4 Things You Should Know About Renting a Car in Singapore

Renting a car in Singapore offers more convenience and freedom when travelling in the city. A car allows you to travel at your own pace and reach certain areas that are difficult to reach with public transportation. If you are travelling in larger groups, it can also save money and time if you choose to share a vehicle.

This article will share five tips you should know about renting a car in Singapore that can save some money and the trouble of figuring out your transportation woes in advance.

Factors that affect rental car prices  

Most will be aware of factors such as size of the vehicle or the duration of the vehicle rental period however, there are some a few more things to consider when renting a vehicle:

• Manual vs. Automatic

Depending on the availability of cars, there can be a price difference attached to the type of vehicle you drive. In Europe, manual vehicles are more common than automatic vehicles, so it will cost more to drive an automatic vehicle.

• Different pick-up and drop-off locations

Usually, it makes sense to pick up a car at one location and drop it off at another location especially when you have travelled a long distance from somewhere. However, this will sometimes incur additional fees, especially if you are dropping it off in another country.

You should check the estimates for the various pick-up and drop-off locations before committing to the vehicle and check if your budget is sufficient to cover it.

Furthermore, it tends to be more expensive to pick up a rental car at an airport or train station due to its extra convenience and accessibility. However, there are several advantages to this such as how there is usually a larger volume of cars available for you to pick and drive off immediately.

Moreover, the opening hours tend to be longer than any regular shop so you should have more flexibility in picking up or dropping off a car at irregular hours as well.

1. How to check you have an international drivers permit

Some vehicle rental companies will potentially ask to see your International Drivers Permit (IDP). This permit translates your driver’s license into 10 different languages and acts as a supplement to your original driver’s license.

Some countries that require you to have an IDP are Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Bosnia, Hungary, Poland and Herzegovina. While it may not be asked for all the time, it is still advisable to have one just in case.

2. How to know the type of gas required for the car

Different terms are used to describe the gas required for the car. In America, it’s labelled as “gas”, while Europeans refer to it as “essence”, “petrol” or “benzine”. Regular unleaded gas is often labelled as “95” at petrol stations.

Be sure to check with your pickup rental service what type of gas you will need to add for your car. In Singapore, it is normally referred to as petrol so it is good to check which type of petrol is required.

3. Driving rules in Singapore

In Singapore, drivers drive on the right side of the road. If you are accustomed to driving on the left side, it can feel confusing to make that switch. You will need some time to adjust to it and it can help if the passengers help to remind the driver which side of the road to stay on as you make a turn or enter a roundabout.

Another tip is that the gears will also be on the opposite side so if switching gears with your opposite hand will be a problem, be sure to choose an automatic car when you are renting a car.

4. Cross border rules and fees 

Some pickup rental services will charge you extra if you drive into certain countries. Driving in Europe is generally not an issue but you can be charged extra when driving into non-EU countries.

Malaysia is very close by Singapore, and sometimes you might need to drive into the neighbouring country. Clarify with your vehicle rental company if you will need to pay extra to enter that country so that you are aware of the additional costs incurred.

Rent a Private Car Today  

Edmund Vehicle Rental Company has been providing pickup rental services of long and short-term commercial vehicles and cars, since 1996. There are a wide range of vehicles you may decide to rent from such as, pick-ups (single and double cab), lorries (open, box, canopy), vans, passenger vans, mini bus, or sedan cars to suit every customer’s needs.

Get a quote now by calling us at (65) 6250 3339 or emailing enquires@edmundvehiclerental.com.sg!