driving lisence conversion_one year deadline?

hhw · Post by **hhw** » Wed, 08 Nov 2006 10:26 pm

Hi guys,

Yesterday my friend told me that I need to convert my driving lisence (which is left-hand-drive) in Singapore within the first year of stay. Is that true? Help!!! running out of time...

Thanks!

yoongkheong · Post by **yoongkheong** » Wed, 08 Nov 2006 11:45 pm

You can check out at Singapore police force website : http://www.spf.gov.sg .

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Wed, 08 Nov 2006 11:49 pm

.........Singapore Police Force

Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence

If you hold a foreign driving licence and intend to remain in Singapore for less than twelve months, you are not required to convert your foreign driving licence to a Singapore driving licence. You may drive in Singapore with a valid foreign driving licence. However, if your licence is not in English, in addition to a valid foreign driving licence, you are required to have an International Driving Permit. If an International Driving Permit is not available, an official translation of your driving licence in English is required.

If you are holding an Employment Pass/Dependent Pass/Student Pass/or Work Permit and are likely to reside in Singapore for more than twelve months and you wish to continue to drive in Singapore, then you are required to convert your foreign diving licence to a Singapore driving licence before the end of your twelve months stay.

To convert to a Singapore driving licence, you are required to pass the Basic Theory Test (BTT) which will familarise you with traffic rules and Singapore's Highway Code pertaining to traffic related issues peculiar to Singapore. A Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) who wishes to drive in Singapore is required to convert his foreign driving licence after becoming a PR.

Application for conversion of foreign driving licence for Singaporeans and PR are not normally granted unless:

* they have stayed in the foreign country continuously for at least six months after the date of first issue of their foreign driving licence
* the foreign driving licence at the time of application for conversion must have been issued for a period of six months or more
* for PRs, the driving licence was obtained before the applicant became a PR.

Your application for conversion of driving licence must be made in person at any of the following driving test centre :

* Singapore Driving Test Centre 3, Ang Mio Kio, St 62
* Bukit Batok Driving Centre 815, Bukit Batok West Ave 5
* Comfort Driving Centre 215, Ubi Ave 4

Please bring along the following documents:

* Result slip to prove that you have passed the Basic Theory Test
* Passport and NRIC/Entry Permit/Employment Pass/Dependent Pass/Social Visit Pass/Work Permit, etc (whichever is applicable)
* A passport-size colour photograph with white background
* A matt/semi-matt finish and a fee of $50
* For overseas students, please produce proof of six months' stay in the country e.g. educational transcripts or Letter of Acceptance into the Educational Institution (120) and the relevant visa in the passport
* For those employed overseas, please produce Letter of Employment or Income Tax Returns or supportive documents from employers and the relevant Employment Pass in the passport
* A valid Qualified Foreign Driving Licence
* An official translation of the driving licence if it is not in English
* Extract of Driving Licence from the Licensing Authority that indicates the date of first issue of Driving Licence if this date of issue is not indicated on your driving licence
* For Malaysian licence holders, an extract from Jabatan Pengangutan Jalan (JPJ) is compulsory

sms

micknlea · Post by **micknlea** » Thu, 09 Nov 2006 6:18 pm

It's true, they do say you have to do it within twelve months, but in reality many, many people do it way after the twelve months are up and there is no difference.

ksl · Post by **ksl** » Fri, 10 Nov 2006 6:02 am

micknlea wrote:It's true, they do say you have to do it within twelve months, but in reality many, many people do it way after the twelve months are up and there is no difference.

You should say, the only difference is if you get caught driving on an old International Permit! You may be lucky to escape a warning if caught driving on your original licence after 1 year in Singapore, get caught twice and I'm pretty sure you will be contributing to the system. with a penalty on your licence.

Also in Taiwan most foreigners turn a blind eye, until they have had an accident, and the police are called, I then see the smile on their face change to one of horrified.

You do the crime you get to do the time is my motto, and its nothing to do with being a law abiding person, more to do with social responsibility to others. because if you haven't changed your licence, there is no way the insurance are going to pay out. and you are certainly going for a holiday to the hilton, for a few months or longer.

If the government can cane a 17 yr old American for breaking car wing mirrors, i'd hate to think, what they are going to do to adults, that don't change their licences and ignore social responsibility of being covered on insurance.

bunty · Post by **bunty** » Fri, 10 Nov 2006 9:31 am

ksl wrote:
micknlea wrote:It's true, they do say you have to do it within twelve months, but in reality many, many people do it way after the twelve months are up and there is no difference.
You should say, the only difference is if you get caught driving on an old International Permit! You may be lucky to escape a warning if caught driving on your original licence after 1 year in Singapore, get caught twice and I'm pretty sure you will be contributing to the system. with a penalty on your licence.

Also in Taiwan most foreigners turn a blind eye, until they have had an accident, and the police are called, I then see the smile on their face change to one of horrified.

You do the crime you get to do the time is my motto, and its nothing to do with being a law abiding person, more to do with social responsibility to others. because if you haven't changed your licence, there is no way the insurance are going to pay out. and you are certainly going for a holiday to the hilton, for a few months or longer.

If the government can cane a 17 yr old American for breaking car wing mirrors, i'd hate to think, what they are going to do to adults, that don't change their licences and ignore social responsibility of being covered on insurance.

can i convert my foerign licence after 12 months.....i am on EP. i am not currently driving...... is that permissible.....actually getting test dates for private students is quite difficult....

cheers

micknlea · Post by **micknlea** » Fri, 10 Nov 2006 11:35 am

I was more pointing out that if you haven't done it by the end of the twelve months that they will not make you sit the whole practical driving test etc etc and that you only need to do the basic theory test and convert your old one (same as if you had done it under 12 months).

ksl · Post by **ksl** » Fri, 10 Nov 2006 6:18 pm

micknlea wrote:I was more pointing out that if you haven't done it by the end of the twelve months that they will not make you sit the whole practical driving test etc etc and that you only need to do the basic theory test and convert your old one (same as if you had done it under 12 months).

Quite right micknlea, my apologies if I jumped the gun a little, better to be safe than sorry.

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Fri, 10 Nov 2006 6:26 pm

ksl wrote:
micknlea wrote:I was more pointing out that if you haven't done it by the end of the twelve months that they will not make you sit the whole practical driving test etc etc and that you only need to do the basic theory test and convert your old one (same as if you had done it under 12 months).
Quite right micknlea, my apologies if I jumped the gun a little, better to be safe than sorry.

I had typed out a reply as well similar to that of yours but after posting it then I deleted it (timing was about the same as yours figured one was enough. We both misunderstood her intent. That said, knowing micknlea style here over the past year we should have known that it wasn't her intent.

micknlea · Post by **micknlea** » Fri, 10 Nov 2006 10:23 pm

That's OK guys, my post wasn't too clear either, and KSL of course did have a point...if you get into an accident etc it can cause lots more trouble than its worth.

hhw · Post by **hhw** » Thu, 16 Nov 2006 1:55 pm

Thanks guys for all your advices. I will definitely go for conversion within a month, 'cause I consider buying a car if my new home will be a bit farther to the city than the current. Also I havent driven yet since I am in the country, finding driving is far more time-consuming than just taking an MRT (of course not so cool) when my office is just 3 station away from home

and taxis are easily available.

Thankss!

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 16 Nov 2006 5:03 pm

hhw,

You might also consider the bicycle route as well if it's only 3 stations away.

I wish my office was that close as I would always ride my bike instead. Unfortunately I live on the north east side of the island and my office is in Bkt Batok. Takes 1.25 to 2 hrs using public transport and 20-25 min using a taxi.

I still ride fairly regularly although not as regular as I'd like.

hhw · Post by **hhw** » Mon, 20 Nov 2006 7:23 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:hhw,

You might also consider the bicycle route as well if it's only 3 stations away.

I wish my office was that close as I would always ride my bike instead. Unfortunately I live on the north east side of the island and my office is in Bkt Batok. Takes 1.25 to 2 hrs using public transport and 20-25 min using a taxi.

I still ride fairly regularly although not as regular as I'd like.

Sundaymorningstaple,

Thanks for your advice

. I would like to ride a motocycle the better. However, riding a motocycle here is a bit... "fast and furous" and the bicycle is dangerous as there is no private lane for bikes (like I saw in Europe). I hope to find a new plc that is not too far

.

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