What Do You Need To Rent a Car

There are a lot of things that you can observe and get amazed at when in Singapore.  First of all, it’s not really that difficult to get around the city since, according to a friend who has been working there almost all of her life, Singapore is relatively a small place.  You can get around anywhere using just about any modes of public transportation. In Singapore, there are three main modes of public transport which are the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), buses and taxis.  The bus is the most common form of public transportation and is followed by the MRT and taxis.

When we were in Singapore in December of last year, we participated in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.  There were ten of us who went there.  Our original plan was to take the taxi to go anywhere we would like to go.  We were so excited to visit a lot of places there from Sentosa Island where you can find Universal Studios to S.E.A. Aquarium, Skyline Luge, Gardens by the Bay, Merlion Park, the Tiger Brewery, Sands Expo and Convention Center and a lot more.

However, since there were ten of us, it would be very expensive to travel by taxi because we needed to ride on three taxis because in Singapore, taxis only allow 4 passengers maximum.  If we took buses to where we’re going, it would be a waste of time and very tiring in doing so.

We tried to take the MRT but, ironically, most of us grew tired of walking and hopping from one interchange to another and to think we are all runners!  But, of course, we would like to conserve our energy for the race.  Fortunately, two of our companions have relatives who have Singapore driver’s licenses.  Those relatives of theirs are residents of Singapore and they are very much willing to take us wherever we go.

Actually, to rent a car in Singapore, you just need to have a driver’s license issued by your home country that is in English.  Better yet, you need to have an IDP or International Driving Permit endorsed by authorized bodies like the Automobile Association or the AA.  If you have any of these, you will be able to rent and drive a car in Singapore for a maximum of one year.  You also need to pay more attention to the insurance coverage which will be discussed later on.

If you are planning to drive in Singapore more than a year, you need to have your foreign license converted to a local one. Other than that, you need to undergo Singapore’s two Basic Theory tests and you will also be tested on Singapore’s traffic rules and the Singapore Highway Code.

If you are planning to stay longer in Singapore and you need to undergo these tests, here are the test sites you can choose from and visit for the conversion of your driver’s license from your home country to a local one:

• Bukit Batok Driving Centre Ltd
• Singapore Safety Driving Centre, Ltd. And
• ComfortDelGro Driving Centre, Pte. Ltd.

Just take not that you need to pay for a lot of things like the conversion fee which is $50, Basic Theory textbook which costs $7 and the test application fee itself which is about $6.50.  And also, do take note that these prices are subject to change without prior notice.

Going back to question: how much does it cost to rent a car in Singapore?

There are questions that you need to ask if you opt for car rental.  One of the questions is should you opt for car rental or car sharing?

There are many things to consider when choosing car-sharing.

• If you only need a car occasionally like for a few hours or a few days.  It would be practical to go for this one.
• Car-sharing is a self-driven P2P mobility service. Here, you will have 24/7 access to a large fleet of shared cars.  These cars can be found at different car-sharing stations with designated parking lots all over Singapore.

If you need a car for a long time, car rental is your best choice.

• There is a wide variety of car models to choose from basic to high-end vehicles.
• You will be able to lease a car for a longer period of time.
• Cars are well-maintained and
• Renting a car is much cheaper compared to car-sharing.

So much money will you be investing when you rent a car?  For example, if you want to rent a Toyota Vios New Gen, price starts at $80/day (No petrol included)

Of course, the price will vary from one Rental Company in Singapore to another.

You also need to consider the agreement and insurance.

After you have decided on what model you want to rent, you should also pay attention to the insurance coverage.  You need to read through the terms and conditions in the use of the said vehicle or the rental agreement.

You need to pay attention to things like:

• Cancellation fees
• Security deposit
• Restrictions on overseas use of vehicle
• Extension of vehicle or late return
• Insurance coverage options like CDW or Collision Damage Waiver, Liability and more.

You also need to know that insurance policies for renting a car cover a lot of extra minute details.  Some of these coverage options include:

• Collision Damage Waiver-this is the coverage for the damages incurred on the car in case of accidents
• Liability Coverage-this is a sort of protection against ensuing lawsuits from vehicular accidents

When renting a car, it is also good to know about the extent of the insurance coverage and it is also imperative that you should ask for car accident scenarios and how that particular car rental company and the insurance company, too, have dealt with these issues, if any.  This also includes the sum that they pay for the sustained damage to the cars of both parties.

Lastly, when it comes to insurance coverage, you have to pay attention also to the insurance limitations. For instance is the excess which is the most important component of such coverage.  The excess here refers to the amount that you will have liability in paying for should a claim be made against the car that you have rented out.

If, for instance, the claim made against you is $1000 and your coverage is only $500, you need to pay the extra $500. If the claim made against you is lesser than your excess, you will have to pay the entire amount.

So, are you ready to rent a car in Singapore?

The next question is where would you go to rent a car?  There are a lot of rental companies in Singapore right now.  We have asked the relatives of our 2 companions regarding which car rental is best in Singapore.  Both of them referred to us a company named Maxi Cab.

SGMAXI.Cab offers maxi cab rental that are not just affordable but also practical and convenient at the same time. They have been catering to delegates, VIPs, local events, city tours and even weddings.  They have also catered to tourists and Singapore residents alike.  For years, they have been recommended by many people because they are working strictly under the compliance of the Traffic Police in Singapore and the Land Transport Authority.

What Do You Need To Rent A Car From Maxi Cab?

It’s actually easy to book with Maxi Cab.  You just need to go online through their website and make a reservation online.  The information that you need to enter in order to make a reservation is as follows:

• Name
• Contact number
• E-mail Address
• Picking Up Date/Time
• Select Service Type (6-Seater Maxi Cab Transfer/Departure, 9-Seater Minibus Arrival, etc.)
• Picking-up Location
• Drop-Off Location
• Add-on Charges
• Select the type of payment

After you have entered your options, you are ready to go.  Aside from cash, they also accept payments through MasterCard, VISA, Discover and American Express.

When we stayed in Singapore for more than a week, we get to travel in style as we rented different types of high-end state-of-the-art vehicles from Maxi Cab.  Some of the other best things that Maxi Cab can offer are they have no hidden costs or even peak hour charges or any additional charges, for that matter.  The prices that they advertised are what they truly offer.  They even offer Maxicab Wheelchair Transfer Services and Maxicab Bulky Items Transfer Services. 

They also offer flexibility in booking.  They even have credit machines onboard their vehicles that accept all types of major credit cards.  Paying through PayPal is also made possible when you book online.

So, whether you are in Singapore for a tour, either business or pleasure (or both), renting a car is the most convenient, practical and luxurious way to travel thru Singapore.  Traveling is never been this luxurious and convenient when you rent a car of your choice.