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
Patricia Makatsaria; American
“We first leased a BMW for a year and a half with Avis Car Rental Singapore. During the last six months of our stay, we opted for a Nissan Qashqai, which is great for moving and transporting our items leading up to our relocation back to the US. Given our lifestyle, Avis’s flexible monthly lease worked really well for us. As an international family, we go away during Christmas and summer holidays for more than a month, so the flexibility helped us to be more economical with the use of the car. I was given the option to turn in the vehicle while we were away and rent it again when we returned. It was really convenient.
My husband and I share the car; we use it primarily for commuting to work and school, running errands and going for excursions. Being a big tennis family, we enjoy exploring the different tennis courts in Singapore and participating in tournaments. We also like going to parks and green spaces, including MacRitchie Reservoir, and we make many trips to Woodlands as our kids studied at the Singapore American School.
The company’s customer service is great. I once encountered a tyre problem and the team reacted fast. When the car is due for servicing, I don’t need to drop it off; they come and pick it up and provide a replacement car. And the salespeople have been really accommodating. When I speak to my friends about leasing, I highly recommend the service Avis offers.”
Avis Car Rental Singapore
• City: 390A Havelock Road, #01-07 Waterfront Plaza
• Airport: Changi Airport Terminal 2 Arrival Hall
6737 1668 | avis.com.sg
BizLink Rent-A-Car
Shane and Jayashree, Australian and Singaporean; Will (18), Dhiv (16) and Kierann (14)
“I have leased various vehicles from BizLink over the past eight years or so. I’m currently driving a 2018 Hyundai Accent. I’ve always had a vehicle while working and living in Singapore since I first came here in 1993, and I’m very familiar with all the issues of having a car.
Leasing is a better solution for us since we are a busy family with school, business, sport and social engagements; we need reliable transport 24/7. We also like to take slow drives during the weekends to Kranji Reservoir and Lim Chu Kang farms. There are plenty of great relaxing places to visit up there and the roads are empty. In my 20 years of driving on the island’s roads, I feel that Singapore is generally a friendly place to drive in. I haven’t seen road rage here like there is in Australia!
All the cars I’ve leased over the years have fulfilled our needs. The service that BizLink offers has been exceptional. It’s a given fact that cars suffer breakdowns over the years and there have been times when a vehicle has overheated, a tyre has gotten a puncture, or the air-con has run out of gas. BizLink has never failed to solve the problem quickly, efficiently and with a smile. When the situation is more serious, a replacement car is driven to us immediately so we can continue on our journey with minimal delay. The servicemen also stay with the car until it’s been towed away. That’s the kind of convenience you get from BizLink.”
Shane’s dream car: “A Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.”
BizLink Rent-A-Car
#01-11 Ubi Car Mall, 18 Ubi Road 4
6285 6616 | bizlinkrentacar.com.sg
ComfortDelGro Rent-A-Car
Thomas and Lucy Markert, German; Max (19)
“We have been living in Singapore for the last 17 years. Compared to road conditions in other parts of Asia, the roads here are very well maintained, signs are in English and traffic conditions are also regulated. It’s easy to plan ahead or take alternative routes.
I’ve been leasing from ComfortDelGro Rent-A-Car for six years; my current car is a Volkswagen Passat. I love that it’s spacious and very comfortable and relaxing to ride in. I personally enjoy the fast pick-up, too, which is handy in tight situations and also adds to the joy of driving the car.
As far as service goes, I have peace of mind that the company tracks my vehicle’s service schedule, and that they are just a phone call away whenever there is a problem. During servicing, a temporary car is offered.
We travel to Johor Bahru pretty often both for business and leisure, and I drive further up to Malacca and Kuala Lumpur to visit customers. I remember one time when I was driving to Malacca for work and the car broke down on the highway. Within half an hour of contacting the company, they dispatched a truck to tow the car from the congested highway and a replacement car was delivered to our hotel in Malacca on the very same night!”
Thomas’s dream car? “A 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT.”
ComfortDelGro Rent-A-Car
205 Braddell Road
6882 0888 | cdgrentacar.com.sg
Evergreen Rent A Car
Elizabeth and Andrew Brown, Australian; Lucy (5) and newborn twins Will and Tom
“This is our second stint in Singapore, after moving here from Hong Kong in 2016. We find it a super easy place to drive in; parking is easy and the roads are well maintained. Our weekends are very busy – we spend lots of time on Sentosa or on the East Coast, two of our favourite places to drive to.
We’re currently leasing a Santa Fe Crossover with Evergreen Rent A Car. Our primary reason for choosing this car is the size; it’s a seven-seater that easily accommodates our three children’s car seats, and we still have plenty of space. We really like the engine size too. It’s a big car but very easy to park and great for navigating the streets of Orchard! We leased this particular car for one year but we have been customers of Evergreen for seven years, now opting for a different type of car as our needs have changed. It’s an important reason why we lease instead of buying; though leasing is more expensive, it gives us lots of flexibility with the type of car we drive.
Since 2012, we have received nothing but outstanding service from Evergreen. Every detail is taken care of when you lease with them, from servicing to accident response and repairs – they handle it all! They collect the car when a service is due and always offer a replacement. They have a dedicated team available to assist you 24/7.”
Their dream car? “Having a big family, we’re all about size! Next year, we plan to upgrade to a BMW X7. It’s probably our dream car, but we’ll take anything that fits all of our car seats!”
Evergreen Rent A Car
#01-07 Amtech Building, 159 Sin Ming Road
6459 0990 | evergreenrentacar.com
Wearnes Automotive
Fernando and Cristina Otero, American and Brazilian; Isabela (2.5)
“I’ve been leasing a Volvo XC90 for the past two years with Wearnes Automotive and will be switching to a three-year lease on a new Volvo XC40. The XC40 is a better size for our family and, while it’s smaller externally (great for parking here in Singapore!), it offers more space in the interior. There are also lots of modern safety features in the XC40, such as the Lane Keeping Aid, Driver Alert and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS). Volvo has a well-known reputation and history for safety features. Since my daughter was born, safety has been a primary consideration for me when selecting vehicles and Volvo was an easy choice.
Mandy from Wearnes Automotive was extremely attentive and was the first one to respond after I sent emails to different companies requesting information for leases. She followed up by offering a test drive at the Volvo dealership. This helped us see if the car was a good fit for us. Their lease offerings are also very complete, covering many elements such as routine maintenance, insurance, roadside assistance and replacement vehicles.
I find Singapore an easy place to drive in, as the expressways and roads are in great shape. Also, there are many petrol stations, car washes and service stations. Fernando’s dream car? “I’m a huge James Bond fan so I’d go with Aston Martins – firstly the DB10, followed by the Vantage and DB11.”
Wearnes Automotive
28 Leng Kee Road
6876 5063 | wearnesleasing.com
For more helpful tips head to our living in Singapore section.
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Churches and other places of worship in Singapore
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This article first appeared in the August 2019 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
