Hi Fabian if you are residing in Singapore for less than twelve months, you are not required to convert your foreign driving license to a Singapore driver's 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 of your foreign license 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 to demonstrate you are familiar with Singapore's Highway Code.
For more information on how to apply for and take the basic tests, you can check with Singapore police force. In Singapore cars are very expensive,not only are the prices very high, but with the myriad of Singapore taxes added on, plan on about S$150,000 for a new midsize car. Keep in mind that driving is on the left. Leasing a new car is an option. But the public transportation
like Buses and the subway, or Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) are accessible, affordable, and safe. You can purchase an "ezylink" card at MRT stations. It is an "add–on" value card, that can be used for the buses and MRT. Remember the card needs to be "swiped" getting on and off the buses, as well as the MRT. It figures out the accurate fare and automatically deducts the value.
Information about the MRT can be found at: SMRT
Information about buses can be found at: SBS Transit SMRT Buses
The Taxis cabs are clean, reasonable, and numerous, except when raining very hard to get one.
