New fee hikes add pressure on learners amid instructor shortages and booking challenges
Learning to drive in Singapore is becoming a heavier financial commitment as official driving centers roll out higher fees at the start of 2026, intensifying concerns over affordability and access for new drivers.
Fee Increases Take Effect in 2026
From January 1, Singapore’s three main driving centers have implemented fee increases across theory lessons, simulator training, and practical sessions. At Singapore Safety Driving Centre in Woodlands, mandatory simulator sessions rose by 25.2 percent to $30.52 per session, while theory lessons jumped 23.1 percent to $21.80 per 100 minutes. Similar upward adjustments were recorded at Bukit Batok Driving Centre and ComfortDelGro Driving Centre in Ubi, particularly during peak hours.
Practical Lessons Become Costlier
Practical driving lessons now command noticeably higher prices. Peak period sessions at Bukit Batok Driving Centre rose 6.8 percent to $86.11 per 100 minutes, while ComfortDelGro Driving Centre increased peak-time lesson fees by 9.3 percent to $89.38. These changes mark the first major revisions since April 2024 for some centers, reflecting mounting operational and staffing costs.
Majority of Learners Affected
The increases impact most learner drivers, as the majority of Class 3 and Class 3A candidates enroll through driving centers rather than private instructors. Between November 2024 and October 2025, over 60 percent of first-time candidates for both licenses trained at these centers, highlighting how widespread the impact of rising fees has become.
Motorcycle and Heavy Vehicle Fees Also Rise
Cost pressures extend beyond car licenses. At Singapore Safety Driving Centre, heavy vehicle test rentals surged by 26.3 percent to $261.60. Bukit Batok Driving Centre raised peak-period motorcycle lesson fees for engines above 400cc by 10 percent. The increases underscore a system-wide adjustment affecting all license categories.
Instructor Shortages and Booking Struggles
Learners continue to face long waits for lesson slots, driven by a persistent shortage of instructors. The three centers collectively employ around 700 instructors, down from 845 in 2022. As a result, some students pay third parties or use automated booking bots to secure slots, despite centers enforcing suspensions against such practices.
Learners Seek Costly Workarounds
To avoid delays, some learners opt for premium coaching schemes that cost up to $16.35 more per session but guarantee consistent trainers and earlier bookings. Others turn to private instructors, paying about $65 per hour, or $115 when using official circuits. These alternatives offer flexibility but raise broader questions about fairness and accessibility in driver education.
The rise in driving lesson fees reflects deeper structural challenges in Singapore’s transport training system, including staffing shortages and rising operational costs. For Indonesians and Singaporeans alike, the trend highlights how urban mobility, workforce capacity, and cost of living pressures increasingly intersect, shaping access to essential life skills such as driving.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , Malay Mail (2026)
Keywords: Singapore Driving Fees, Driving Centers Singapore, Class 3 License, Driving Instructor Shortage, Transport Costs
