Why Take a Driving Refresher Course in Singapore
Driving is a skill that, like any other, can get rusty over time. Whether you’ve taken a long break from driving, recently moved to Singapore and need to adjust to local road rules, or simply lack confidence behind the wheel, a driving refresher course can help you regain control and feel at ease on the road.
In Singapore, where traffic regulations are strictly enforced and road conditions can be challenging — especially for those unfamiliar with expressway driving, multi-storey car parks, or the dreaded traffic jams — a refresher course provides structured guidance to sharpen your skills. These courses are designed to boost your confidence, improve road awareness, and help you drive safely in all situations.
But is a driving refresher course really necessary? If you find yourself hesitating at junctions, struggling with parking, or feeling nervous in certain road situations, the answer is absolutely yes! A few well-structured refresher driving lessons can make a big difference, so you can become a more confident and safer driver.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about taking a driving refresher course in Singapore, including:
✔️ Who should take a driving refresher course
✔️ Key benefits of refreshing your driving skills
✔️ What skills are typically covered
✔️ Where to take a driving refresher course in Singapore
✔️ Choosing between a driving school or a private instructor
✔️ Tips on choosing a private driving instructor
✔️ How many lessons you might need
✔️ The costs involved for a refresher course
By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear idea of whether a refresher course is right for you and how to get started. Let’s dive in! (Or should we say “Let’s drive in!”)
Who Should Take a Driving Refresher Course?
✔️ Drivers who haven’t driven in a while
Many of us may have gotten our driving license as a rite of passage in our poly or JC years, but haven’t actually driven a car regularly because we may take public transport to work. If you’re thinking of buying a car, or going to be driving the family car more frequently now, it’s important to refresh your driving skills. Driving schools actually recommend a refresher course for anyone who has not driven in over one year.
✔️ Drivers transitioning from manual to automatic cars
If you are trained in driving a manual car, but are going to purchase an automatic car, it would be good to learn the skills specific to this sort of transmission. This is even more important vice versa, for automatic car drivers to expand their skills to drive a manual, as manual transmission is more complicated and requires a whole other skillset, not to mention an extra pedal.
✔️ Drivers transitioning to electric vehicles
With the government supporting the transition to electric vehicles (EV) so strongly now, it’s no surprise if many drivers are jumping on the bandwagon and taking advantage of the current incentives. Certainly driving an EV is going to be different from an internal combustion engine (ICE) car, so it’s best to learn how to handle your EV with a specific EV-focused driving course (offered as a ComfortDelGro refresher course).
✔️ New parents who want to start driving
You may have always taken public transport, but as a new parent, struggling with the baby stroller, diaper bag, and some form of child restraint system (mandatory in Singapore, even in ride-hailing vehicles!) may have convinced you to start driving your little family around instead. Taking a driving refresher course would be wise, especially when you can never be too safe when it comes to ferrying your most precious cargo around.
✔️ Unconfident drivers
Knowing how to drive is one thing, but executing driving skills on the road is a whole other thing. If you find yourself hesitating, unsure if you have the right of way, or which lane to take, or faltering when overtaking, then driving will always remain a stressful endeavour for you. A driving refresher course will help soothe your frenzied feathers when driving, and turn you into a confident driver who enjoys driving.
Key Benefits of Refresher Driving Lessons
✔️ Improves confidence and safety
✔️ Updates your knowledge of local traffic rules and road etiquette
✔️ Enhances your skills in parking, lane-changing, highway driving, etc.
✔️ Helps you adapt quickly to unexpected road situations
✔️ Reminds you of the best practices in driving, especially if you may have been doing some practice/s incorrectly
✔️ Reduces your risk of accidents and traffic violations
What Skills Are Covered in a Refresher Course?
✔️ Pre-drive checks
✔️ Circuit training refresher
✔️ Parking techniques (parallel, reverse, multi-story car parks)
✔️ Lane-changing and merging safely
✔️ Expressway driving
✔️ Handling slopes
✔️ Heavy traffic and traffic jams
✔️ Handling roundabouts and tricky junctions
✔️ Route planning
Most refresher courses cover a variety of practical skills and techniques that can use some brushing up, but you should definitely speak with your driving instructor about particular driving areas you may be less confident in and want to work on. For example, you may wish to focus on improving your driving skills in wet weather conditions in Singapore.
Where to Take a Refresher Driving Course in Singapore?
The three main driving schools are as follows:
🚗 Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC)
↪️ Located at Bukit Batok
↪️ Best for drivers living in West
↪️ No cancellations of lessons allowed
↪️ Has a food court at Level 1
🚗 Singapore Safety Driving Centre (SSDC)
↪️ Located at Woodlands Drive
↪️ Best for drivers living in the North
↪️ Free shuttle bus every 20 minutes
↪️ No cancellations of lessons allowed
🚗 ComfortDelGro Driving Centre (CDC)
↪️ Located at Ubi
↪️ Best for drivers living in the East
↪️ Free cancellation allowed at least 48 hours in advance
↪️ Cancellation between 24-48 hours incurs a late cancellation fee of $21.80
There is also the option to hire a private driving instructor to give you refresher lessons. All refresher lessons are 100 minutes long, whether you go with a school or private.
Driving School vs Private Driving Instructor
Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages, so choose the one that best suits your learning style, flexibility, budget and preferences.
Which One Should You Choose?
✔️ Go with a driving school if you want a structured approach, circuit training, and school-provided cars.
✔️ Choose a private driving instructor if you prefer sticking to the same instructor, flexibility, and more personalised and targeted coaching – or wish to practice with your own vehicle.
Tips on Choosing a Private Driving Instructor
Going with a private driving instructor (PDI) can be an appealing option, especially if you’ve found one who offers a lower per-lesson fee than the driving schools. However, don’t let the low price tag be your only reason for picking a particular instructor. Consider these tips:
✔️ All private driving instructors in Singapore must be licensed by the Traffic Police. To verify if an instructor is officially registered, ask the instructor for their official PDI license, and check it on the Singapore Police Force website.
✔️ Choose an instructor with strong experience in teaching refresher courses and not just new learners.
✔️ Look for recommendations on Reddit, Google reviews, Facebook groups, and other popular local forums.
✔️ Check if they can accommodate your preferred time slots and frequency of lessons.
✔️ Confirm that they will meet you at a location convenient to you, or if they do pick ups.
✔️ Ask about package deals, cancellation policies, and any additional fees.
✔️ See if it’s possible to book one trial lesson before committing to a full package. It’s a good opportunity to see if you can vibe with the instructor’s way of teaching.
Recommended Number of Refresher Driving Lessons
How many lessons you will need typically is based on your current driving experience level. How long has it been since you’ve driven a car? How many years of driving experience do you have being on the road?
According to the three driving schools in Singapore, the CDC requires a minimum of two lessons, the SSDC refresher course is made up of four driving lessons, while the BBDC refresher course recommends five practical lessons. Of course, you can sign up for more lessons if needed.
With a private driving instructor, they may be able to advise you on how many lessons you’ll need after a practical assessment of your current driving skills.
The Costs Involved for a Driving Refresher Course
How much you’ll be looking to pay for a refresher course will depend on a few factors:
❓Are you registering with a driving school or a private instructor?
❓Do you have your own car to practice with, does the course come with a provided car, or do you need to rent a vehicle?
❓Are you only able to make it during peak hours?
Here are some fees at a glance: (not inclusive of rental costs if needed)
| Enrolment Fee | Off peak Hours | Peak Hours | Eg. 4 Peak lessons | |
| BBDC | $106.82 | $71.94 | $80.66 | $429.46 |
| SSDC | $43.60 | $73.03 | $81.75 | $370.60 |
| CDC | $54.50 | $94.83 | $433.82 | |
| Private | $50-$100 | $50-$100 | $100 | $450-$500 |
(All prices inclusive of GST)
Remember… Safety always comes first!
If you don’t feel confident in any area of driving, it’s highly recommended to at least take a few refresher driving lessons to work on that particular skill. Safety is paramount whenever you’re on the roads, no matter if you’re driving alone or with your family.
While taking a refresher driving course may set you back a couple of hundred dollars, think of it as an investment towards reducing the risk of accidents, which will also help towards maintaining your No Claim Discount (NCD) on your car insurance.
Here at DirectAsia, we reward our safe drivers with NCD60, the highest NCD in Singapore, which means a whopping 60% discount on your car insurance premiums! If you’re not yet enjoying this incredible discount, make sure you contact us at 6665 5555 to find out how you can.
