years of age and have a qualified Class 3 Singapore driving licence with at least one year's driving experience and a clean driving and criminal record. To apply for the private hire car driver vocational licence, the applicant must be a Singapore citizen of at least 30 years of age and have a qualified Class 3 Singapore driving licence with at least one years' driving experience and a clean driving and criminal record.
Conversion of overseas driving licence
Foreigners holding foreign driving licence and intend to remain in Singapore for less than 12 months and not seeking residency are not required to convert their foreign driving licence to a Singaporean driving licence. They may drive in Singapore with a valid foreign driving licence. However, if the licence is not in English, they are required to have an International Driving Permit even if the visit fulfil the above conditions.Foreigners from all Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states need to possess a valid driving licence but would not need to require an IDP to drive in Singapore under the ASEAN Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licenses.
To convert to a Singaporean driving licence, the foreigner is required to pass the BTT for familiarisation of traffic rules and Singapore's Highway Code pertaining to traffic related issues specific to Singapore. A Singaporean Permanent Resident who wishes to drive in Singapore is required to convert their foreign driving licence to a Singaporean one after becoming a PR or they will not be considered licensed to drive.