Fretting over the amount of time spent getting your license? This article aims to simplify the whole process in what we think is the fastest way to get your driving license in Singapore.
Usually, when it comes to getting a license, the process takes 3-6 months from start to finish.
The bulk of the time will be spent waiting, for your Basic Theory Test(BTT), then for your Final Theory Test(FTT) and then your Traffic Police(TP) Test. BTT and FTT are known to have long waiting times and so the most efficient way of cutting short the total wait time, is to apply for them immediately when you are able to.
How do you do it?
From past experience, online sources and interviews with the public, the common consensus is that you also need to have technical competency in driving, so as to be able to pass in just 1 attempt. We understand that not everyone is born the same, but we hope these tips will help to increase those chances of passing!
Look here for some driving test tips which may help you.
For theory tests, such as BTT and FTT, here is a site to help you in practicing, and for those applying to schools, they provide free books for you to study for the tests. The key to passing the tests is practice, practice, practice!
You must also be thinking, School or Private?
School
There are 3 driving schools in Singapore. They are:
Schools provide a more structured way of learning, given a lesson plan and if you're feeling lost, they are your best bet.
Traffic Police releases passing rates of candidates, and for your easy viewing, here are the passing rates.
As you can observe here, BBDC has the highest passing rates, perhaps due to its pedagogy, which we we will not go into. Hence a good strategy would be to apply for driving at the school which ensures a higher passing rate, increasing your chances of getting a driving license faster.
However, one thing to note that with schools, there is a minimum number of lessons to complete, and requirements to achieve. If the instructor deems that you have not passed the requirements, you would not be able to take the test. Typically it takes 18-25 lessons before you take your TP. ***If you are taking Class 3A lessons, it would take less lessons than if you were taking the manual lessons(Class 3). It will also be cheaper.
Most cases, your instructor changes from time to time, which may or may not be a bad thing.
To speed up the process given that you are enrolled in a school, make sure you free up your days in the months that you are learning driving.
This is because CONSISTENT, FREQUENT driving will help in consolidating your knowledge, and hone your driving skills as well.
As such, we recommend to do the following:
- Practice at least 3 to 4 times in a week and spread the practice sessions out.
- If you are able to, camp at the school websites early in the morning, to book cancelled sessions. In this way, you can complete even multiple driving lessons in a day! **Lessons on weekends may be more expensive.
- Arrange for practices after you complete your lessons, close to your TP test date, so as to remain confident of your driving skills.
- Take your mock-test seriously.
Private
If you are confident of your ability, able to self-study without a structured lesson plan, and want to get your license faster, find a competent private instructor.
Traffic Police also publishes a list of private instructors and their passing rates here.
The ability to book a TP test depends if the instructors think you are ready. If you are really competent and able to learn quickly, it can take you less than 15 lessons for you to be ready.
So, what is the fastest way?
There is no 1 definite fastest way to get your driving license in Singapore. Depending on your choice of learning(School or Private), these tips may help accelerate the process in getting your license faster.
After all, consistent practice and diligence is key in getting your driving license fast.