Places to take your drivers test near me

Closing times listed do not always reflect applicants will be accepted up to that time. Due to workloads, it may be necessary to cease taking applicants earlier in order to complete processing by the end of the business day.

Attention:

Hours of operation may vary. Some exam sites are staffed with one examiner. Normally for those sites, written testing is done in the morning and scheduled drive tests are conducted in the afternoon. If the examiner is out of the office conducting a drive test, phone calls will not be answered. Calling ahead, preferably in the mornings, is recommended to ensure testing availability.  

From learning to drive in Singapore to converting your foreign licence, our guide will get you (or your teen!) behind the wheel in no time!

Parenting a teenager is a minefield for sure. They require constant feeding, are endlessly bored despite a ton of cool things for teens to do, they’re prone to growth spurts (so there’s a constant need to go shopping for clothes), and they sometimes lose the ability to communicate beyond the odd grunt. But the moment they reach 18, it’s all about one thing: getting a driving license in Singapore! So if you have a teenager desperate to start learning to drive, or you’re looking for refresher lessons yourself, you’ll need our guide to getting behind the wheel. Read on for the best places in Singapore to learn how to drive, how much it costs and how you can convert your international drivers license if you are new to town!

So your teen wants to learn to drive…

Your teen’s 18th birthday has arrived. And with it, a strong desire to want to jump behind the wheel of a car and learn to drive. Sure, 18 is the legal age for learning how to drive in Singapore and getting a drivers license. But here’s how to put your teen on the road to safe driving success.

Step 1: Study for the Basic Theory Test

Back to the books, teens! The first step in getting a drivers license is to study for and pass the Basic Theory Test. Grab a copy of the BTT Book and the Highway Code, and go online to try a heap of mock tests before you attempt the real deal. Once the rules of the road have sunk in, book a BTT test at one of the three driving centres. The test fee is $6.50, and you can book it online or in-person.

Psst, it’s the perfect time to start now while waiting for the driving centres to open up. And you’ll need to book your test early, too.

Bukit Batok Driving Centre
815 Bukit Batok West Ave 5, Singapore 659085
T: 1800 666 8888

ComfortDelGro Driving Centre
205 Ubi Ave 4, Singapore 408805 (branches at Kovan and Tampines)
T: 6841 8900, 6848 0617

Singapore Safety Driving Centre
2 Woodlands Industrial Park E4, Singapore 757387 (branch office at Ang Mo Kio)
T: 6482 6060

Step 2: Apply for a Provisional Driving Licence

It’s drivers license time (well, kinda)! Your teen is now going to need a Provisional Driving Licence (PDL)! Send them along to the Traffic Police Test Centre with their BTT pass result, their IC and $25 for the licence (payable by cash or NETS).

Parenting

Say goodbye to nasty kid-related stains

Step 3: Driving school or private instructor?

Now comes the learn to drive part. You’ve got two sensible options: driving lessons with a private instructor or at a driving centre…

Beep, beep: Driving school, here we come

Singapore has three official driving schools: Bukit Batok Driving Centre, Comfort DelGro Driving Centre and Singapore Safety Driving Centre. Driving schools have a fixed syllabus to follow, and often have a minimum number of lessons before being allowed to go for the test. The good news is: you won’t have to book to use the circuits. You can use them anytime when your instructor lets you.

Lessons generally cost between $69 and $86 per 100–120-minute lesson. Students are expected to need around 20-25 lessons to complete the task at hand. So, expect to part with around $2,000 if your teen manages to pass the first time. Lesson costs are also bumped up slightly (around $9 more per session) if you want to a specific instructor.

Honk, honk: Private driving lessons, here we come!

There are literally hundreds of driving instructors around Singapore. Word of mouth is always a good bet when it comes to finding a great fit. Online reviews are also helpful for finding the right instructor for you. Budget-wise, you’re looking at around $25–$60 per hour with a private teacher. And, because lessons are generally shorter than at driving schools, expect to need around 20-30 driving lessons, depending on how quickly your teen gets to grips with it. There’s no strict syllabus to follow if you go the private route. Plus, this choice is generally more flexible with timings, too.

Step 4: Final Theory Test

Once driving lessons are going well, and your teen (and instructor) are feeling confident, it will be time to book the Final Theory Test (FTT). Procedures for this are much the same as with the BTT and you’ll need to book through the driving centres once again. The test fee is also $6.50, and once passed you have two years to complete your Practical Driving Test.

Step 5: The Driving Test… the drivers license is within reach!

With the BTT and the FTT passed, it’s almost time to get onto the PIE, ECP, AYE or even the CTE. (Start memorising all those acronyms!) All that hard learn to drive graft and outpour of money will end with The Test, aka the Practical Driving Test (PDT). Your driving school or private instructor will know when your teen is ready to go for their drivers license and will make the booking for you. The test costs $33 to sit and, once booked, you will get a receipt with the time, date and venue for the moment that determines whether your teen can officially hit the road.

The PDT will be conducted by a Driving Examiner (appointed by the Traffic Police), and consists of two parts. First up is a test of skills on a driving circuit. The second part on the public roads will test your abilities in interacting safely with other road users, and compliance with traffic rules and regulations. We’re not going to lie: we feel nervous just writing about it! Serious mistakes will result in an immediate fail, whereas minor errors will be recorded as a series of penalty points along the way. Score too many points and it’s back to the driving lesson drawing board (but you can apply for a re-test as soon as you’ve booked two compulsory revision lessons). Pass? Celebrate by forking out another $50 for the drivers license, which you apply for at the driving centre, and then creep away quietly before the demands for a car begin.

New to Singapore? Convert that international drivers license!

If you hold an international drivers license that was issued outside of Singapore, you will need to convert your foreign license to a Singapore license within 12 months, or you’ll need to pass the Practical Driving Test.

To convert your foreign drivers license or international drivers license to a Singapore license, you’re going to have to pass the Basic Theory Test (BTT). Sadly, all that hard work to pass your overseas theory test doesn’t count. Once you are ready, register at one of the three driving schools previously mentioned, and book your test.

When you have passed (well done!), you then need to apply for a drivers license conversion in person. Head to the Traffic Police Test Centre counters located in the three driving centres in Singapore. Psst, need help remembering what to bring? Use our handy checklist to make sure you have everything you need to take with you on Conversion Day. And then, voilà, you are free to get behind the wheel and explore Singapore!

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