Drivers License

[CEG]

I will be relocating to Singapore next month and will have a vehicle provided from my company. I wanted to find out if I can legally drive straight away with my Australian drivers license? And does anyone know have any tips on obtaining a Singaporean drivers license?

Thanks CEG

[Beatrice]

Look up the previous posts as well as the FAQ archives on this subject and you should be able to find all the answers you're looking for.

Basically it's like this: To drive straight away, you need to have an International Driving License. Then you have 12 months to convert it to the Singaporean one: Go to Traffic Police Headquarter, book for test, read the book, take test at one of the Test Centres .... then wait   and hopefully after two weeks you'll get the same answer that I got yesterday: PASSED  

[This message has been edited by Beatrice (edited 26-04-2001).]

[marie]

actually, i think as long as your license is in english, you can drive with it straight away. but you must convert it into a singapore driver's license if you intend to stay more than 6 months here. (some say 6, some say 12). to convert your license, you need to pass the basic theory test-- there is a traffic police website with all this info-- do a search under basic theory test or traffic police. there is another long thread on this message board called basic theory test.

[PaulN]

I found the document I got from the Traffic Police Fax-on-Demand service.  The relevant quote you are looking for is below:

"If you are residing in Singapore for less than twelve months, you are not required to convert your foreign driving license to a Singapore driving license.  You may drive in Singapore with a valid International Driving Permit issued by a foreign Automobile Association.  If an International Driving Permit is not available, an official translation in English is required.

For foreigners on Employment Pass/Dependant Pass/Student Pass/ or Work Permit and residing in Singapore for more than twelve months or if you are a Singapore Permanent Resident, you are required to convert your foreign driving license to a Singapore driving license in order to drive here.  If you convert your foreign license within 12 months from the date you first entered Singapore, you only need to pass the Basic Theory Test, which familiarizes you with Singapore's Highway Code."

This should clear up your question.  Singapore DOES recognize International Driving Permits, and apparently makes no special recognition of UK permits.

[CEG]

Many thanks for your replies. This is very helpfull.

CEG