Singapore
Driving Abroad
Last verified August 7, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
License Requirements
- If you're staying under 12 months, you need both your valid U.S. license and an International Driving Permit, or, if you don't have an IDP, an official English translation of your U.S. license (English generally satisfies this on its own since U.S. licenses are already in English).
- The IDP is valid for 1 year from its issue date and cannot be renewed. You'd need a brand-new one for a longer trip.
If You Stay Longer
- Once you've been in Singapore more than 12 months, you can no longer rely on your foreign license and IDP. You're required to hold a valid Singapore driving license to rent or drive a car.
Road Basics for Americans
- Singapore drives on the left side of the road, the opposite of the U.S., with the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle. Roundabouts flow clockwise, and it's worth consciously looking right first when crossing a street on foot, since that instinct doesn't come naturally.
- Speed limits and distances are posted in kilometers (km/h), not miles. A 100 km/h limit is about 62 mph; a 50 km/h limit, common in towns, is about 31 mph.
The Gotcha
Singapore's IDP isn't renewable. It's simply valid for exactly 1 year from issue, full stop. If your trip (or a series of trips) stretches past that, you can't extend the same permit; you need a fresh one, and once you personally cross the 12-month mark of being in Singapore, an IDP won't help at all. You need an actual Singapore license.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Singapore Driving Licence (Singapore Police Force (SPF))