Singapore on a French Licence 2026 — No IDP, but You Switch to the Left

Singapore is an easy, low-stress drive for a French visitor — the roads are excellent, signage is in English, and the rules are tightly enforced rather than chaotic. The paperwork is light; the one genuine adjustment is which side of the road you are on.

Your licence is accepted — carry an IDP

You can drive in Singapore on your French licence for a tourist visit, but because it is not in English, an International Driving Permit is recommended — it doubles as the official translation Singapore expects, and smooths both rental desks and any police check. Carry it with your licence and passport. The Driving Permit Checker confirms the position for your trip.

You drive on the left

France keeps right; Singapore keeps left. That reversal is the real work, and it bites in the first hour — drifting wide after a turn, misjudging a lane, or looking the wrong way at a junction. The indicator and wiper stalks are often swapped too. Pull out of the rental lot slowly and the instinct settles within a day. The Singapore driving guide explains the junction conventions.

Demerit points and ERP tolls

Limits are low and policed: 50 km/h in town, up to 90 km/h on expressways. A surprise for many European visitors is that a speeding ticket carries points as well as a fine — roughly SGD 150 (about EUR 100) plus 4 demerit points for a modest overspeed, with cameras everywhere. Electronic Road Pricing adds another layer: overhead gantries deduct a toll automatically as you pass, so your rental needs a working in-vehicle unit and a topped-up card. Size a penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator.

Fuel is expensive at about EUR 1.98/litre, the alcohol limit is 0.08 but strictly enforced, and the emergency number is 999 (ambulance and fire on 995). Owning a car here is famously costly, which is exactly why visitors rent.