China licence Singapore

Driving in Singapore with a China license

Short answer: to drive in Singapore with a China license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva format, carried together with your China license.

Bring an IDP

Yes — to drive in Singapore on a China licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your China licence. Singapore expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Convention basisSingapore uses the format of the 1949 Geneva Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

At the rental deskDesks request an IDP for non-English licences; ERP road pricing applies.

CarryCarry BOTH your China national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

Minimum age18+ to drive; rental typically 21+ with a young-driver surcharge under 25

Validity1–3 years (you choose at checkout)

FormatDigital PDF you print yourself, plus a QR-verifiable ID card — accepted alongside printed permits

Last verified July 2026Source: 1949 Geneva Convention

Get my IDP for Singapore Full Singapore guide

Mainland China is not party to the IDP conventions, so Chinese drivers typically obtain a temporary local licence in the destination country. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1949 Geneva format and carried alongside your national licence.

What driving in Singapore is like

Driving in Singapore with a foreign licence

The coastal drive along East Coast Parkway and round to Changi Coast Road and the southern Mount Faber/Henderson area is a popular short scenic loop. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 90 km/h expressways. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your China licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Singapore can read your credentials at a glance.

Driving rules in Singapore

Drive on the left.
Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries charge in busy areas.
0.08% alcohol limit, strictly enforced.
Seatbelts mandatory for all occupants.

Local driving facts in Singapore

Emergency number: 999 (police), 995 (ambulance) (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 90 km/h expressways. Posted limits always take precedence.

Tolls & road charges: Singapore uses Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries that deduct charges automatically; rental cars come fitted with an In-Vehicle Unit and a stored-value (NETS/CEPAS) card that must hold sufficient credit, or fines arrive by post.
Parking: Urban parking mixes Electronic Parking System (EPS) carparks deducting from the same stored-value card, the URA Parking.sg app for street/coupon zones, and HDB/URA paid lots; illegal or expired parking risks fines and towing.
Penalties & enforcement: From January 2026 speeding up to 20 km/h over draws fines from SGD 200 plus 6 demerit points; holding any mobile device (phone, tablet, smartwatch) while driving is illegal, and camera-captured offences are billed to the rental company and passed to the hirer with an admin fee.
If you have an accident: For accidents with fatalities or serious injury requiring hospitalisation, calling police on 999 is mandatory; minor accidents need not involve police but should be reported to the Traffic Police (6547 0000) and the rental firm, and you must not obstruct traffic unnecessarily.
City driving: Central Singapore is ringed by ERP gantries that charge variable peak-hour rates entering the CBD/Orchard area; rates and active gantries change by time of day, so a depleted IU card here is the most common tourist fine.
Winter driving: No winter-tyre rules - tropical climate.
Fuel: Stations sell petrol grades 92/95/98 and diesel, are mostly full-service attended, and accept international cards; pump prices are high at roughly SGD 2.80-3.20 per litre for 95-octane.

Sources: sixt.com.sg, police.gov.sg, freshcars.sg, scdf.gov.sg

Common questions

Can I drive in Singapore with a China license?

to drive in Singapore with a China license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva format, carried together with your China license. Singapore uses the format of the 1949 Geneva Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

Is my China driver's license valid in Singapore?

Yes — to drive in Singapore on a China licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your China licence. Singapore expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Do I need an International Driving Permit for Singapore?

Yes — to drive in Singapore on a China licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your China licence. Singapore expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Can I rent a car in Singapore with a China license?

Desks request an IDP for non-English licences; ERP road pricing applies.

What IDP format does Singapore accept?

Singapore uses the format of the 1949 Geneva Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

How do I get an International Driving Permit for Singapore?

An International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing China license. You apply online, and it is issued as a printable PDF booklet with a QR-verifiable ID card in the 1949 Geneva format Singapore uses — carried alongside your China license.

Do I still carry my China license?

Carry BOTH your China national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Singapore?

In Singapore, dial 999 (police), 995 (ambulance) for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The general maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 90 km/h expressways; posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.

How do tolls and road charges work in Singapore?

Singapore uses Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries that deduct charges automatically; rental cars come fitted with an In-Vehicle Unit and a stored-value (NETS/CEPAS) card that must hold sufficient credit, or fines arrive by post.