Singapore on a Canadian Licence — Left-Side Driving & an IDP

Singapore is one of the easiest places in Asia for a Canadian to drive — the roads are immaculate, signage is in English, and the limits are low and well marked. The two things to get right before you set off are which side you are on and the paperwork.

You drive on the left here

Canada keeps right; Singapore keeps left. That reversal is the real adjustment, and the trouble usually comes in the first hour — drifting toward the wrong side after a turn, misjudging a lane change, or looking the wrong way at a junction. The car’s controls feel mirrored too, with the indicator and wiper stalks often swapped. Take it gently out of the rental lot and the instinct settles within a day. Our Singapore driving guide walks through the local junction quirks.

Carry an IDP

A Canadian licence is non-EU, so for Singapore you should pair it with an International Driving Permit plus your passport. Rental desks ask for it, and it spares any argument at a check. Get it from CAA before you leave — it is not available on arrival. The Driving Permit Checker confirms the requirement for your trip.

Demerit points and ERP — the tourist traps

Limits are modest: 50 km/h in town, up to 90 km/h on expressways. What surprises visitors is that a speeding ticket is not just money — a typical overspeed is about SGD 150 (roughly EUR 100) plus 4 demerit points, and cameras are everywhere. Singapore also runs Electronic Road Pricing: overhead gantries deduct a toll automatically as you pass, so a rental needs a working in-vehicle unit and a topped-up card. You can gauge a penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator.

Fuel is pricey at about EUR 1.98/litre, the alcohol limit matches home at 0.08 but is strictly enforced with heavy penalties, and the emergency number is 999 (ambulance and fire on 995). Car ownership here is famously expensive, which is exactly why most visitors rent rather than buy.