Long waits, high costs, and outdated processes leave learners frustrated amid changing driving habits.
SINGAPORE — Decades after complaints first surfaced about long waiting times at driving schools, the frustrations persist, prompting questions about whether Singapore’s driving school system is stalling in the face of modern demands.
Learners face hurdles from the outset, with limited slots for lessons, high costs, and a rigid process that leaves many struggling to balance work and school schedules. Booking classes at one of the country’s three driving schools—Singapore Safety Driving Centre (SSDC), ComfortDelGro Driving Centre (CDC), or Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC)—has become as challenging as the lessons themselves.
A Challenging System
The driving school process involves clearing theory classes and tests before booking practical lessons. Learners typically need 20–25 lessons before attempting the practical test. However, inconsistent class availability forces many to stretch their learning over months or even years.
A single practical lesson costs $70–$80, with learners often exceeding the recommended number of lessons due to delays and forgotten skills. Total costs, including multiple test attempts, can reach upwards of $4,000.
Some learners have resorted to refreshing booking systems or paying third-party services to secure slots, with wait times extending to months. Others face additional hurdles like mandatory evaluation tests, which schools argue improve pass rates but add to the financial and time burden.
Learners Speak Out
“I had to beg the receptionist for new classes because I couldn’t keep refreshing the website,” said Lianne, a 30-year-old learner. Another student lamented the high upfront costs required to book classes in bulk, noting that those unable to do so face prolonged waiting periods that hinder progress.
These issues are compounded by the fact that private instructors, once an alternative, are now scarce following a 1987 policy change that stopped issuing private instructor licenses.
Structural Limitations
Driving schools attribute the delays to external factors like the pandemic backlog and high demand. Both CDC and BBDC say they’ve hired more instructors and extended operating hours to meet student needs. However, systemic issues remain.
The three schools operate at near-maximum capacity, with limited circuits shared between school and private instructors. Their privatized status since 1996 means there’s little incentive to innovate or compete, especially given overlapping management and shareholders among the schools.
Changing Driving Aspirations
For many learners, the frustrations of the driving school system are compounded by the realization that owning a car in Singapore is increasingly impractical. With one of the world’s highest car ownership costs—thanks to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE), road taxes, and other expenses—fewer Singaporeans view driving as essential.
The city-state’s efficient public transport system, combined with the rise of ride-hailing services, makes car ownership less necessary, particularly for those without families. A 2022 survey by The Straits Times found that cars are no longer seen as the status symbol they once were.
Calls for Reform
Learners and experts alike suggest potential reforms, from introducing additional driving schools or circuits to adopting a quota system that limits intake and ensures smoother progression for students.
“There’s a disconnect,” said one learner. “Generations of students complain, but the system remains unchanged.”
For many, the driving licence is less a symbol of freedom and more a testament to the hurdles they’ve overcome. As driving aspirations evolve, so too must the system that supports them.
