Singapore on an Irish Licence — Same Side, No IDP Needed

Of all the corridors into Singapore, the one from Ireland is about the most relaxed. Two things that usually trip up visitors — the side of the road and the permit — simply do not apply to you, which leaves only a couple of local systems to learn.

You keep left, and your licence works as-is

Ireland and Singapore both drive on the left, so there is none of the first-day disorientation that hits drivers coming from mainland Europe. Roundabouts, lane discipline and overtaking all match your instincts, and the car’s controls sit where you expect. On top of that, your Irish EU licence is accepted for a tourist visit with just your passport — no International Driving Permit needed. That is a rare double win; the Driving Permit Checker confirms it, and the Singapore driving guide covers the finer points.

ERP tolls are the first thing to learn

Singapore runs Electronic Road Pricing: overhead gantries deduct a charge automatically when you drive through busy zones and at peak hours. There are no booths to stop at — your rental simply needs a working in-vehicle unit and a topped-up stored-value card, or the charges find their way back to you. Ask the rental desk to confirm the unit is active before you leave.

Demerit points come with speeding tickets

Limits are low and tightly policed: 50 km/h in town, up to 90 km/h on expressways. A speeding ticket here carries points as well as a fine — roughly SGD 150 (about EUR 100) plus 4 demerit points for a modest overspeed, with cameras widespread. You can gauge 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 why visitors rent rather than buy.