If you plan on driving a motor vehicle in a country other than your own, you should get an International Driving Permit (IDP) before leaving your home country. In most cases, visitors to other countries who possess an International Driving Permit (IDP) will not be required to complete additional driving exams. Foreign nation car rental, several countries require this licence as a prerequisite to car rental. Get your trip off to a good start by taking the wheel with a Customized Trip Itinerary (IDP).
In the vast majority of countries, a driving licence is not enough to get behind the wheel.
- No further evaluations or examinations are required.
- A passport with translations in nine languages
- Fortress-like security measures in exchange for your passport.
- That you presently possess a Singaporean driver’s licence
- It has been officially recognised by over 150 countries.
- To see if your country requires an IDP, see the online list of foreign driving permits.
How to Get a Driver’s License in another Country?
In Singapore, IDPs can be purchased exclusively through the relevant driving authorities in each state and territory.
If you find them being sold somewhere else, know that it is a fake that will not only cost you more, but will also be of lower quality. That includes overseas firms that aren’t legally allowed to sell Singaporeans foreign driver’s licences.
For less than fifty bucks, you can get an IDP from one of Singapore’s official driving organisations that will last for a year or until your licence expires, whichever comes first.
You’ll also need to have a valid driver’s licence from any of Singapore’s states, be over the age of 18, and provide a passport-style photo of yourself in your application.
Those who carry a learner’s permit are not eligible for an International Driving Permit (IDP), but those who hold an open or provisional licence from Singapore are.
Applying for an international driver’s licence
Obtaining your own Individual Driving Permit is as simple as visiting the office of your local motoring body, searching the organization’s website for “IDP,” or requesting an application form via mail.
In most cases, you’ll also need to provide a cell phone number and email address in addition to the information that appears on your present licence. When applying for a licence by mail from outside Singapore, you must provide a photocopy of your Singaporean passport, information about your travel plans, and the date you expect to be back in Singapore.
It’s likely that you’ll have no issue obtaining approved for an IDP if you apply in person. It will take much longer for you to receive the document if you submit your application online or by mail.
As an additional consideration, you should know that it is possible that you will be instructed to drive on the right side of the road when visiting a foreign country. If this is the case, you’d be wise to write a reminder down and stick it on your dashboard, or at the very least have a passenger tell you before you reach any roundabouts or traffic lights.
