Singapore may have a great public transport system, but it’s hard to beat the convenience of driving – especially with a growing family to ferry around. If you are an expat, you may not want to commit to buying a car, so perhaps you are considering long-term car rental? We asked readers about their experiences leasing a car in Singapore.
Avis Car Rental Singapore
Kenneth and Shirley Burns, Scottish; Callum (15) and Veronica (13)
When I first received my Nissan Almera from Avis, it was spotless and in excellent condition for a two-to-three-year-old car. Even though it’s a compact, it’s still roomy, and the trunk is sufficiently large.
Driving in Singapore is pleasant and convenient. The driving culture here is quite different from the UK – for example, there are more motorcycles to be careful of. There are also overtaking lanes in the UK, but in Singapore there are only fast lanes. However, it’s not that difficult to make the switch. We enjoy driving to Port Dickson in Malaysia – the car is comfortable for all four of us and our luggage.
We chose Avis because it’s a very reputable company in Europe. Cost and service were huge components for us, too, and Avis fulfilled these criteria. Even though the price wasn’t the cheapest in the market, the quality of service is worth it. The company is excellent, reliable and responsive. I was involved in an accident recently and they organised for a replacement vehicle immediately. The staff were professional and approached the matter positively – much needed during such a stressful situation. I also thought the collision damage waiver excess from the incident was lost money, but the staff followed up with the insurance claims from the third party and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that I no longer had to pay for it.
Dream car? Tough question! I think it would be a Jaguar E-Type V12.
Avis Car Rental Singapore
#01-07 Waterfront Plaza, 390A Havelock Road
6305 3199 | avis.com.sg/leasing
ComfortDelGro Rent-A-Car
Sheree Secrett, Australian; Henry (18)
We’ve been with ComfortDelGro for nearly 10 years now! We’re currently renting a Honda Vezel from them. The car is very economical with petrol, compact and has a great drive. It’s also very easy to upkeep and keep clean.
We have travelled to and driven in many places around the world, and every country has its issues. Driving in Singapore can be challenging – especially during a thunderstorm! That said, Singapore’s roads are well-maintained so cars don’t get worn down as quickly or easily in the long run. It’s generally a car-friendly city; we especially like driving along the freeways, as long as there are no traffic jams (so definitely not on Fridays!). We don’t go to Malaysia often, but in the past we’ve driven to Malacca and also as far as Kuala Lumpur.
ComfortDelGro offers great service; their team is very professional and they communicate well with customers. Our car is always kept well-maintained by the company, from replacing its window washers to other bigger maintenance projects. Having a rental car is fantastic!
Dream car? Audi SUV.
ComfortDelGro Rent-A-Car
205 Braddell Road
6882 0888 | cdgrentacar.com.sg
Evergreen Rent A Car
Sarah and Callum Eade, Australian and New Zealander; Sophie (8) and Charlie (6)
We’ve been living in Singapore for almost six years now and have been leasing through Evergreen ever since we arrived. This is our third lease, and this time we chose a BMW X3. For our first car, we renewed and extended a couple of times, and we had a 19-month lease for our second car. We opted for a three-year lease this time. Evergreen offers different and flexible lease options, and has been accommodating each time.
The car is great – it fits not only the kids, but also the dog and bikes, which is very important for my husband and children! Evergreen tailors lease periods, and personally delivers cars (or replacement cars, if required) and even paperwork to your door. They also handle all insurance, servicing and repairs. When a taxi ran into the car, they handled the insurance and repair details, saving us from a lot of logistics and admin.
The traffic generally flows really well in Singapore with all of the overpasses, electronic tolls and car parks. But, if there’s an accident on the highway, it can affect traffic in all directions for hours – and some of those car park spiral entries are treacherous! One of the things I miss most about Australia is that you can park on the street and just duck quickly into a shop.
Dream car? My kids would choose a Lamborghini, my husband a McLaren or Porsche, but for me, it’s probably a large sturdy vehicle like a Mercedes AMG, G-Wagen or Range Rover.
Evergreen Rent A Car
159 Sin Ming Road
6459 0990 | evergreenrentacar.com
Keng Soon Auto
Tristan Arnold and Tina Osman, British and Singaporean; Tyler (4) and Theodore (1)
We’ve leased a Mitsubishi Outlander 4×4 from Keng Soon Auto for two years. We chose this car as we have two children and needed a lot of space in the trunk. We also wanted a seven-seater as we knew it would be handy when relatives or friends come to visit. Plus, in Singapore, when there are flash floods, the four-wheel drive comes in useful.
Singapore is an easy country to drive in – similar to driving back home in England in many ways. The island itself is great as a whole – it’s very easy to get around because of the many expressways.
We like the car for its driving position, the ample space to accommodate our family, and the four-wheel drive. We’re now into the second year of our lease, and our experience with the car has been very good so far. The team at Keng Seng Auto have also been very friendly. They go the extra mile for us when our car goes for maintenance and if we face any issues. When the car is in the shop for servicing, they’ll bring a replacement vehicle to you and bring your car back afterwards, so it’s hassle-free.
Dream car? Ferrari F355 GTS in red.
Keng Soon Auto
#01-00 Keng Soon Credit Building, 104 Prinsep Street
6337 7533 | kengsoonauto.com
Wearnes Automotive
Lindsay and Daniel Laverick, British; Skylar (5) and Harlow (3)
We have leased a new Discovery Sport over three years from Wearnes, mainly because we have owned Land Rover brands in the past and appreciate their reliability.
We’ve had a great experience with the car so far. We generally find any excuse to drive around the island on weekends – when we’re not ferrying the kids around to endless activities. We love the design and comfort of the car, and our kids love that the colour isn’t shiny! There’s more than enough space in the back for car seats, toys and general child entertainment, while the boot’s vast storage can take scooters, bikes, groceries, toys, books and beach gear. I find Singapore a relatively easy place to drive, now that I’m used to the unique style of driving here. A favourite place to drive is around the East Coast, but anything away from my daily PIE office commute is a bonus!
We chose Wearnes for their excellent reputation, but also for the great selection of brands and variety of leasing options. The comprehensive insurance, service and maintenance package is very reassuring, and having replacement vehicles readily available when needed is also very convenient. Our sales representative Mandy Woon provided personalised before and after sales service; she made the leasing process extremely smooth.
Dream car? Bugatti Veyron; completely impractical for a family car and wasted on the slow roads around Singapore, but I can still dream…
Wearnes Automotive
28 Leng Kee Road
6876 5063 | wearnesleasing.com
For more helpful tips head to our living in Singapore section:
The expat’s guide on where to live in Singapore
Top tips for owning a pet in Singapore
This article first appeared in the September 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
