Singapore Car Rentals
Singapore is a small island state spread over a 283.5 sq mi/734.3km2 area. Although its public transit system is known for its effectiveness, rental cars in Singapore are widely preferred by visitors who are traveling with children or willing to explore the island at their own pace and enjoy independent journeys. On the other hand, taxis in Singapore are reliable and rather affordable. Still, they end up quite pricey if used for all the journeys around the island while being dependent on the traffic levels and featuring various surcharges. All in all, car hire in Singapore is highly recommended as the island’s road network is well-maintained, and local drivers drive carefully and respect the traffic laws.
Is it a Good Idea to Rent a Car in Singapore?
Overall, numerous travelers rent a car in Singapore, swayed by the pristine road network, the limited traffic levels, and the disciplined driving behavior of locals as compelling factors. Truth be told, the city of Singapore can easily be navigated via public modes of transit. Still, the small-sized island of Singapore is the perfect location to explore with a rental car. Verily, with a Singapore car rental, you’ll easily reach destinations such as the East Coast, the Singapore Zoo, or Sentosa Island without being dependent on the bus or train’s schedule or stressed about finding a Singapore taxi.
How to Rent a Car in Singapore?
Various car hire companies operate in Singapore. As a result, the available vehicle models and additional amenities are numerous, and the prices are kept within reasonable levels. Hence, if you want to find a cheap car rental in Singapore that still satisfies your needs and expectations, you’ll have to check out the deals of each agency and compare the provided offers. Once you make up your mind, you’ll swimmingly complete the booking process simply by following the given instructions and filling out the booking form. As soon as the reservation is done, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Please be sure to save the email, as it could serve as the voucher for your reservation.
Is it Easy to Rent a Car in Singapore?
Booking your Singapore car rental won’t trouble you much. As long as you search and compare the options, you’ll come up with a value-for-money rental vehicle. That being said, there are a few tips to add more comfort to your car hire experience and reduce the cost at the same time. Thus, you should:
- Book your rental car in Singapore as soon as possible. In that way, you’ll ferret out a wide number of available car models and benefit from lower prices and/or tempting deals.
- In general terms, the local Singapore car rental agencies are more affordable. Still, if you can’t decide on the preferred car hire provider, you can always take a look at previous customers’ reviews.
- The fuel-to-fuel policy is the way to go to save money on gas. Verily, Singapore car hire companies usually charge a lot for fuel.
- You’ll be charged for your rental car in Singapore per day. Actually per 24 hours. Hence, if you return your car during that time frame, you’ll avoid being charged for even an extra day!
- You’ll be held responsible for any damage done in the car rental during the rental period. Thus, you should take some picks of the vehicle before picking it up to have proof of existing damage.
- Off-airport pick-up locations are approximately 10% cheaper than pick-ups at Changi Airport.
- One-way car rental (picking up the car from one location and returning it to another) is an option. However, it usually comes with an extra fee. In that case, you should check whether the additional fee for drop-off at a different location exceeds or is less than the fuel cost (and the entailed hassle) required to return the car to the pick-up place.
- Additional products (GPS, luggage racks, additional driver, etc.) will optimize your traveling experience but also raise the cost of the rental car.
What Do I Need to Rent a Car in Singapore?
If you want to rent a car in Singapore, you’ll have to hand over your ID or passport and your driver’s license. A 1 or 2-year driving experience is usually required. Moreover, a credit card (the vast majority of Singapore car hire companies don’t accept payments in cash or via debit cards) in the main driver’s name will also be necessary. On the other hand, if your driving license isn’t written in English, you’ll have to issue an International Driving Permit as well. Still, members of the ASEAN association aren’t required to have an International Driving Permit or a translation of their driver’s license. Moreover, you might also have to show the confirmation email of your reservation.
Can a Foreigner Rent a Car in Singapore?
As long as foreign travelers have all the required documents (ID or passport, driver’s license, credit card, and an International Driving Permit if the license isn’t written in English), they can absolutely rent a car in Singapore. Please note that the International Driving Permit isn’t required for visitors coming from countries-members of the ASEAN association.
What is the Minimum Age to Rent a Car in Singapore?
The minimum age limit for rental cars in Singapore is 23 years of age. Still, some car hire agencies might rent some economy models to younger drivers. In any case, you can’t rent a car in Singapore if you are younger than 21. Moreover, some luxury car vehicles come with higher age limits. Thus, you’ll have to be at least 25 to rent some premium car categories. On the other hand, all young drivers (up to 25 years of age) pay an extra fee. As far as the maximum age limit is concerned, some car rental companies set a maximum limit of 69 years, whereas others accept reservations even if the driver is 70-74 years old.
How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car in Singapore?
The cost of a Singapore car rental ranges depending on the vehicle’s model, the rental duration, the time of the year, the extra amenities, etc. Furthermore, early bookings almost always come with lower prices. In any case, the usual cost of a small rental car in Singapore is around S$105/$78/€71.70-S$150/$111/€102.
What is the Best Car Rental in Singapore?
Although numerous travelers opt for convertibles to fully exploit Singapore’s tropical climate, most visitors prefer renting economy or compact cars to save money and make the parking process easier. However, Singapore car rental companies have fleets consisting of all types of vehicles (compacts, sedans, luxurious, SUVs, MPVs, etc.). Hence, you should choose the model that better suits your requirements. In any case, the most popular rental cars in Singapore are Chevrolet Sonic, Honda Fit, Mazda CX-5, and Toyota Corolla.
Can I Rent a Car in Singapore and Drive to Malaysia?
Several Singapore car rental companies allow travel outside Singapore’s borders, specifically to Malaysia. Still, this is not a rule. Therefore, if you are planning to explore the neighboring country of Malaysia as well during your journey in Singapore, it’s important to check the car hire company’s policy. Be sure to contact the company and check whether trips to Malaysia are allowed, as well as if an additional fee applies in that case.
What is Singapore’s Speed Limit?
The speed limit in Singapore is 50km/31mph in residential areas and 70km/h/43.5mph in non-urban areas. On the other hand, the speed limit on freeways is 90km/h/56 mph. Please keep in mind that the speed limit is even lower close to school zones. In any case, the traffic laws are enforced by local authorities and numerous speed cameras.
Can I Rent a Car Without Insurance?
Minimum insurance is already included in each Singapore car rental’s price. Still, if you want to be on the safe side in the unfortunate case of damage or accident and reduce your liability to a minimum, you should choose the full insurance package, even if that means raising the final cost of your rental car.
Where Can I Park my Car in Singapore?
In general terms, parking in Singapore is much easier than anticipated. Various car parks are scattered around the city, while even free parking is possible (at least during the non-rush hours of the day). As far as street parking is concerned, there are various designated areas in the city of Singapore. Please keep in mind that if you park your rental car in a non-parking zone, you’ll most probably get fined. Street parking is usually paid. Payments can be made via the Parking.sg app.
Tips & Hints about Singapore Car Rentals
- In Singapore, drivers drive on the left side of the road and overtake on the right.
- Turning left on a red light is illegal.
- Singapore’s road network is in excellent condition.
- Overall, drivers in Singapore drive carefully.
- The traffic levels in Singapore are overall tolerable. The Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system, a pay-as-you-go system, has a huge impact on traffic conditions. Verily, the electronic tolls (the above-the-road automatic “gantries”) impose a fee when driving in popular areas during peak hours.
- The ERP fees will be automatically charged to your credit card.
- You should keep your Singapore car rental documents inside the vehicle at all times.
- Local car hire companies are usually cheaper than international agencies.
- Some Singapore car hire companies can also provide their customers with NETS Cash Cards or Flashpay Cards (for a fee).
- Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers.
- Children must be seated in children’s seats.
- You mustn’t use your mobile phone while driving.
- The alcohol blood limit in Singapore is 0.08%.