Overland Singapore Travel
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Contents
- 1 Visiting Singapore
- 2 Entering Singapore with a Car or Motorbike
- 3 Driving in Singapore
- 4 Gas and Diesel price in Singapore
- 5 Safety and Security Considerations
- 6 Camping in Singapore
- 7 Navigation
- 8 Special Overland Travel interests
- 9 Vehicle Maintenance
- 10 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Singapore
- 11 References
- 12 Helpful External links
Visiting Singapore
Singapore is an island republic that prides itself for its cleanliness, strict laws and swift punishment. Before entering Singapore it is important to know its prohibition and ban. Best to refer to the Singapore Customs website.
Singapore has a total ban on any camper vans, caravan trailers and mini buses with cooking and sleeping facilities as stated in the Singapore Land Transport Authority website.
Overlanders might have to leave their campers or motorhomes in Malaysia's Johor Bahru and cross the causeway using public transport or rental car.
Entering Singapore with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: December 2015
Required Paperwork
(To check if you need a travel Visa for Singapore, application instructions and fees see: Singapore Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
A Carnet de Passage is mandatory to enter enter Singapore with any kind of motorized vehicle.
Process at border
Briefly describe the process at the border to enter with a vehicle
Cost of entry
State the cost for a vehicle to enter
Permitted length of stay
State the permitted length of entry for the vehicle
Extension of stay
Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.
Exiting with a vehicle
Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.
Driving in Singapore
Recommended books for Overlanding in Singapore
Travel insurance for Singapore
World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.
Vehicle insurance requirements
Yes or No if insurance is mandatory, and what kind is acceptable.
Cost of vehicle insurance
State the price of insurance and a time period.
Where to purchase vehicle insurance
Describe where insurance can be purchased.
Driving license
State the kind of driving licenses required. i.e. International Driving Permit.
Driving side of road
Left.
Unknown if LHD vehicles can be driven in Singapore.
Mandatory items in vehicle
State any mandatory items that must be carried in the vehicle. (i.e. safety triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.)
Roads
General Road quality
Good quality roads with few potholes.
Road signs
Briefly describe the overall quality & existence of road signs for directions and hazards.
Toll roads
List the frequency and approximate price of toll roads.
Bribery in Singapore
Bribery is strictly forbidden. Call the police if anyone ask for bribes.
Checkpoints
describe the frequency of checkpoints (police or military and what to expect.
Traveling with pets
List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.
Gas and Diesel price in Singapore
Last updated: October 2012
Currency and unit to display:
Gasoline Grade | Price |
---|---|
Unleaded | €1.38 EUR per Liter[1] |
Diesel | €1.05 EUR per Liter[1] |
Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency
No gas shortages. Gas stations can be found every 5km approximately.
Gas and Diesel Quality
Discuss if gasoline / diesel considered "clean" or "dirty", and generally high or low quality.
State the sulfur content of diesel, if known.
Safety and Security Considerations
Driving at night
Safe to drive at night. All roads are lit.
Vehicle parking
Parking in Singapore is safe in all areas. However, do note that on public roadside parking lots, take note of the colour of the lines on the lot as it denotes parking charges and chargeable period. There are broadly 4 types of parking in Singapore. a) Free parking: Rare but it is often found near public beaches or in landed residential estates. b) Paid street parking: Depending on location and colour of the lot, charges vary from SGD$0.60 an hour to SGD$2.40. Payment can be made via the purchase of a coupon or an app https://www.parking.sg/ c) HDB Parking (Public Housing): Parking in public apartment housing estates are usually operated by electronic gantry and fees are deducted from a cashcard / flashpay card you can buy at petrol stations or through an in-vehicle unit that is installed in all Singapore cars. d) Private Parking: Typically found in commercial buildings such as malls, these are operated by electronic gantry and fees are deducted from a cashcard / flashpay card.
Special driving considerations
A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for Singapore - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in Singapore
Camping in tents is possible at approved sites eg near the East Coast beach. Information can be found here https://www.nparks.gov.sg/activities/fun-and-recreation/camping However there are strict rules in place that will make it difficult for an overlander. Eg you can book a site for 4 days out of a month and you need to have a local Singapore address to register. There are free carpark lots by the East Coast Beach where you can park, swim, bathe but hotel and hostels should be the default accommodation for your stay.
Whilst there are certainly places like dense forests in Singapore that one could 'Wild Camp', please note that it is not allowed and can attract a SGD$2000 fine https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/more-caught-camping-illegally
Camping guide books
List and link to books specifically for camping.
Drinking water
Singapore is part of the most advanced countries in water management. Tap water is safe to drink in Singapore.
Paper maps
Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Singapore
GPS Maps of Singapore
Review different GPS companies, quality and coverage (Tomtom, Garmin, OSM, Tracks4Africa). (with links to each).
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Singapore
- iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.
Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.
Special Overland Travel interests
List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
Add known good mechanics here.
Travellers in Classic or vintage cars can approach David Motor Works https://www.davidworksgarage.com/
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Singapore
Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.
List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.
Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'
References
Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.
Helpful External links
Add any helpful external links here.
- Singapore: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to Singapore - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Singapore travel guides at wikivoyage
- Singapore - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia