With rising COE and petrol prices yearly, we can totally understand why many new drivers find it difficult to own a car in Singapore. Thankfully, there is the option of renting a car which is a cheaper and more convenient alternative. Renting a car also means you won’t need to squeeze with others on public transport such as buses and trains – that’s a win in our book! Scroll on to find out our recommendations of the best car rental services in Singapore!
What are the different types of car rentals in Singapore?
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Car rental shops
Car rental shops rent out automobiles from a fleet of cars they own, generally ranging from a few hours to a few weeks. These car rental shops are usually housed at one location, although there are some with numerous branches so that it makes returning the vehicle more convenient.
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Car sharing services
Car sharing services have also been on the rise in recent years. Drivers only have to download the best car rental apps in Singapore to reserve a car they want to use. Car sharing services are usually charged by the hour, so it is a popular option if you are only renting a car for a few hours. Car sharing vehicles are located all over the island, including the heartlands, making it convenient to rent one.
What do I have to look out for when renting a car in Singapore?
Here are some questions to ask yourself before renting a car in Singapore:
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How long do I want to rent the car for?
If you are looking to rent a car for a few days or weeks, we suggest renting one from a car rental shop since they have better deals for long-term rentals. However, if you just need a car to run some errands for a few hours, car sharing services would be a better option given that they offer some of the best hourly car rental rates in Singapore.
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Where are the rental cars located?
Whether you decide to rent from a rental shop or car sharing service, it is important to check for the location and accessibility of their vehicles. For example, it would help if the car rental shop is located near to your residence, so you don’t have to spend a lot of time commuting after returning the vehicle. It is also important to take note that some services require you to return the car at the same location, while others let you return the car at a completely different location.
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How much does it cost to rent a car in Singapore?
Car sharing services offer some of the best hourly car rental rates in Singapore, with prices ranging from $2/hour to $5/hour. Meanwhile, daily car rentals usually start from up to $50/day. Other than the usual hourly or daily rental fees, there are other costs to take note of when renting a car in Singapore. This depends on the company you are renting from and the model of the car.
Other costs | Average price per rental |
Membership fees (for car sharing) | $10/month |
Deposit (for car rental shops) | $100 |
Insurance | $30 – $60 |
Late penalty fees | $5 |
ERP road tax, parking, petrol | $100 |
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Am I an automatic or manual car driver?
While most cars are automatic these days, some rental services only offer manual cars. Thankfully, most of the best car rentals in Singapore offer both automatic and manual cars. Regardless, it is crucial to check with the respective shop or service before renting, depending on which type of licence you have.
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Am I a new driver?
According to the road laws in Singapore, new drivers within one year of getting their driver’s licence have to put up probation car plates on the top right portion of front and rear windscreens. However, not all car rental services allow new drivers to rent, so do check the respective requirements first. Additionally, while the legal age for driving in Singapore is 18, some car rentals require drivers to be at least 23 years of age.
Best car rental shops in Singapore
1. AKA Car Rental
Just got your driver’s licence but your parents are still reluctant to let you drive their car? Fret not! At AKA Car Rental, new drivers are allowed to rent vehicles too – just make sure you bring along a probation car plate! As one of the best car rentals in Singapore for weekend usage, there are over a dozen car models you can choose from including the popular Suzuki Swift and Toyota Vios E. What’s more, AKA Car Rental provides full insurance coverage for all customers so you’re guaranteed a safe ride!
Address: 1 Commonwealth Lane, #02-05, S(149544)
Opening Hours:
Fri – Mon: 10:30am – 7pm
2. EAZI Car Leasing
Thinking of going on a road trip to Malaysia from Singapore? You’ll be pleased to know that you can rent vehicles from EAZI Car Leasing to do so! With an additional fee of up to $30, we think it’s more than worth it to have the convenience of your own vehicle while crossing the causeway. Having been in the market since 2007, EAZI is one of the best car rentals in Singapore with reasonable prices. For instance, there are plenty of promotions available during peak periods and holidays when you opt for hybrid and electric vehicles.
Address: WCEGA Plaza, 1 Bukit Batok Crescent, #02-43, S(658064)
Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri: 10am – 7pm
Sat: 10am – 2pm
3. Sixt Car Rental
Ever wanted to drive a limousine? Make that dream a reality by renting one with Sixt Car Rental! With prices starting from $20/hour, Sixt offers some of the best hourly car rental rates in Singapore. Even better, it has branches located at prime tourist attractions such as Jewel Changi Airport and Sentosa Island. This makes it easier to ferry your overseas friends when they pay a visit to our little red dot! Additionally, Sixt has one of the best car rental apps in Singapore you can download for fuss-free bookings.
Address: 293 Kaki Bukit Avenue 1, #03-00, S(416081)
Check out their other branches here
Opening Hours:
Mon – Sat: 10am – 5pm
4. Swee Seng Leasing
Whether you want to rent a regular sedan or a large SUV, Swee Seng Leasing has it all. To sweeten the deal, it offers some of the best hourly car rental rates in Singapore so you get to make the most of your buck with the many brands available. From Honda to Nissan and Mitsubishi, you’ll definitely be spoilt for choice! As one of the best car rental shops in Singapore, you can also rest assured that their vehicles are spick and span. Swee Seng Leasing also has a 24/7 hotline in case you run into any emergency.
Address: Toh Guan Centre, 21 Toh Guan Road East, #03-02, S(608609)
Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri: 9am – 6pm
5. Lion City Rentals Pte Ltd
If you’re on the hunt for the best car rentals in Singapore on a budget, then Lion City Rentals Pte Ltd should be right up your alley. Boasting affordable rental rates from $45/day for a week, you won’t feel the pinch when enjoying the convenience of renting a car. Better still, there is an option to rent first and pay later with a deposit of just $100. Lion City Rentals also wows with its top-notch service standards with in-house servicing, maintenance and repairs carried out on all vehicles regularly.
Address: 4 Jalan Besut, S(619557)
Check out their other branches here
Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri: 8am – 6pm
6. Ace Drive
Having won the Singapore Tatler’s Best Car Rental Company Award multiple times, it should come as no surprise that Ace Drive is one of the best car rental companies in Singapore. It offers an amazing luxury sports car selection for rent with premium brands like BMW, Porsche and Tesla in the list. Those looking for wedding car rentals can also choose from their readily available fleet that’s chosen to fit a wedding’s overall look and feel. Best part? Ace Drive offers remarkable rental packages with full insurance coverage – what a steal!
Address: Frontier Building, 50 Ubi Avenue 3, #05-06, S(408866)
Opening Hours:
Mon – Sat: 9am – 6pm
7. Island Car Rental
Kickstart your car rental journey with Island Car Rental! Offering over 60 vehicles across three locations, Island Car Rental is one of the best car rental services in Singapore that caters to your convenience. With a reputation dating back to 2015, you’ll be impressed by its fleet of vehicles too. From the Hyundai Elantra to the Mercedes-Benz S320L, all their vehicles can be rented on either a daily, weekly or monthly basis. All you have to do is choose a pick up and return date, confirm your order via WhatsApp and collect your keys!
Address: Block 859A (MSCP), Woodlands Street 83, Deck 4B, S(731859)
Check out their other branches here
Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri: 10am – 7pm
Overview of the best car rental shops in Singapore (2022)
Car rental shop | Rental rate | Minimum requirement | Why we love it |
AKA Car Rental | From $70/day | 18 years of age with valid licence | Great for P-plate drivers |
EAZI Car Leasing | From $60/day | 1 year driving licence validity | Can be driven to Malaysia |
Sixt Car Rental | From $20/hour | 22 years of age and 2 years driving licence validity | Exclusive limo car rentals |
Swee Seng Leasing | From $70/day | 18 years of age with valid licence | Large fleet size with many brands |
Lion City Rentals Pte Ltd | From $45/day | 2 years driving licence validity | Budget option |
Ace Drive | From $110/day | 23 years of age and 3 years driving licence validity | Amazing luxury sports and wedding cars selection |
Island Car Rental | From $70/day | 18 years of age with valid licence | Three branches islandwide |
Best car sharing services in Singapore
8. Blue SG
Electric cars are all the rage now and no brand is booming in this field as fast as Blue SG (viewable on mobile only). In fact, with a fleet of over 1000 cars, it is one of the best car rental sharing services in Singapore. There are over 300 Blue SG stations all over the heartlands, which makes it a whole lot more convenient to rent a car – it could literally be parked in your estate’s car park! Moreover, it follows a point-to-point model where you don’t have to return the car to the same lot you picked it up from. Convenience aside, Blue SG’s car rentals are based on a fixed rate depending on your membership. This means that the fees are the same whether it’s a weekday, weekend, peak or off-peak hour!
9. Tribecar
Another frontrunner on our list of best car sharing services in Singapore is Tribecar, which offers fantastic hourly car rental rates from $0.54/hour. This way, you can run your errands smoothly without fear that renting a car will burn a bigger hole in your wallet. It helps that there are over 230 vehicles across 110 stations islandwide so you’ll most probably find one within your neighbourhood. Furthermore, the renting process is rather easy too. Simply download the Tribecar app, which is one of the best car rental apps in Singapore, and book a vehicle based on your preferred time and location.
10. GetGo
When it comes to the best car rental apps in Singapore, GetGo is another top option. Quick to use with no membership fees, many choose GetGo for its fuss-free booking process and insurance features. In particular, it has a collision damage waiver insurance scheme that drivers can opt for if they are worried about getting into accidents. It costs an additional 5% of the total booking charge, but can save you at least $3,000 in the unfortunate event of an accident. As one of the best car sharing services in Singapore, GetGo has also introduced more electric vehicles as part of its sustainability goals to use less fossil fuels. Cheers to a greener future!
11. Shariot
Ever thought of earning some extra cash during your free time by being a private hire driver? With Shariot, you can do so even if you don’t own a car! After all, Shariot aims to be a fuss-free car-sharing service with zero membership commitments and affordable rates. Simply rent a car from this best car rental app in Singapore and pay using their e-wallet system. It helps that they offer some of the best hourly car rental rates in Singapore from as low as $1/hour, so you can keep most of your earnings from doing private hire. However, do note that fuel charges are not included and you have to return the car with at least a quarter tank full or penalties will apply.
12. Car Club
Singapore’s pioneer car-sharing company, Car Club, was acquired by Tribecar in March 2022, in what is one of the largest buyouts in the local car-sharing scene. Despite that, it functions independently from its parent company and we can trust that it offers some of the best car sharing services in Singapore too. With 450 cars over 100 stations all over the island, you’re bound to find one situated near your residence. We love how they offer a variety of car models including the Toyota Altis and Mazda CX-5, so you’ll be spoilt for choice when deciding on your preferred aesthetic. Do note that the cars have to be picked up and returned at the same location, so factor that in before renting.
13. WhizzCar
Still looking for the best car rental services in Singapore? We recommend WhizzCar, which has 15 years of experience in offering car-sharing services. With a fleet of 170 cars across 58 stations, WhizzCar rentals differ across membership plans and the type of car. The Standard membership plan does not impose a minimum charge while the Extra Value membership plan allows you to bring your credits forward to the next month. Meanwhile, there is also a Whizz-Ezzy plan which is suitable for drivers who require occasional access to a WhizzCar without any long-term commitment. Either way, these value-for-money membership plans start from as low as $10/month, so it’ll surely stretch your dollar!
14. Car Lite
Having been established in 2008, Car Lite is a relatively new player in the market. Yet, it still holds its own as one of the best car sharing services in Singapore. What we love most about Car Lite is how they allow for bookings that are less than an hour which start from just $0.60 per 15 minutes. As such, their hourly car rental rates are also some of the best in Singapore at less than $5/hour. This is great for anyone who needs a car to run quick errands within short distances but isn’t willing to spend a bomb. Cars-wise, you can choose from five tiers of cars which includes popular models like the Mazda Wish and Honda Civic.
15. DriveLah
The best car sharing services in Singapore are those that offer solid insurance packages. Case in point: DriveLah, which is hailed to be the largest peer-to-peer car-sharing community in Singapore. Every booking comes with basic protection, capped at a maximum personal liability of $6,420 in case of any accident or damage. This will definitely give all drivers a peace of mind! The DriveLah mobile app is also one of the best car rental apps in Singapore that charges based on the car model instead of using a fixed cost structure. Specifically, renting a Suzuki Swift can cost as low as $50/day while a Honda Jazz is rented out at up to $500/day.
Overview of the best car sharing services in Singapore (2022)
Car sharing service | Rental rate | Membership fee | Minimum requirement | Why we love it |
Blue SG | From $0.42/min | From $8/month | 20 years of age and 1 year driving licence validity | Point-to-point service with 300 stations |
Tribecar | From $0.54/hour | – | 18 years of age with valid licence | Affordable option |
GetGo | From $3/hour | – | 1 year driving licence validity | Collision damage waiver insurance |
Shariot | From $1/hour | $100 deposit | 19 years of age and 1 year driving licence validity | Can be used for private hire purposes |
Car Club | From $3/hour | – | 22 years of age and 2 years driving licence validity | Over 100 stations islandwide |
WhizzCar | From $11/hour | From $10/month | 21 years of age and 1 year driving licence validity | Value-for-money membership plans |
Car Lite | From $0.60 per 15min | – | 18 years of age with valid licence | Allows for 15-minute bookings |
DriveLah | From $50/day | – | 22 years of age and 2 years driving licence validity | Premium insurance plans included |
Zoom around town with the best car rentals in Singapore
Now that you have rented a car, we hope running errands will become more convenient. To make things even more comfortable, invest in some of the best car accessories like a phone holder and car fan that will definitely come in handy. And if you’ve a newborn, you might want to consider browsing through some of the best baby car seats that can secure your infant to the seat safely. Otherwise, don’t forget to install the best car dash cameras which are able to record unforeseen incidents while you’re driving.