By The Big Buy desk · Last verified 7 October 2026
To drive a car in Singapore you need a Class 3 licence (manual and automatic) or a Class 3A licence (automatic only, no clutch pedal). You must be 18, pass an eyesight test and the Basic Theory Test, and hold a Provisional Driving Licence (S$25, valid two years) before practical lessons. You can learn at one of the three driving centres or with a licensed private instructor. Either way you must complete mandatory simulator training and pass the Final Theory Test and the practical test. At a driving centre, a learner who needs about 20 lessons should budget roughly S$2,100 in fees, as worked out below; more lessons, peak hours or a retest push it higher.
Getting your licence is a lovely milestone. Plan the cost and the waiting time, and it goes far more smoothly.
Quick facts
- Minimum age: 18 for Class 3 and 3A.
- Provisional Driving Licence: S$25 online, valid for two years.
- Theory tests: Basic Theory Test and Final Theory Test, S$7.20 each at BBDC.
- Simulator: three mandatory modules before the practical test.
- Licence fee: S$50 for a new qualified driving licence applied for online.
- Private instructors: no new licences issued since 1987, so supply is limited.
Class 3 or Class 3A?
| Class 3 | Class 3A | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars you may drive | Manual and automatic | Automatic only |
| Learning | Clutch control adds skill and usually lessons | Simpler; most new learners choose it |
| Lesson rate at the centres | Listed together with 3A | Listed together with 3 |
| Best for | Anyone who may drive a manual van, a classic car or overseas rentals | Anyone driving private cars, rentals and car-sharing in Singapore |
Most cars on sale in Singapore today are automatics, and rental and car-sharing fleets lean the same way, which is why many learners choose Class 3A. Choose Class 3 if you want the freedom to drive a manual car later.
Driving centre or private instructor?
The three driving centres are Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC), ComfortDelGro Driving Centre (CDC) and Singapore Safety Driving Centre (SSDC). They teach to a structured curriculum on their own circuits and run the simulator and the tests.
Private driving instructors teach on public roads in their own cars. The Traffic Police stopped issuing new private instructor licences in 1987 and said in May 2026 that it has no plans to re-issue them, so only instructors licensed before then remain. Their rates are set privately and are often lower per lesson, but you still take your tests through a driving centre. Always ask to see an instructor’s licence.
| Driving centre | Private instructor | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per lesson | Published; S$77.39 off-peak at BBDC | Agreed with the instructor |
| Where you learn | Circuit first, then roads | Public roads from the start |
| Availability | Lesson slots can be hard to book at busy times | A small, shrinking pool of instructors |
| Tests and simulator | At the centre | Still at a driving centre |
What it costs at a driving centre: a worked example
This uses BBDC’s published Class 3/3A fees including 9% GST, as of October 2026, for a learner taking 20 off-peak practical lessons and passing first time. Your number of lessons is the big variable.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Enrolment, eyesight test and photo | S$115.87 |
| Basic and Final Theory Tests | S$14.40 |
| Provisional Driving Licence | S$25.00 |
| One 50-minute simulator session | S$70.47 |
| 20 practical lessons at S$77.39 | S$1,547.80 |
| Practical test, admin fee and test vehicle rental | S$293.64 |
| Qualified driving licence | S$50.00 |
| Total | S$2,117.18 |
Peak-hour lessons are S$86.11 each, so 20 of them add about S$175. Optional theory lessons, risk-forecast training and any retest are extra. CDC and SSDC publish their own fee lists; compare like with like.
The steps, in order
- Enrol at a driving centre, or register as a private candidate, and pass the eyesight test.
- Pass the Basic Theory Test.
- Apply for your Provisional Driving Licence online with Singpass.
- Take practical lessons and complete the three simulator modules.
- Pass the Final Theory Test.
- Book and pass the practical driving test.
- Apply for your qualified driving licence, then drive with P plates through your probation year.
The WahLiao Verdict
Choose Class 3A unless you have a real reason to drive manual, and book lessons in off-peak slots where you can. A driving centre costs more per lesson but gives you structure and a circuit to make your early mistakes on; a private instructor suits a confident learner who can find one. Budget around S$2,100 and add a cushion for extra lessons, then enjoy the day you pass.
Questions people ask
Can I drive a manual car with a Class 3A licence?
No. Class 3A is for cars without a clutch pedal. Class 3 covers both.
How long is the Provisional Driving Licence valid?
Two years. You can renew it from one month before it expires, at S$25 online.
Is simulator training compulsory with a private instructor?
Yes. All Class 3 and 3A learners must complete the three simulator modules, booked at one of the three driving centres, before the practical test.
Can I learn with a friend or parent who drives?
No. Practical lessons must be with a driving centre or a licensed private driving instructor.
Sources: Singapore Police Force, licence classes; Singapore Police Force, Provisional Driving Licence and PDL fee; Singapore Police Force, simulator training; Singapore Police Force, qualified driving licence; Ministry of Home Affairs, reply on private driving instructors, May 2026; Bukit Batok Driving Centre, Class 3/3A fees. The Big Buy explains; it does not advise.
Read next: What a Car Really Costs in Singapore · Car Insurance in Singapore: Comprehensive or Third-Party · Back to The Big Buy
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
Leave a comment