So, you are interested in learning how to drive a car and want to find out more about the experience of getting a license to do so. You have come to the right place.
I recently got my driving license and thought it might be interesting if I document the process of getting one. And yes, the journey to getting a license is expensive so I’ll also be sharing ways that I earn cashback from payments to driving schools to defray some of the cost.
1 – You would have to make two choices:
- Learn Manual (Class 3) or Auto (Class 3A)?
- Go via school route or through private driving instructors (PDI)?
I went through the school route as currently, they offer much earlier slots for various Traffic Police (TP) components like the Basic Theory Test, Final Theory Test, Simulator and the Practical test as compared to private route.
Moreover, the rates PDIs give on average currently is almost similar to how much a driving school lesson would cost and that excludes the circuit usage which is at least an additional S$40 per lesson. Perhaps going through PDIs might be worth if you are a fast learner or if you had experience driving such as in the Army where you might not have clocked the 4000km requirement to convert your military license to a civilian license.
For school learners, typically it is easier to find practical lesson slots if you take Class 3 instead of Class 3A as Class 3A is oversubscribed by many learners. This is since learning Class 3 is much more difficult as compared to Class 3A since it does not require one to shift gears using clutch pedals.
2 – Register for an account
There are 3 driving schools you can choose from to pursue a driving license:
Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC) – West Area
ComfortDelGro Driving Centre (CDC) – East Area
Singapore Safety Driving Center (SSDC) – North Area
It is recommended that you choose the one nearest to your home as travelling to and fro might be a hassle.
Going through the school route would require you to pay an enrolment fee.
You can use a credit card to pay for this enrollment fee. I would highly suggest using ones that would allow you to earn points/cashback on this (MCC: 8244 – CDC and SSDC, 8299 – BBDC) such as the following cards:
| Card | Cashback/Points |
| Maybank eVibes (Great for students) | 1% Cashback |
| Maybank FC Barcelona Visa Signature | 1.6% Cashback |
| AMEX True Cashback | 1.5% Cashback |
| Maybank Platinum Visa | 3.33% Cashback |
| Chocolate Visa Debit | 2 MPD (Heymax) |
3 – Topping up your account
Aside from the enrolment fee, other fees such as lesson booking, BTT, FTT is deducted from your stored value account.
CDC allows top-ups from either PayNow (highly recommended) or eNets (not recommended, please avoid at all costs as it charges $0.90 per topup).
As such, I typically top up the amount that I sufficiently need per lesson booking rather than lumpsum. In addition, this allows me to use Google Pay to do the top up which allows me to earn random amount of cashback from doing so.
You can use my referral code if you do not have Google Pay currently: 958al5g (Get S$3 cashback from Google Pay when you make your first payment of at least S$10)
Cost Breakdown:
I spent a total of S$2226.85 to get a Class 3 License as a CDC Student. But typically, you should set aside about S$2.5k to S$3k for driving lessons as well as the various tests if you plan to do so as a school learner. This is the cost breakdown:
| Expenditures | Amount | Remarks |
| Refundable Deposit | S$10 | Can use credit card for payment for this component (Paid during online enrolment) |
| Enrolment | S$179.85 | – Common Pool enrolment fee – Can use credit card for payment for this component |
| Practical class | S$1403.92 | 20 Sessions (1 Peak + 19 Off Peak) |
| BTT | S$13 | Rebooked to an earlier date, no refunds for cancellations (S$6.50 x 2) |
| FTT | S$13 | Rebooked to an earlier date, no refunds for cancellations (S$6.50 x 2) |
| IE | S$13.08 | 1 for BTT, 1 for FTT |
| Induction Programme | S$23.98 | Can be done before eyetest |
| Simulator | S$81.09 | 3 Sessions |
| VPC | S$23.98 | CDC Requirement for school learners |
| LCDS | S$56.68 | CDC Requirement for school learners |
| Eye test + Photo | S$8.38 | Payment for this via NETS at counter during eyetest |
| TP Test | S$328.39 | |
| PDL | S$25 | Apply from SPF website |
| QDL | S$50 | Apply from SPF website |
As of posting, CDC may have already raised their lesson fees by S$3 for lessons such as practical lessons, LDCS as well as charge a S$2.70 administrative fee for each Traffic Police Theory and Practical Test.
4 – Getting a BTT/FTT slot and applying for a ePDL
To start your road practical lesson with your driving instructor, you would need to have an ePDL. To be able to apply for one, you would have to pass the BTT.
If you are a school learner, you would have to book a school evaluation test, which is like a mock BTT test, before being able to book a BTT slot.
For CDC, it is not a requirement to pass the school evaluation test and you can even immediately book a BTT slot once you have booked a school evaluation test slot. However for SSDC and BBDC, you need to attend and pass their school evaluation test before being able to book for your BTT.
You should try to book your slot as soon as you can as the earliest date for a test is at least 1 month. However, you can always cancel and quickly* book an earlier slot if you happen to spot one and want an earlier slot, although there is no refund. As shown in the cost breakdown, there were 2 BTT and FTT bookings and this is because I did that. *Note that I used the word quickly – these earlier slots are always immediately taken up the moment they are released.
To pass the BTT, you need to score at least 45/50. SPF have mock BTT/FTT test resources available which you have unlimited attempts, you just need to sign in with your SingPass to be able to access this.
Once you passed the test, you can visit the SPF ePDL application website to apply for an ePDL which would allow you to learn driving outside of the circuit. You should screenshot the acknowledgement page as driving instructors would request for you to show them before doing road practical lessons. Tip: If you are looking to earn cashback on this, you can use your GXS debit card since it is one of the few cards that earn rewards on this (MCC 9399)
Driving instructors would usually ask you to show your ePDL, which is available in SingPass under the Vehicle & Driving License tab or you could show the acknowledgement screenshot from the SPF website.
The same process goes for booking for the FTT slot too, which would enable you to book your Practical Test once you have completed the simulator component too.
5 – Practical lesson bookings
As a school learner, I find that it is quite difficult at times to book lessons, but it is not impossible though. About 90% of the time, you would encounter this:
If you constantly check for lesson slots throughout the day, you would be able to find practical lesson slots that might have been cancelled by other learners last minute that would look something like this:
Typically booking a Class 3 slot is easier than booking a Class 3A slot.
For Class 3A CDC Common Pool learners, there is a website that informs you of available slots when there is one. Those having difficulty getting an eye test appointment slot for CDC can also consider using this website.
For me, I did not bother to book lessons during the session opening date which usually crashes when I tried to access the app/website due to the number of learners trying to book at the same time. I found it easier to just book slots last minute as I do not have to worry about not being able to commit attending for a class that is going to happen 2 months ahead of time.
One difference between other driving schools and CDC is that CDC also have part time driving instructors too. This allows for more slots to be available from time to time (eg. being able to book for a lesson slot the next week or even the next day) and this was why I was able to book last minute slots.
As booking of practical lessons in schools uses your stored value account, it is recommended that you top up about one to two lessons worth of credits in your account the week you are free to attend.
6 – TP Driving Simulator (TPDS)
After 5 practical lessons, you are able to book the mandatory TPDS slots. You have to complete 3 modules (20 mins each). It is relatively easy for school learners to get a slot nowadays – I was able to book all 3 slots for the next day.
CDC allows you to book all 3 sessions in one day beforehand, although you can’t book it back-to-back (eg. You can’t do slot 1, 2, 3 consecutively but you can book slots 1, 3, 5). I heard for other schools you have to complete one module before being able to book the next module.
7 – TP Practical Test
The last hurdle to overcome before getting your driving license. After completing the FTT, TPDS and other school requirements, you are able to book your TP Test.
As of writing, the earliest date for TP Test for school students is slightly more than 1 month. If you are a fast learner and are able to book the maximum number of lessons, you could consider booking if you are halfway through the learning course and are confident you would be able to be ready by then. However, it is highly recommended to consult your instructor first if you would be ready for the TP Test by then before making the booking.
From my experience, TP occasionally release earlier TP Test slots at random time. As my FTT occur slightly before I was finished my slot, I relied on this and I must say I was quite lucky as I managed to secure a much earlier slot, which was 2 week after my FTT date. But of course, there is always a possibility TP would not release these earlier slots at all.
You would need to have 18 demerit points or less to pass the TP Test.
For me, I managed to pass my TP Test marginally with 18 demerit points on my first try. One component that costed me a large number of demerit points was striking the kerb during the parallel parking which was the first component of the test for me (imagine how nerve-wracking it is as this error costed 10 demerit points). But one thing to keep in mind is to remain calm especially in such situation as it reduces further errors caused from anxiety.
After passing the TP Test
Congrats! Once you pass your TP Test, you would be able to apply for your QDL which is S$50. You would be made to watch a 2 minute safety video before being able to make the payment.
The digital license on SingPass will take about 1 day to update and the physical license would take about 7 working days to be delivered via post. You can immediately drive the moment you have an application for a QDL, which you can use the acknowledgement page screenshot as a temporary license. (Remember to display the P-Plate for the first 12 months)
Tip: If you are looking to earn cashback on this, you can use your GXS debit card since it is one of the few cards that earn rewards on this (MCC 9399)
