{"id":25668,"date":"2026-01-04T17:18:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T09:18:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=25668"},"modified":"2026-01-04T17:18:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T09:18:45","slug":"driving-centres-in-singapore-hike-learner-fees-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=25668","title":{"rendered":"Driving centres in Singapore hike learner fees in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->Taking lessons to <!-- -->seek<!-- --> a driving licence has become more expensive, with the three driving centres in Singapore raising fees from Jan 1.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">At the Singapore Safety Driving Centre (SSDC) in Woodlands, the cost for mandated simulator training has risen by 25.2 per cent, from $24.38 to $30.52<!-- --> per session.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Theory lessons saw a 23.1 per cent <!-- -->cost spike<!-- -->, from $17.71 <!-- -->per 100-minute<!-- --> session in 2025 to $21.80 in 2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">At the Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC), a 100-minute practical driving lesson during peak <!-- -->time slots<!-- -->, such as 7.20pm to 9pm on weekdays,<!-- --> <!-- -->now costs $86.11, a 6.8 per cent hike from the previous $80.66.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The price for a peak-period practical driving lesson at ComfortDelGro Driving Centre (CDC) in Ubi has gone up by 9.3 per cent, from $81.75 to $89.38 per session.<!-- --> <!-- -->The peak periods at CDC are from 10.20am to noon and 4.25pm to 10.20pm on weekdays, and all time slots on Saturdays and Sundays. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">There are two types of driving licences for vehicles weighing not more than 3,000kg. Class 3 licence holders can operate all motor cars under this weight limit and Class 3A holders are restricted to automatic vehicles, which do not have a clutch pedal.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The majority of candidates for these two driving licences enrol in the driving centres, rather than use private instructors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Between November 2024 and October 2025, there were 20,124 candidates who took their Class 3 driving licence for the first time, with 62.6 per cent being learners from the three driving centres. In the same period, there were 25,981 first time candidates for the Class 3A driving test, with 60.9 per cent taking classes at the driving centres. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Candidates who fail the test can retake it. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">A CDC spokesperson told The Straits Times that the rate for practical lessons<!-- --> <!-- -->was last updated in April 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">CDC also implemented a 12.1 per cent hike in the cost of simulator training, from $27.03 to $30.30 <!-- -->per 20-minute session<!-- -->. The centre\u2019s spokesperson said this is the first price revision since the training course was introduced in December 2019. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The price <!-- -->revisions <!-- -->have also been extended to motorcycle and heavy vehicle driving licence <!-- -->seekers.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">At SSDC, rental of heavy vehicles for driving tests jumped by 26.3 per cent, from $207.10 to $261.60. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">At BBDC, which will be replaced by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/transport\/new-choa-chu-kang-driving-centre-to-have-intelligent-circuits-bt-batok-centre-will-go-by-end-2030?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">multi-storey driving centre in Choa Chu Kang<\/p>\n<p><\/a> by December 2030, peak-period practical lessons for motorcycles with engines exceeding 400cc now cost $47.96 <!-- -->for a 100-minute session<!-- -->, up 10 per cent from $43.60. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">CDC and SSDC announced their 2026 fees in November 2025, while BBDC published its 2026 prices on Dec 24, 2025. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In response to The Straits Times, CDC\u2019s spokesperson said the adjustments<!-- --> <!-- -->are to support salary revisions for its instructors so that their wages would be market-competitive, manage rising costs and fund technological initiatives that help student learning. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SSDC\u2019s spokesperson said the new prices were \u201cimplemented to ensure business continuity and to allow us to provide even better services to our customers\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">BBDC did not respond by publication time.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base none\" title=\"dynamic_iframe_wrapper\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/h7reF\/4\/\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;undefinedclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Some learners said they have no choice but to stomach the higher costs. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Since November, Mr Javion Lim, 18, has taken three<!-- --> <!-- -->practical driving lessons at SSDC and has another 12 or so lessons to go. The Temasek Polytechnic student said: \u201cIt\u2019s quite annoying. Even though the increase is not a lot, I still have many lessons to go and the cost will really add up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Lim pays an additional $10 to $15 per session to \u201ccampers\u201d to get his lesson slots. These are individuals or automated bots that snatch the slots the moment the driving centres release them. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He resorted to this <!-- -->approach <!-- -->when he found that it was nearly impossible to book directly as slots are taken up almost instantly upon release.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">ST reported in May 2025 that learners <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/desperate-learner-drivers-pay-for-queue-jumping-bot-services-to-secure-earlier-slots?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">resorted to using automated bots<\/p>\n<p><\/a>, or paying someone on local online marketplace Carousell to secure lessons, so as not to prolong the time needed to get their licences. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The driving centres attributed the long wait for lessons to a shortage of instructors. It was reported in April 2024 that the three centres have around 700 instructors, down from 845 in 2022.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The centres acknowledged the <!-- -->booking<!-- --> issue and have implemented policies like suspending accounts found to have used bots or computer programme scripts to secure slots. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">To avoid resorting to unofficial methods, Ms Claire Ho, 18, opts for CDC\u2019s premium coaching schemes. In return for paying up to $16.35 more than standard driving lessons, the schemes offer benefits including a dedicated team of trainers and the same training car for every session. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Temasek Polytechnic student said, with this service, she has bagged nine slots for January and February, ahead of her driving test.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Others, like Mr Reyes Teo, have turned to private driving instructors. The 27-year-old marketing executive engaged such a person after he found<!-- --> <!-- -->in June 2025 that he had to wait six months to get his first practical lesson at CDC. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">While a 100-minute practical driving session at CDC costs up to $89.38, Mr Teo pays his instructor $65 per hour, or $115, if the lesson uses the driving centre\u2019s circuit. On the rising costs, Mr Teo said: \u201cLessons are already expensive as it is. It is as if the system doesn\u2019t want more drivers on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Traffic Police, which has stopped issuing new private driving instructor licences since 1987 <!-- -->as part of Singapore\u2019s drive to professionalise driver education<!-- -->, said there were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/opinion\/forum\/forum-traffic-police-upholds-standards-in-driving-instruction?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">254 such instructors as at June 1, 2025<\/p>\n<p><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/transport\/driving-centres-in-singapore-hike-learner-fees-in-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 Taking lessons to seek a driving licence has become more expensive, with the three driving centres in Singapore raising fees from Jan 1&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25669,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25668"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25668\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25669"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}