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(source: Asia One)

The name Rivian may not ring a bell to even the most fanatic petrolheads in Singapore, who generally skew towards German and Japanese brands.

If recent events are anything to go by, though, not for much longer. An amalgam of "Indian River" (where Rivian CEO, RJ Scaringe, frequently rowed in his youth), the Californian start-up is making especially huge waves in the industry after it debuted with the highest Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 2021 last week. Here's what you need to know about the company.

It's not entirely brand new, and its first car was vastly different from the electric trucks you see in the banner

Recent buzz might have casual onlookers thinking that Rivian is a brand new namesake. There is technically some truth to this statement, but not for the reasons one might imagine; the company had already been founded by its CEO way back in 2009 - immediately post-financial crisis - but as Mainstream Motors (a far less compelling badge to plaster on a car). It went through one more name change before reaching its final evolution stage as Rivian Automotive officially.

CEO RJ Scaringe - or Dr RJ Scaringe - graduated from MIT with a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering
PHOTO: Rivian

More surprisingly, Scaringe and his team didn't initially set out to produce Rivian's current lineup, and instead had grand plans for... a sports car. Ultimately, of course, the course was changed (Scaringe mentions in an interview that he realised he "wasn't answering the fundamental question of why the world needs this company to be successful").

Still, it's already blown past the market caps of most legacy carmakers in one week of going public

We've briefly gotten into the notion of market caps before (which are more reflective of anticipation of a company's prospects rather than its current performance) and need to first underline that Rivian hasn't yet started production at scale. By the end of 2021, only 1,200 Rivians will have rolled off the assembly line.

With its staggering market cap, Rivian currently places among the five most valuable carmakers.
PHOTO: Rivian

Still, by debuting with an IPO of more than USD$100billion, the EV-maker stunned even the most liberal estimates by instantly blowing past legacy carmakers both at home (Ford, General Motors) as well as abroad (BMW Group, Honda).

In fact, as of the time of writing, its market cap is sitting pretty at USD$131.94 billion (S$179 billion), higher than Daimler's (Mercedes-Benz's parent group). Only Tesla and Toyota place significantly further ahead, while VW Group and Chinese-giant BYD are very close neighbours.

Things might surely change in the future given the votality of market caps but the message now is clear: The future is well and truly electric. At least according to the stock market.

It's got some huge names backing it

Possibly the strongest reason why Rivian has gotten such a following is because of the names that have invested very big sums of cash, very publicly, into the company.

Chief among Rivian's investors is Amazon with a massive 20 per cent stake. As part of the American conglomerate's shift towards carbon neutrality, the next few years, up till decade-end, will see Rivian producing an entire fleet of electric delivery vans for Amazon's use.

Amazon's stake in Rivian is tied to an order of 100,000 electric vans, to be delivered by decade-end.
PHOTO: Rivian

Another big name that has sunk its own money into the start-up is Ford (rival General Motors pulled out after initial talks), one of the biggest carmakers in the USA. Presumably, it also wants a slice of Rivian's tech pie.

It's the first automaker to build a production all-electric truck, and on a 'skateboard' platform that can be shared

Part of the reason why Rivian has garnered so much attention is because it appears poised to be the first carmaker to produce an electric truck en masse. The R1T ute has already gotten glowing reviews from a few motoring sites, boding well for its luxury-SUV sibling, the R1S. Contrarily, deliveries for Tesla's Cybertruck and Ford's F150 Lightning have yet to commence.

Rivian's calling card is a potentially revolutionary 'skateboard platform' (pictured on assembly line).
PHOTO: Rivian

In the vein of the platform-sharing utilised by the world's most successful carmakers, Rivian's electric trucks are built on a common 'skateboard chassis', which can be stretched and retooled with a combination of battery packs and motors for different uses. Supposedly, this helps to facilitate sharing not only across the two existing models within the company (as well as the Amazon delivery van), but outside of it as well.

This latter point may sound very noble prima facie, but Rivian could potentially benefit from such an approach if it succeeds in convincing others to take up the tech. An ideal situation would see both sides winning: Rivian rakes in profits from licensing the platform and sinking its roots deeper into the supply chain part of the industry, while its competitors save up the cash from researching and developing their own platforms, instead diving straight into production.

It's unlikely the brand will come to Singapore anytime soon… or so we think

The R1T is Rivian's current star, and has already gotten glowing reviews from a few motoring sites.
PHOTO: sgCarMart

Between the two models Rivian currently produces, the R1T pickup truck has taken up more space in the spotlight and currently stands as the face of the company.

Unless you're an MRT-only devotee, you'll probably know that Singapore doesn't really have the taste for pickup trucks - at least not in the way the USA does. Whereas the American market treats them as hallowed daily drivers, here in Singapore, they're largely seen as utilitarian workhorses. Even 'lifestyle' pickups like the Jeep Gladiator or Ford Ranger have to be registered with G-starting license plates.

Aside from the fact that Rivian currently doesn't seem to be targeting Asia Pacific, we think that the Singaporean market just isn't hospitable enough for a dealer to take the financial risk.

Could the R1S give Range Rovers and Jeep's more road-centric SUVs a run for their money?
PHOTO: sgCarMart

Things might surely change, though, especially if the more car-like R1S (it's about the length of an S-Class) gains a cult following overseas a la Tesla's Model-everythings. Based on its clean looks, impressive specs and promises of practicality (a seven-seater version will be available), the SUV already looks like it could give Land Rovers, heck, even Range Rovers a run for their money.

Rivian's all-electric roots also mean that it probably has the higher ground in terms of battery tech, and is likely to easily coast past the VES surcharges (although certainly not the ARF) that brands like Land Rover and Jeep are still mostly saddled with in Singapore. But these are very big 'if's.

(credits to: https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/land-rover-meets...)

Looking to scrap your car? Here's your step by step guide on how to scrap a car, replete with tips and info on how much money you can expect to get back.

Out with the old, in with the new. Or perhaps, you've decided to use public transport and ride-hailing services such as Grab and Gojek going forward. Whatever the reason for getting rid of your car may be, besides exporting or selling your car, you have the option to scrap your car.

While the thought of scrapping your car may send you hysterical at first — it can be tedious and daunting — take heart that all's not lost. We've put together this handy guide to help you along the way.

Step by step guide to scrap a car in Singapore

There's a process to follow if you've decided to scrap your car. Here are the main steps you need to take note of.

#1 Send your car to your chosen scrapyard

For starters, your chosen scrapyard has to be an LTA-approved scrapyard. You'll have to make an appointment with the scrapyard operator prior to sending your car for scrapping.

The LTA-approved scrapyard will provide you with the valuation of your car, taking into account factors such as your car's body, model, supply and demand of the vehicle junk.

Of course, you're responsible for getting your car to the scrapyard and arranging your own transport back home.

Prefer something more convenient? Get help from a CaseTrust-SVTA accredited motor dealer. The motor dealer will give you a quote for your car. This is why it's also a good idea to do your own research to find one that pays you the most for your soon-to-be de-registered vehicle if you're looking to get as much money back as possible.

#2 Apply for de-registration

Before you de-register your car, you need to ensure that you've cleared all outstanding car loans and road taxes. It's your responsibility to apply for the de-registration of your vehicle to relinquish your ownership of the car. The de-registration can be done online on LTA's OneMotoring website. It is one of the many digital services available to car owners. You need to log in with your SingPass/CorpPass 2FA.

Important note: It is an offence to keep, drive or use a de-registered vehicle. Those who flout the rules may be prosecuted in court, face a fine or imprisonment or both.

#3 Encash for PARF and COE Rebates

You can apply to enjoy your PARF (Preferential Additional Registration Fee) and COE (Certificate of Entitlement) rebates on the OneMotoring website after you've de-registered your car.

Alternatively, you may visit the LTA Customer Service Centre at Sin Ming Drive to apply for the encashment.

Keep in mind that you'll get the PARF rebate only if your car's less than 10 years old. It is a tiered tax rebate based on the open market value of your vehicle.

As for the COE rebate, the longer the duration remaining in your COE when you de-register your car, the more COE rebate you can expect to enjoy.

#4 Submit proof to LTA

You are required to submit proof that your car has been scrapped within a month of de-registering your vehicle. Failure to do so may result in you getting prosecuted in court. You may also have to deal with 3 months' imprisonment or a fine of up to $2,000.

How much money you can expect to get back

The money you can expect to receive from the whole process comprises the PARF rebate, COE rebate and your car body's value (i.e. the amount that motor dealers or LTA-approved scrapyards assign your car).

#1 PARF rebate

This is a tiered tax rebate based on open market value of your vehicle. You can enjoy 50% to 75% PARF rebate if your car is (i) is under 10 years old; and (ii) has never had its COE renewed.

#2 COE rebate

This rebate is basically the pro-rated amount of your unused COE. You can easily calculate the COE rebate you're eligible for with this formula:

COE rebate = (Quota Premium paid x number of months left on your COE) / Total number of months bought by COE

By extension, you will not receive a COE rebate if you de-register your car after your COE has expired.

#3 Your car body's value

Many different factors influence the body value of your car. These include general demand and supply, your car model, and whether the scrapyard or motor dealer is out to fleece you. As mentioned, the prices quoted by scrapyards and motor dealers can vary, so do your due diligence ahead of time!

What to do with your PARF and COE rebates?

You have multiple ways to utilise your PARF and COE rebates: encash them, use them to offset upfront vehicle fees and taxes when you register a new car, or transfer your rebates to another individual. For the latter, a $15 fee applies for each rebate transfer you make. You can find all the relevant information here.

Back to top

Tips on scrapping a car in Singapore

Scrapping a car isn't as straightforward as it seems. Aside from researching your options, it's important to plan ahead so you have time to sort things out. For instance, you risk incurring extra costs to tow your car to the scrapyard if your COE has expired — you aren't allowed to drive your car on the road once that happens.

For any unused portion of your car insurance, definitely reach out to your insurer separately for the refund. Looking to encash PARF and COE rebates? Take note you have 12 months from the date your car's de-registered to do so. After you've submitted the PARF and/or COE rebate form(s) to LTA, you can expect to receive the rebate(s) in two to four weeks' time.

(credits to: https://www.singsaver.com.sg/blog/how-much-money-i...)

Who says parking in town has to be expensive? We reveal some of our best-kept secret parking spots in Orchard where you can park your car for cheap (and even free) at all hours of the week.

Drivers, do you find yourself Googling "cheap parking at Orchard"? We've been there. Most Singaporeans, like us, get excited over free parking. It's not that we can't afford it, but owning a car isn't exactly the cheapest thing in Singapore. So we'd want to save as much as we can on parking fees, especially when we head to town.

The parking charges in Orchard, as we all know, can get crazy expensive, costing up to S$7 an hour (ahem, Hilton Hotel). But because we're all about being frugal, here is a list of places with cheap and/or free parking in the Orchard Road/ Dhoby Ghaut area.

Cheapest parking in Orchard/Dhoby Ghaut

Cheapest parking in Orchard/Dhoby Ghaut: Weekdays before 5/6pm

Cheapest parking in Orchard/Dhoby Ghaut: Weekdays after 5/6pm (S$4 or less per entry)

This is the best time to head to Orchard for some dinner and shopping, as most car parks kick in "per entry" fees after 5/6pm. Alternatively, if you're there for only a short while, there are roadside street parking lots that are relatively affordable as well.

Shaw House and International Building parking both have a per entry cost of S$4 from 6pm onwards and both buildings are well within the Orchard area. The most worthwhile would be parking at ION Orchard, which costs S$3 per entry after 5pm up till 11.59pm.

If you're planning to head to Dhoby Ghaut, the cheapest parking would be inside Plaza Singapura itself as it only costs S$3 per entry after 6pm.

Cheapest parking in Orchard/Dhoby Ghaut: Saturdays before 5/6pm

As expected, you'll have to shell out even more for weekend parking in town. If you're looking to park there for around three hours on a Saturday, the cheapest and most convenient location to park will be at The Cathay at Dhoby Ghaut, at S$1.40 per hour.

If you are looking to park within the Orchard area, Shaw House has the cheapest parking available at S$2 for the first hour and S$1.50 for every subsequent 30 minutes.

Cheapest parking in Orchard/Dhoby Ghaut: Saturdays after 5/6pm

Unlike weekdays, Saturday nights tend to see fewer places imposing "per entry" charges, since that's when most people are out and about. However, there are still a handful of places that do offer per entry parking rates, and the cheapest would be at, again, The Cathay and Plaza Singapura. The only downside is that you may have to walk quite a distance to popular hangouts like Somerset and ION Orchard. But hey, that's the price you have to pay if you want to save on parking.

Cheapest parking in Orchard/Dhoby Ghaut: Sundays before 5/6pm

Like parking on Saturdays, Sundays are no different. Assuming that you are there for a short period, street parking at Penang Road and Angullia Park might be your best bet if you are heading to Somerset and ION Orchard respectively.

The most value-for-money place to park your car the whole day would be Forum the Shopping Mall as they charge only S$3.20 per entry from 6am to 6am the following day on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Cheapest parking in Orchard/Dhoby Ghaut: Sundays after 5/6pm (S$4 or less per entry)

Sundays after 5/6pm is probably the cheapest time to park in town. The best place to park while still being in the main Orchard area would be Shaw House at S$4 per entry after 6pm.

Free parking in Orchard — ongoing promotion at Takashimaya

Heading to Takashimaya? You're in luck. From now till 31 July 2021, get two hours of free parking at Ngee Ann City (10am to 10pm daily) with no minimum spend.

Here's the best part: The cheapest parking in Orchard Road is… free 24/7

If you've scrolled all the way here, congratulations. Here's my secret to free parking all day, every day in Orchard Road: along the GCBs (Good Class Bungalow) at Jln Kelawar. It's around a 10-minute walk from ION Orchard, but since it's free, let's not complain.

Should you choose to park there, do always be mindful of and considerate to the residents.

Free parking after 7pm on weekdays, and all day on Sundays and Public Holidays

• Single yellow line at Exeter Road (Opp. Singtel building)

In the case of a single continuous yellow line along the side of a road, you are allowed to park there from 7pm to 7am. On Sundays and Public Holidays, you will be able to park there for the whole day.

Conclusion

Cheapest parking in Orchard Road/Dhoby Ghaut on weekdays

Weekdays before 5/6pm, if there for around an hour: The Cathay, S$1.40 per 30 minutes (8am to 9.59am), S$1.40 per hour (10am to 5.59pm)

Weekdays before 5/6pm, many hours: The Cathay, S$1.40 per 30 minutes (8am to 9.59am), S$1.40 per hour (10am to 5.59pm)

Weekdays after 5/6pm, if there for around an hour:

Weekdays after 5/6pm, many hours:

Cheapest parking in Orchard Road/Dhoby Ghaut on weekends and Public holidays

Saturdays before 5/6pm, if there for around an hour: The Cathay, S$1.40 per hour

Saturdays before 5/6pm, many hours: The Cathay, S$1.40 per hour

Saturdays after 5/6pm, if there for around an hour:

Saturdays after 5/6pm, many hours:

Sundays after 5/6pm, if there for around an hour: Street parking at Penang Road, S$0.70 per 30 minutes.

Sundays after 5/6pm, many hours: Plaza Singapura, The Cathay and Singapore Shopping Centre have a per entry fee of S$3.

Parking mobile apps and websites to help you save time and money

Besides the aforementioned parking spots, there are a few other ways that you can find cheap parking locations in Singapore at the tip of your fingers (literally), and all you need to do is download a few mobile apps:

Carparkwhere.com

The developers had one main goal: provide a free service that helps drivers find the cheapest and nearest parking spots in Singapore. From shopping malls to URA car parks to even HDB car parks, carparkwhere searches the rates of these car parks and also lot availability so you never have to worry if you will have to waste time in the car park waiting. They also take away the math by calculating your potential final fee when you key in the period of time that you are going to be parking there.

SGCarMart's Carpark Rates

The app with over 700 car parks listed, SGCarMart's Carpark Rates app allows you to search for parking spots based on GPS location or by building name. In addition, you can also check lot availability in real-time (so that you don't enter a car park that is already full), and the app is frequently updated with the latest car park rates.

OneService

Yes, it is that app you use to report municipal issues that happen within your neighbourhood. But that's not all it does, the OneService app is also filled with handy information about public car parks. From location to parking rates, availability and operating hours, this app makes finding cheap parking spots a breeze.

Parking.sg

Gone are the days where you pay for parking at public car parks with a physical coupon. In today's digital world, all you need is the Parking.sg app. This convenient app gives you information regarding car park rates, allows you to pay for parking by the minute, get notifications before your parking session expires, extend parking sessions, get refunds if your parking session ends earlier than expected, and more.

(credits to: https://www.singsaver.com.sg/blog/cheapest-parking...)

Image from Unsplash

When driving on the roads, safety should always be at the top of your mind. With how advanced technology has come in 2021, here are five safety features you should consider for your car.

If you're old enough, you'd probably remember the three-point seatbelt that was followed by the airbag.

Ever since then, there have been constant efforts in automotive manufacturing to continually improve the safety of humans driving in a four-wheel metal box, whether it's to brace for accident impacts or to reduce human error while driving.

Lane Keep Assist

PHOTO: Maserati

Lane Keep Assist, first introduced in the Nissan Cima in 2001, has matured over the years and works by keeping cars in the centre of the lane by autonomously inputting gentle steering inputs.

This is done by electronically amplifying the steering force when the car is steering off the lane, and the system alerts the driver through the vibration of the steering wheel.

Some cars make use of a camera-based system that is attached to the windshield while some use cameras on the front grille. Some car brands like Mercedes use both a camera-based Lane Steering assistance system and a radar system to detect the vehicle in front of them.

While others like Citroen uses an infrared sensor to detect road markings and send signals to the driver.

Blindspot Monitor

PHOTO: Kia

Sadly, there are uncountable fatal or non-fatal accidents occurring because drivers don't check their blind spots.

The Blindspot Monitor is a brilliant safety feature developed because it is a vehicle-based sensor device that detects other vehicles on both the driver's side and the rear. It sends warnings to the driver through visual, aural, or physical signals.

A blindspot monitor helps so many people who do not check their blind spots when changing lanes or turning and is a feature seen in many cars, including the 2020 Kia Sorento.

With that, we must thank the geniuses of Volvo for introducing the blind spot monitor to their S80 Sedan in 2007.

Still, seriously, we hope that more cars will include this important feature in their cars. It should be readily available or even mandatory for future cars to move forward to reduce the risk of accidents.

Front/Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

PHOTO: Bosch Mobility Solutions

The Front/Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is another feature of visibility that increases safety for drivers. Commonly found at the vehicle's corners, radar alerts detect approaching vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.

It sends an audible warning to the driver when they detect one or more of them approaching from the sides.

Often, a visual alert will also display an arrow on the reverse camera display. It indicates the direction from which the object detected is approaching.

A feature like this will put your mind at ease should there be approaching hazards.

Adaptive Cruise Control

PHOTO: Audi Media Center

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) was first introduced in 1992 by Mitsubishi, and it aims to provide both convenience and safety. It helps to maintain the distance between vehicles simultaneously by adjusting the vehicle's speed automatically.

ACC uses cameras, infrared and even radar as a gauge to determine how close the other cars are to each other. ACC is a step closer to future car intelligence as, unlike the standard cruise control, most of us are familiar with it.

However, it is not foolproof because there are still possibilities of unusability in bad weather conditions such as rain or poor visibility affecting its use. The user must not fully substitute ACC and disregard safe driving techniques.

Rear Seat Reminder

PHOTO: Nissan City

The Rear Seat Reminder feature is undoubtedly for the forgetful, the one that always leaves their bags in the car or, if you're a parent, your child may be wailing at the back seat still stuck in the child seat with the seat belt buckled.

The rear seat reminder does what it says on the tin. This feature reminds you of what is still in the back seat when the rear door is opened after unlocking the vehicle.

It sends a reminder after you turn off the engine and leave your car.

In conclusion, as technology in the automotive industry continues to advance, companies like Tesla have already produced self-driving cars.

The gateway to seeing more advanced safety features looks ever so likely now, and we can't wait for such innovations.

We hope you like this list of advanced safety features, let us know what you think of it and what type of features you anticipate companies developing for the sake of car safety.

This article was first published in Motorist.

(Credits: https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/5-advanced-safet...)

To find out if you're really ready for life on four wheels, follow our deep-dive into the running costs, hidden costs and everything in between.

Cars in Singapore are famously expensive. Besides the ridiculously inflated selling prices, there is also a whole list of other costs involved in keeping your car. Here's our breakdown on how much it costs to keep a car in Singapore.

To keep things simple, we will be using the top-selling car in Singapore in 2019 as an example: the Honda Jazz.

Last updated on 23 April 2021. Prices for massages listed in this article are subject to change without prior notice.

Making sense of car costs

We're going to be looking at a lot of numbers in this article. To make sure we don't get lost, it's helpful to organise car costs into the following breakdown:

• 
  Purchase costs: What you have to pay when you buy the car.


• 
  Maintenance/running costs: Expenses incurred in the daily use and periodic upkeep of your car.


• 
  Hidden costs: These are not immediately obvious, like parking charges, but you'd want to be aware of them.


• 
  Average annual cost of keeping a car: We finalise the magic number for you after taking everything into account.

Purchase costs

Purchase costs are made up of the following:

• Purchase price of the car


• Car loan interest


• License plate number


• In-vehicle unit

Let's take a look at each one in turn.

At the time of writing, the dealer's package for the Honda Jazz 1.3 costs $79,988. In comparison, prices for the Honda Jazz 1.5 (a more powerful variant) starts from RM73,000 (or roughly $24,333 SGD) in Malaysia. Why the huge difference?

Well, as you can see from the table above, there is a whole list of surcharges and fees associated with buying a new car in Singapore. These fees are introduced with the aim of keeping the number of vehicles on Singapore's roads down to a manageable number. After all, more cars means more money spent on infrastructure costs such as roads, carparks, expressways and petrol kiosks, traffic congestion problems and higher levels of air pollution.

Let's quickly run through all these to understand what you're paying for.

1) Open Market Value (OMV)

This refers to the value of the vehicle on the open market. In other words, it's the selling price of the car, before fees and surcharges. For our Honda Jazz example, the car is valued at $16,924 at the time of writing.

2) Registration Fee

All new cars will have to pay a fee for registration, which is currently tagged at $220 per vehicle.

3) Additional Registration Fee (ARF)

The ARF is calculated based on the OMV of your car. Hence, the more valuable your car is, the more you'll have to pay in ARF.

Here's the ARF schedule:

Note that ARF is cumulative. It is charged as the OMV of your vehicle crosses each threshold.

In our example, our Honda Jazz's OMV is $16,924, less than $20,000. Hence, we only have to pay the first tier of ARF, which is 100% of OMV, or $16,924.

Now, if the OMV of our vehicle is higher, say, $25,000, then we would have had to pay two tiers of ARF, accordingly:

Tier 1: 100% of OMV on first $20,000 = $25,000
Tier 2: 140% of OMV on next $5,000 = $7,000
Total ARF = $32,000

Imagine what happens when our car's OMV exceeds $50,000.

4) Excise Duty

Like tobacco and alcohol, the Singapore government charges a tax on cars imported into Singapore. Excise duties are charged at a standard 20% of the OMV.

5) Goods and Services Tax

And then there's good old GST, which is (thankfully) charged only on the OMV and the Excise Duty. We shudder to think if GST was charged on the overall purchase price.

6) Certificate of Entitlement (COE)

And contributing the most to the inflated cost (for lower priced vehicles anyway) is the COE, which is a special license that entitles you to own a car in Singapore for a period of 10 years. The COE rate is determined by open bidding sessions, which are conducted twice a month.

COEs are grouped into 5 categories according to engine capacity and/or vehicle type, in an effort to achieve more granular control over the number and type of vehicles plying our roads.

For Honda Jazz, the engine capacity is less than 1,600 cc, which means the COE you'll need to bid for falls into Category A, which costs $49,640 at the time of writing.

7) Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES)

To encourage the ownership of more environmentally friendly cars, the VES adds either a rebate or a surcharge to the purchase cost. Your intended model is tested on emission levels of five air pollutants (carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter), and assigned a band based on the worst performing pollutant.

Vehicles that generate less of these pollutants qualify for a rebate (either $10,000 or $20,000). Those that do not meet the emissions levels do not get to enjoy a rebate. And vehicles that exceed pollution thresholds actually incur a surcharge of up to $20,000.

For our example, the dealer tells us that the Honda Jazz 1.3 qualifies for a $10,000 rebate under VES, which is applied to the ARF.

VES notwithstanding, car owners are expected to pay a minimum of $5,000 in ARF.

8) Dealer's package

Our calculations put the total purchase cost of the Honda Jazz at $78,514. However, the dealer's package advertised is $83,988. What's the reason for the difference?

Very likely, the dealer's package includes a markup to cover their own costs. It is common for this markup to range from 10% all the way up to 50% for luxury models.

9) Car loan interest

It is likely that you will be taking out a car loan to pay for the purchase of your vehicle, which means you'll need to cover the interest charges as well.

Here are the car loan rules in Singapore, according to the MAS.

So once again, for our example car, we would be able to borrow up to 70% of $78,514 for up to 7 years.

Using our handy loan calculator, we'll get:

Total borrowing: 70% X $78,000 (rounded down) = $54,600
Total repayment: $65,225
Total interest payment: $10,625

10) License plate number

Every vehicle in Singapore needs to have a valid vehicle registration number (AKA license plate number). The LTA will automatically assign a number for free when you register your vehicle. You can also opt to retain your existing license plate number.

If you want a specific license plate number, you'll need to bid for it. Bidding costs at least $1,000 right out of the gate. In case you're curious, the most expensive license plate number in Singapore was sold for $335,000 (not a typo)—that's enough to buy an entire HDB flat.

11) In-vehicle unit (IU)

Another thing you'll need to install in your new car before you can start driving it is the In-Vehicle Unit, a card-reader which lets you pay for ERP charges and parking fees. The cost of installing one is $155.80 (inclusive of GST).

Maintenance and Running Costs

Besides the upfront purchase cost, driving your car will also incur maintenance and running costs. We've summarised some of the most common ones in the table below.

1) Petrol

To calculate how much you'll spend on petrol, let's use the following assumptions:

• Average annual distance driven per car = 17,500km (source)


• Average petrol price per litre = $2.30 (source)


• Fuel consumption of Honda Jazz 1.3 = 5.1l/100km


• Annual petrol cost = $2,052.75

2) Parking

Parking charges in Singapore can vary, depending on where and when you park. For simplicity, let's assume you splurge on the very best of HDB parking for your shiny new Honda Jazz: $110 per month for sheltered parking in a multi-storey carpark.

3) Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)

Although ERP has been suspended in light of COVID-19, normal rates are between $3 to $6 per charge for affected roads leading into and coming out from affected regions. As ERP is pretty much dependent on your driving habits, you may not need to spend anything in this category.

However, for the sake of argument, we'll set an ERP budget of $30 per month.

4) Road tax

You will need to pay road tax every 6 or 12 months. The amount you will need to pay depends on the engine capacity of your vehicle. You can quickly and easily calculate your road tax using an online calculator, such as this one from sgcarmart.com.

Using this calculator, we determined the road tax payable for our Honda Jazz: $284 every 6 months, or $568 per year.

5) Insurance

It is illegal to drive without valid driver's insurance so don't even try to get away with not paying it. Generally, young, male drivers are penalised more heavily, as they are perceived to be the riskiest drivers on the road. Older, more experienced drivers generally pay less insurance, and of course, having an impeccable driving record will grant you the best rates.

For the purpose of illustration, we'll assume the driver of our Honda Jazz is a 35-year-old male with 5 years of driving experience. Online quotes place our insurance at between $1,100 to $2,000 per year. We'll go with the middle-of-the-road rate of $1,600 per year.

6) Maintenance

In order to prevent serious problems and ensure smooth and efficient running, you'll need to send your vehicle into the workshop for regular maintenance. How often you'll need to do this depends on the car make and model, but a general rule of thumb indicates servicing once every 6 months or 10,000 km, whichever comes first.

For our Honda Jazz, general maintenance costs $295.73 per session, according to Honda's website.

Hidden costs

Speeding, illegal parking, failing to use proper turn signals, and even using your mobile while driving — these are just some of the common driving offences that you may commit if you're not careful.

If you're caught, not only will you be given demerit points, you may also be asked to pay a fine. Depending on severity, these fines range from $100 to $400. However, serious violations will earn you a trip to court, where you can expect heftier fines and even jail time.

You may be aware that owning a vehicle is a liability. The value of your car depreciates every year. Generally, the lifespan of a car in Singapore is about 10 years, same as that of a COE. There are penalties if you want to keep your car for more than 10 years (such as increased road tax, for one), but surrendering your car before that will net you some returns.

Remember the ARF (Additional Registration Fee)? If you deregister your vehicle between years 5 and 10, you'll get back a portion of what you paid for the ARF in the form of the Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) Rebate.

Here's how much you can expect to get back.

You can also redeem any remaining COE at the time you deregister your vehicle. The proceeds of this can be applied towards the registration of another vehicle, transferred to another driver, or encashed.

What is the annual average cost of owning a vehicle in Singapore?

Let's find out how much it will cost us each year on average to own our Honda Jazz.

We mustn't forget our one-time cost, to better estimate the first-year upkeep:

There you have it, the magic number for a car's upkeep in a year. Don't be forgetting that this figure is derived using a Honda Jazz 1.3, and this is likely to be an underestimation if you are eyeing a continental car or an electric model.

Now, over to you to make a more informed decision on whether you're ready for the commitment!

(Credits: https://www.singsaver.com.sg/blog/car-maintenance-...)

Dangerous driving habits are not always obvious.

A large part of defensive driving is keeping an eye out for dangerous drivers so you can avoid them or at least give them a wide berth.

Most of us know the signs to look out for. Speeding, aggressive driving, not using the indicators, and weaving in and out of lanes are the most obvious signs that the person behind the wheel is dangerous.

However, these aren't the only signs to watch out for. Here are five less obvious signs that a driver is dangerous and should be avoided – safely, of course.

Several cars in this tunnel are driving with their headlights off.

DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS OFF

Yes, it's possible that the driver may have forgotten to turn on the headlights. But it's even more dangerous when the driver fails to realise that they are off.

By law, headlights must be switched on between 7pm and 7am. Sensible drivers will also ensure they are switched on while driving in tunnels, covered carparks and in poor weather. So, if someone's headlights are off, it points to poor situational awareness.

You must assume that the driver will also be unaware of many other things – until it is too late. These include other vehicles in his blind spot, road works or an accident ahead, and even oncoming traffic if he's making a turn.

Can you spot the dangerous driving habits here?

POOR LANE DISCIPLINE

Most drivers are able to keep their car in the centre of the lane – it doesn't matter if the road is straight or curved.

Dangerous drivers, on the other hand, tend to place their car relatively close to the lane markings. This causes confusion for other road users, who wonder if he is about to switch lanes by slowly drifting into the next one.

In addition, some of these "drifters" also have a tendency to overreact when other cars pass them or when other motorists honk at them.

Typically, this means jerking the steering wheel in an attempt to quickly re-centre the vehicle. But sudden strong inputs can also be unsafe – if the road is slippery, there is a risk that the vehicle may fishtail.

There is nothing wrong with being lost. It's how you react that could result in dangerous driving.

LOST DRIVERS

If you've ever seen a car being driven slower than usual, turning slowly or indicating in one direction before suddenly indicating in the opposite one, chances are the driver is lost and/or unsure of where to go.

But why should they be deemed dangerous because they're lost? Well, the driver might also be feeling anxious and panicky. If they're honked at, they could respond in an erratic or even angry manner.

You might be an eternal optimist, but as a defensive driver, you should assume the worst in this situation.

INDICATOR/S LEFT ON

Using your indicators is the right thing to do, even if it causes other road users to speed up to prevent you from changing lanes (doing the right thing is always tough).

That said, you should keep an eye out for drivers who leave their indicators on.

Most of us have seen how these motorists signal, make a turn and then for some reason, never notice that the indicator is still blinking. Alternately, they may signal but never make the turn, which is confusing and dangerous.

If you can't avoid these motorists, at least give them a wide berth.

Early, hard and frequent braking frustrates other motorists.

EARLY AND FREQUENT BRAKING

We all know that we should keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front (the two-second rule is useful here) and apply the brakes in a smooth and progressive manner.

Early braking is a dangerous driving habit. Even if these drivers keep a safe distance from the car in front, they nail the brakes immediately every time they see tail-lamps lighting up.

This anxiousness also means that when early brakers brake, they do so relatively hard. When they come to a complete stop, the distance between their vehicle and the car is front can be greater than two car lengths.

Early brakers are typically frequent brakers, too. Even when the driver in front of them does not brake, they have a habit of constantly tapping the brake pedal.

This causes other vehicles behind them to slow down, which eventually results in traffic moving slower than it actually could.

(Credits: https://www.torque.com.sg/advice/5-dangerous-driving-habits-to-watch-out-for/)

View from inside an autonomous vehicle. (File photo: AFP/Daniel Roland)

SINGAPORE: A set of provisional national standards to guide the safe deployment of fully autonomous vehicles in Singapore has been enhanced following a review, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore Standards Council (SSC) announced on Friday (Sep 3).

These standards - in the form of technical reference (TR) 68 - will now include new guidelines on the application of machine learning, software updates management, cybersecurity principles and testing framework.

This will enable the autonomous vehicles to keep pace with recent technology advancements, and further smoothen the transition from development to operationalisation of the autonomous vehicles, said LTA and SSC in a joint media release.

"It also provides updated safety guidelines for the test-bedding of AV (autonomous vehicle) solutions on Singapore roads. To facilitate the co-creation of smart mobility solutions and enhance AV interoperability among different service providers, the revised standards feature updates to data types and formats," both parties added.

This follows a review conducted from March 2020 and July this year by four working groups appointed by the SSC, and overseen by Enterprise Singapore.

The review was led by the industry and supported by the LTA, said the SSC and LTA.

TR 68 was first published in 2019 and since then, more than 200 enterprises have accessed the TR 68, said LTA and SSC.

The TR provides guidance to industry players in their deployment and deployment of AV solutions and helps to build up Singapore's AV ecosystems which includes start-ups, SMEs, and testing inspection and certification service providers."

The Singapore Manufacturing Federation - Standards Development Organisation will be scheduling a workshop in October to help companies understand and implement TR 68 effectively.

TR 68 can be purchased from the Singapore Standards website.

(Credits: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/autonomo...)

Driving in Singapore can be a daunting experience especially if you're new. Singaporean drivers are known to be some of the harshest and most unforgiving. Changing lanes on a whim, failing to indicate, not giving way and blocking other cars from changing lanes are just a few of the common complaints you hear about local drivers.

While it might be scary at first, seeing how unforgiving our roads can be, the best way for a new driver to improve is to drive more often. Passing your driving test doesn't mean you'd be able to go on a 1,000km road trip the next day. Getting your license simply means you're ready to step out of the driving school and venture onto public roads to do more learning on your own.

And below are a few more tips on how you can improve further.

1. Drive with a friend

If you're not too sure about venturing on the roads alone just yet, why not ask a friend or relative who is more experienced to tag along in the passenger seat? This will help curb any anxiety you might have being on the road knowing you have an extra pair of eyes looking out for you.

Don't be afraid to ask your companion questions when you encounter challenging road situations as this will help you build up confidence if you encounter similar situations in future.

When you're just starting out, practice during daylight hours and it helps to practice on roads you're familiar with. Perhaps on small roads with minimal traffic near your home or even an industrial area on weekends where there's less traffic and wider roads.

The most important thing is to take it slow and remember that you're building a life skill so it's important to get it right. And as you gain more confidence, you can start driving alone and move on to roads with heavier traffic later.

2. Sign up for extra courses

Not everyone starts driving immediately after receiving their license. Some have to wait a few years before getting their car. Perhaps you just want more practice to build up your confidence. Whatever your reason might be, driving schools here offer both refresher courses and extra lessons for you to build up your driving confidence.

There are even advanced courses on improving your driving further like defensive driving courses that help hone your driving skills to get you prepared for emergency situations. This is great for those who don't have access to a vehicle or a chance to practice on their own.

3. Knowing your fears and weaknesses

Before getting into the car, it's important to figure out what aspect of your driving is giving you the greatest amount of anxiety. Below are some examples…

• Merging into traffic (e.g. joining an expressway)


• Busy cross junctions


• Parallel parking


• Changing lanes


• Driving next to larger vehicles (eg. lorries, buses, etc)

Once you've identified what gives you the most anxiety, you can start working on each of them slowly. And perhaps share it with your friend or driving instructor that's helping you to improve. The key thing to know is that it's better to take it slow and get it right.

Though drivers in Singapore are very impatient, don't let drivers behind you pressure you into making rash decisions (or movements) that might cause an accident like at a cross junction with oncoming traffic. Remember that your life is on the line if you make a mistake not the impatient driver behind you.

4. Coping with your driving anxiety

If just the thought of getting into the driving seat again scares you, there are ways to help you cope with that anxiety. Perhaps you can't get past an accident where you were involved and you're afraid it might happen again. Here are some tips to help you cope…

• Think about a particular place (or road) where you were happy driving and recreate it by going back to the same road and doing the same activity. This will help you associate driving with those positive experiences you had previously.


• If your fear stems from a past accident you had, the worst thing to do is to let that prevent you from getting back in the driving seat. Tell yourself how silly it is to be stuck in the past because of one incident. Getting back in the driving seat and forcing yourself to start driving again is the only way you can grow and get past those phobias.


• Practice some relaxation techniques to help you calm down when you're in the car. Take five minutes to do some deep breathing exercises before setting off. It's also hard to relax if the environment inside your car is noisy and chaotic. Ask your passengers to quiet down so that it's easier for you to concentrate on the road.

The most important tip to coping with your anxiety, especially getting back in the car after a previous accident is to start slow. Exposing yourself to your fear is the only way you will get over them. But do it in small steps each time and raise the level after each successful attempt and you will overcome your fears in no time.

5. Fear of getting into an accident

Sometimes accidents happen even when you're careful. And when it happens for the first time, it's common to not know what to do. But the most important thing is not to panic and follow the steps below…

1. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Call for the emergency services if anyone is seriously injured. Take note of all the injuries suffered by all parties and take photos if possible.


2. DO NOT move either vehicle (if the accident involved another party) until photos have been taken of the accident. Take as many as you can and try to capture both close up photos of the vehicles as well as the whole scene. Include road markings if they help to prove your case. Make sure to include the number plates of all vehicles involved in the accident.


3. Call your insurance company for assistance. For drivers insured with Income's Drivo Car Insurance, the hotline number is 6789 5000 and operating hours are from 7am – 10.30pm daily.

It helps to have someone there to hold your hand through everything when you're in an accident. Knowing this, Income created Orange Force, a roadside assistance team for their car insurance policyholders.

With a fleet of 24 motorcycles on standby from 7am – 10.30pm daily, Income's Orange Force riders take an average of 12 minutes to arrive at an accident scene. Once there, they help protect policyholders' interests and assist in any post-accident settlement matters. If needed, they will also escort their policyholder to Income's Motor Service Centre or another approved workshop.

This is especially useful if you've never been in an accident before and prevents you from being taken advantage of by the other accident party or workshop.

One Income policyholder, Mr Hadi, shared that OF rider Ignatius Lim "helped broker a private settlement that was fair for both parties".

Elaborating further on the OF rider's zeal in ensuring the accident was successfully concluded, "I will never forget his drive to go above and beyond the call of duty for the private settlement by meeting up with me at my workplace just to get my signature."

Another policyholder, Mr AK found his OF Rider, Muhammad Ridzwan Roazlan's advice a big help, saying, "He advised me on what to do and the action that I needed to take clearly. His follow up assistance (twice) was invaluable. I would be at a loss if not for his guidance and advice."

Driving doesn't need to be scary

It's a fact that driving can be a scary experience given all the different skill levels and individual personalities we encounter on the roads. But with the right training and support from your insurer, it doesn't have to be an unpleasant experience and it won't be long before you're ready to take on your first road trip.

(Credits: https://www.income.com.sg/blog/5-things-new-drivers-can-do)

Just got your driver's license? Congratulations! You've officially joined some 2 million other folks across the Singapore behind the wheel. It's an exciting step toward independence and adulthood, but it's also a big responsibility, and it's important that you balance this (awesome) freedom with caution and safe behavior. Remember, what you do in the driver's seat not only affects you, but everyone else on the road, too.

To that end, we've put together a few tips to help you have fun and stay safe out there all on your own.

OBEY ALL TRAFFIC RULES

There's a reason the driving exam includes both a road test and a written one. From road signs to right-of-way, there are a whole bunch of rules that drivers are required to understand and follow. Learn them and use them.

SLOW DOWN!

Speeding is one of the leading factors in fatal crashes involving young drivers. Basically, the higher your speed, the less time you have to stop your car and the worse any impact—and subsequent injuries—will likely be.

KEEP YOUR CAR IN GOOD RUNNING SHAPE

Taking care of your car can help you avoid breakdowns and other potential accidents. This includes regular oil changes and tune-ups, checking tyre pressure (don't forget the spare!), regular tire rotation, checking brake fluid and coolant levels, and filling up the petrol tank before it hovers too close to "E".

WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT

Always. And make sure your passengers wear theirs, too. According to Singapore Traffic Police, there were 9,833 seat belt violations in Year 2016. Save a life (maybe your own), and buckle up.

AVOID DISTRACTIONS

Keep your eyes on the road. That means no texting, no calling, no eating, no channel surfing on the radio, and no turning around to chat with friends in the backseat. Accidents can happen in a split second, but if you're paying attention, you'll have a better chance of avoiding one.

ADJUST YOUR ACCESSORIES

No, not your bling. We're talking about making sure your seat is in a comfortable spot and checking all mirrors to make sure you've got the best view possible.

DON'T TAILGATE

Following too closely is one of the leading causes of rear-end accidents. Just remember the 3-second rule: Pick an object on the road ahead (like a sign, tree or overpass) and when the vehicle in front of you passes the object slowly count "one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand." If you reach the object before completing the count, you're following too closely.

BE PREPARED

In case of accidents, breakdowns or other emergencies, your car should always contain important driving documents and an emergency kit with everything you'd need for extended time in your vehicle.

WATCH THE WEATHER

Rain, wind and snow can all make driving more difficult and dangerous. If it's wet out, make sure your headlights are on, slow down, and increase your following distance. (Braking takes longer when roads are slick.) Most importantly, if the conditions are too treacherous, it's better to just stay off the roads.

DON'T DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE

Just don't. This includes being under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or lack of sleep. Nobody should have to tell you how severe the consequences can be.

Now get out there and drive! Practice makes perfect, after all.

(Credits: https://www.bridgestone.com.sg/en/tyre-clinic/driv...)

Ng Leeson is due to be sentenced on Oct 20.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG

SINGAPORE - A manager of a car dealership lied to sellers that he would pay their outstanding car loans so that he could buy their vehicles with a smaller outlay.

He then cheated buyers of these used cars into paying him more than $222,000 in deposits, knowing full well that ownership could not be transferred because of the unpaid loans.

Ng Leeson, 45, pleaded guilty to six counts of cheating and one of criminal breach of trust as an agent on Tuesday (Oct 5).

The court heard that he was a manager at B Leasing, a company that bought and sold second-hand cars. He had oversight of the day-to-day operations.

Between January and March 2015, Ng conspired with his colleague Chong Zhuang Jian, a 36-year-old salesman, to carry out the scheme.

Chong was promised a commission of about $300 for each car he purchased and $500 for each sale.

The pair sourced for cars with outstanding loans on motoring portal sgCarMart.

They would offer to pay the seller's outstanding loan to the bank directly and thus obtain the car for a smaller sum. For instance, if the agreed sale price was $100,000 and the outstanding loan was $99,000, they would offer $1,000.

Ng then advertised these cars for sale on the same portal at attractive prices and deceived buyers into thinking that they would be the registered owners after they had paid deposits.

When sellers and buyers sensed that something was amiss and tried to reach the pair, they were not contactable.

The duo purchased nine cars and sold seven of them between January and March 2015.

On top of his managerial role at B Leasing, Ng was also the sole owner of Leeson Motors, a company that bought and sold used cars.

His offences came to light when a seller lodged a police report against Leeson Motors in July 2015 because Ng failed to pay her over $41,000 for her car.

A search on the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority website showed that Leeson Motors is no longer in operation. No results were yielded for car dealerships with the name B Leasing.

Ng is due to be sentenced on Oct 20. Chong had been sentenced to two years and three months' jail in February 2019 for his offences.

No restitution has been made to the victims.

For each count of cheating, Ng could be jailed up to 10 years and fined.

The maximum penalty for criminal breach of trust as an agent carries a jail term of 20 years and a fine.

(Credits:https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crim...)

from The Straits Times

For new drivers, manoeuvring tight spaces is a nightmare, even more so when it's in a small and packed HDB car park in Singapore.

As more people start jumping on the SUV bandwagon, car parking becomes even more challenging as drivers struggle to squeeze their chunky SUVs into narrow lots.
With this comprehensive guide, you will realise that parking in public and HDB car parks is a breeze and be a pro in no time (theoretically speaking)!

Vertical parking tips

PHOTO: The Straits Times

Compared to what they teach in driving centres, vertical parking is a little different as the amount of turning space provided in car parks is significantly lesser.

Here are a few tips and tricks for vertical parking in public and HDB car parks.

1. Practice makes perfect

The best way to learn how to efficiently park in a crowded public car park is to have lots of practice. Start by parking in lots with empty spaces on both sides to get a gauge of the amount of space that your vehicle needs.

Locations such as East Coast Park and West Coast Park have spacious carparks with fewer vehicles, which makes them perfect spots for parking practice!

2. Position your car at an angle before reversing

Unlike the 90-degree method that they teach in driving schools, this method is much easier as it prevents your vehicle from bumping or scratching against other vehicles while reversing.

Instead of positioning your vehicle perpendicular to the lot (at 90-degrees), tilt your vehicle slightly so that the rear faces the lot. This slanted position ensures that you will be able to enter the lot perfectly in one attempt and requires lesser corrections.

If you are unsure of how to park using this method, there are plenty of video tutorials on the method.

3. Do not over-rely on motion sensors and reverse cameras

Since most modern vehicles are equipped with motion sensors and parking guides, using these features while parking will help immensely.

However, it is not a good habit to always rely on these features as there are no sensors on the sides of your vehicle, which would still put you at risk of collisions with vehicles on both sides of the lot if you're not careful.

If you require more visualisation of the space, you can angle your side mirrors or wind down your windows. Additionally, you can also purchase additional blind spot mirrors to help you gain a better view of the lot markings.

Parallel parking tips

PHOTO: The Straits Times

Parallel parking will always be the more challenging and scarier method of parking.

If you do not have the confidence, find an empty vertical lot to park in. Otherwise, read on!

1. Find a lot that fits your vehicle

Do not jump into the first parallel lot that you see. It is advisable to find a lot that is at least one and a half times the length of your vehicle.

Some drivers might park too close to the front or the back of their respective lots, which results in their vehicles eating into the next lot space.

Even if there is still space for your car to squeeze into, it is wise not to do so as their vehicles might potentially scratch your car when they attempt to exit the lot.

2. Avoid dry steering while parking

While you might tend to dry steer while parallel parking in smaller spaces, it is highly recommended to creep your car slowly in reverse instead. The reason for this is because dry steering wears out the threads on your front tires faster than usual.

If you are a frequent parallel parker, this would mean that you might have to send your vehicle for rotations and replacements more often than necessary.

3. You do not have to align your car perfectly

Your vehicle does not need to be perfectly aligned to the cars in front or behind you. It's fine if your car is a little slanted, as long as it is within its lot.

Ensure that you do not park too close to the kerb to prevent scratching your rims. Also. if possible, try to not have your vehicle jut out too much. The last thing you want is a careless driver accidentally hitting the side of your car while driving past.

With lots of practice and patience, parking in public and HDB car parks will no longer be an obstacle for new drivers.

(Credits: https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/car-parking-guide-new-drivers-singapore)

(credits from Unsplash)

After passing the Basic Theory Test (BTT), most drivers would often forget the meaning of different line markings on the road. Even seasoned drivers fall victim to these road markings every now and then as they struggle to decipher the meaning behind the lines.

Hence, we have crafted a complete guide on the most common road markings seen in Singapore for inexperienced drivers to refer to and as a refresher for the veterans.

Common road markings

• Single broken white line

Starting with the basics, a broken white line indicates the centre of a two-way road.

Drivers should always keep to the left of this road marking.

Motorists can cross the centre of this road marking when they can see that the road ahead is clear and that it is safe to do so.

• Continuous white line

Like the single broken white line, a continuous white line indicates the centre of a two-way road. Drivers should also always keep to the left of this road marking.

Motorists can cross the centre of this line when they can see that the road ahead is clear and that it is safe to do so. However, parking is not allowed on either side of the road with this road marking.

Drivers who park on roads with a continuous white line will be fined up to $150, depending on the type of vehicle.

• Parallel continuous white lines

Moving on to a more complicated road marking, parallel continuous white lines on a two-way road indicate that parking is not allowed on either side of the road. Motorists are not allowed to cross the centre of this road marking. Drivers are also not allowed to make a U-turn or a right turn.

If you see this road marking painted on a road to separate traffic flowing in different directions, take note that you are not allowed to overtake any vehicle unless you can keep entirely to the left of the lines.

Drivers who cross these parallel continuous white lines will receive four demerit points and a fine of up to $200, depending on the type of vehicle. For performing an unauthorized U-turn, drivers will be fined up to $150.

• Continuous yellow line

Roads marked with a continuous yellow line indicate that parking is not allowed between 7:00am and 7:00pm on the side where it is drawn, except on Sundays and public holidays.

Drivers may drop off and pick up passengers along a continuous yellow.

However, drivers who park on roads with a continuous yellow line will be fined up to $150, depending on the type of vehicle.

• Parallel continuous yellow lines

Roads marked with parallel continuous yellow lines indicate that parking and waiting are not allowed at all times on the side where it is drawn, except for the immediate picking up and letting down of passengers.

Drivers who park on roads with parallel continuous yellow lines will be fined up to $150, depending on the type of vehicle.

• Single yellow zig-zag line

Roads marked with a single yellow line indicate that parking is not allowed at all times on the side where it is drawn, except for the immediate picking up and letting down of passengers.

Drivers who park on roads with a single yellow zig-zag line will receive 3 demerit points and be fined up to $300, depending on the type of vehicle.

• Double yellow zig-zag lines

Roads marked with double yellow zig-zag lines indicate that motorists are not allowed to stop at the side of the road where it is drawn at all times.

Drivers who stop on roads with double yellow zig-zag lines will receive three demerit points and be fined up to $300, depending on the type of vehicle.

• Zig-zag lines by side of the road

Not to be confused with a single zig-zag line at the side of the road, this road marking is to warn drivers that there is a pedestrian crossing up ahead.

Vehicles are not allowed to overtake, wait, or park in the area of this road marking. Pedestrians are not allowed to cross the road at these zig-zag areas as well.

Drivers who park within pedestrian crossings will receive three demerit points and be fined up to $200, depending on the type of vehicle.

• Traffic calming markings

These triangular road markings on both sides of the road encourage drivers to slow down as they create a visually narrowed road.

These road markings are typically found near school zones and silver zones.

Bus lanes

During restricted hours, only omnibuses, bicycles and emergency service and police vehicles are allowed to use the bus lanes.

Non-scheduled buses (school or factory buses) can use the lane as well, but these vehicles are not allowed to stop, pick up or let their passengers alight while driving in the lane.

• Normal bus lane

Normal bus lanes are marked by a continuous yellow line and a short horizontal line at intervals

Vehicles are not allowed to drive or park inside the lane during the operational hours from Mondays to Fridays, 7:30am to 9:30am and 5:00pm to 8:00pm An exception to this rule applies on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

If the lane has a broken yellow line, vehicles are allowed to turn from the bus lane into a side road or vice versa.

Drivers who ignore bus lane timings and drive in bus lanes will be fined up to $130. Refusal to pay the fine will result in a maximum fine of $1,000 or 3 months of imprisonment.

• Full-day bus lane

Full-day bus lanes are marked by an additional red line parallel to the continuous yellow line.

Vehicles are not allowed to drive or park inside the lane during operational hours from Mondays to Saturdays, 7.30am to 11.00pm An exception to this rule applies on Sundays and public holidays.

Similarly, drivers who ignore bus lane timings and drive in bus lanes will be fined up to $130. Refusal to pay the fine will result in a maximum fine of $1,000 or three months of imprisonment.

(credits: https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/your-guide-road-markings-singapore?fbclid=IwAR3tcNmSfWh24yo5tWxhDPyIm6oY_XePX25QvZnKwEnTDmco49TsUQl0GLs)

During the trial, display panels along Lorong Ah Soo towards Hougang Ave 3 will light up automatically when a bus is approaching to encourage motorists to give way, says the Land Transport Authority. (Photo: Facebook/Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving)

SINGAPORE: Motorists travelling along Lorong Ah Soo will soon see new display panels encouraging them to give way to buses.

The panels are part of a "virtual right of way" trial that will take place from the middle of October until the middle of January 2022, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said.

Installation and testing works for the panels began on Monday (Sep 27).

"Say hello to a possible #RoadOfTheFuture – one where we make use of technology to encourage gracious behaviour on our roads and create smoother journeys for commuters!" LTA said in a Facebook post.

The display panels, located along Lorong Ah Soo towards Hougang Ave 3, are fitted with detectors that can sense approaching buses, said LTA.

They will light up automatically and display a message when a bus is approaching to encourage motorists to give way. The panels will be deactivated when there are no buses in the area.

Motorists turning left along this stretch of road can continue to use the lane for turning during the trial, LTA added.

(credits: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/lorong-ah-soo-virtual-right-way-motorists-give-way-buses-display-panel-2204291)

(credits pexels)

Read this before you purchase your dream car. Some of these facts can help you to decide on a better car insurance plan or even 'hack' your way to a cheaper premium.

For all to-be car owners, besides shopping for your dream car, you'll also have to start comparing the best car insurance plans around.

In order to own and drive a motor vehicle in Singapore, you'll need car insurance. This not only protects you against any financial damages that arise from accidents, but also provides you and your passengers with coverage for medical expenses and more.

Here are 11 lesser-known facts about car insurance that you need to know before deciding on a car insurance plan.

#1 You can get a discount for a clean driving record

(credits pexels)

You can get a discount for your clean driving record by receiving the Certificate of Merit (COM) — a certificate issued by the Traffic Police for safe driving for three years. The COM deems you a low-risk driver and is an incentive for drivers to drive safely. This COM is a discount on top of your No Claims Discount (NCD).

To get yourself a COM, you must be free of traffic violations for at least three years. This means that you cannot rack up any demerit points in the three years before you purchase your car insurance policy, in order to be eligible for a COM.

However, being demerit point-free could be easier said than done for some. For example, driving 1 to 20km/hour over the road speed limit already warrants four demerit points. On the bright side, demerit points collected will be waived if you do not accumulate any additional demerit points for 12 months after your last offence.

If your driving record isn't spotless, fret not, you can still enjoy your NCD when you don't make a claim over the last year.

#2 No Claims Discount (NCD) is transferable

NCD refers to the discount you enjoy when you don't make a claim on your car insurance plan. This can range from 10% to 50%, depending on the number of claims you make during the period of insurance.

Your NCD is tied to your name and is hence transferable. For example, if you have a 50% NCD and are planning to change your car insurance plan, you can request for your next car insurance company to transfer your existing NCD to the next policy, if it's within the NCD validity period.

However, your NCD is not transferable to your friends or family — it is only transferable for plans under your name. There could be exceptions, such as your NCD being transferable to your spouse, though this is subject to the insurer.

#3 Your NCD will expire if you don't buy car insurance for 1 to 2 years


(credits pexels)

Your NCD unfortunately has an 'expiry date'. Upon the termination of your car insurance policy, the NCD you've earned will be valid for the next one to two years (depending on the insurer), after which, it will drop back to 0%.

If you decide to take a break from driving and not get a car, it means no discounts on your next car insurance plan once you let your NCD expire.

As a car owner, to maintain your NCD and keep your car insurance premiums low, you'd have to purchase your next car insurance plan within that time frame. Alternatively, you can always opt for car sharing options, take ride-hailing services or public transport instead of owning a car.

#4 You can keep your NCD even if you make a claim

Simply add on an NCD protector as a rider to your car insurance plan. The NCD protector is typically applicable to policies with at least 30% NCD, and will protect your NCD from getting knocked back down to 0% when you make a claim.

For some car insurers, you might even enjoy free NCD protection automatically if you have been enjoying 50% NCD over the past couple of years. Unlike your NCD, your NCD protector is not transferable from one insurer to another.

#5 Car insurance will cost the most in your early years


(credits pexels)

Unlike other insurance types such as life insurance and critical insurance that increase in cost as you age, the premiums of your car insurance plan can get cheaper as you get older. This is especially if you stay out of any accidents and avoid making any claims on your car insurance plan to enjoy higher NCD.

When you first own a car, you'll have no NCD to enjoy, regardless how good your driving has been prior when you were driving your family car or using rental cars.

Due to the relative inexperience compared to those that have been on the roads for decades, premiums and excess are typically higher for young drivers. If you're new to driving, while it will be more costly, it's best to get a comprehensive plan (within your budget) to cover for all possible damages in the event of an accident.

#6 Your marital status can affect your premiums

Yes, whether you're married or not can affect the premiums you pay for your car insurance. Marital status aside, your occupation (and how frequently you use your vehicle) can also be another determining factor.

Other factors that determine your car insurance premiums include your age, gender, years of driving experience, car model and more.

#7 You can pay premiums via instalments


(credits pexels)

The premiums for car insurance plans can cost anything from S$400 to upwards of S$3,000 — pretty hefty to fork out as a lump sum, one-time payment.

Just like other insurance plans, you can pay for your car insurance via instalments. These instalments can also be charged using your credit card — which gives you a chance to rack up some miles, cashback or points, though you'll have to check which of the few credit cards will reward you for insurance payments.

#8 Get a replacement car if your car is totaled

Some insurers, such as MSIG, provide a brand new replacement car in the event that your car is irreparable after an accident. However, there could be additional terms and conditions that apply, such as the original car being less than 12 months old, or not being eligible if the car was stolen.

But this doesn't mean you're getting an instant upgrade (or downgrade). The insurer will replace your vehicle with a new vehicle of the same make, model and engine capacity.

If your car is repairable, you should instead check if your plan offers daily transport allowance for each day your car is under repair.

#9 Modified cars can still be insured

(credits pexels)

Modify your car, modify premiums. Be it installing a roof rack, changing your engine, adding a sunroof or adding turbochargers to your vehicle, it can still be insured – but you may be looking at increased premiums. If you do have plans to modify your vehicle, it's best to first check if it's within the Land Transport Authority (LTA) regulations.

You can also reach out to your preferred insurer, or the SingSaver insurance brokerage team at insurance_enquiry@singsaver.com.sg or by phone at 31382648, to find out more about the plans and premiums for modified cars.

#10 It costs money to transfer car ownership

Car insurance aside, here are two additional final fun facts for aspiring car owners.

Just like how applying for a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat will cost you S$10, and like how applying for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in Singapore will cost S$2 even if you don't get allocated shares, you'll also have to pay an admin fee for the transfer of car ownership.

While it is as simple as a click of a button after filling in the details online, it will cost you money to transfer ownership of a vehicle. This figure can vary from vehicle to vehicle.

#11 Bidding for your favourite car plate costs upwards of S$1,000

(credits pexels)

'8888', '5555', '1234' might be popular numbers for car plates (also known as the vehicle registration number) in Singapore.

If you have a preferred car plate, you can submit a bid to LTA. As the minimum bid amount is S$1,000 (with increments in multiples of S$1), it will cost you at least S$1,000 to secure a car plate of your choice. If you're dead set on securing a specific vehicle registration number, the sky's the limit in terms of the upper limit of the bid allowed.

The bidding is held weekly and all available numbers will be published on the website — so no, you can't just provide a number of your choice, you'll have to select from what's available.

This might remind you of how you'd have to pay extra for a 'nice' mobile phone number and how some home units (such as those ending with 8) are able to fetch a higher price or are snapped up faster than others.

Do note that there is a non-refundable service fee of S$10 that's charged for each bid submission you make. This fee is applicable even if you fail to secure your preferred car plate.

So, what should your car insurance cover?

Your car insurance coverage would depend on the type of plan you choose. Here's an overview of the three main types available:

• Third Party Only: The most basic (and cheapest) type of car insurance plan, this covers injury or death to a third party, plus damage to others' property. This does not cover the damage to your own vehicle.

• Third Party Fire and Theft: On top of what Third Party Only car insurance offers, this also covers fire damage or theft of your vehicle. Again, this does not cover the cost of other damages to your own vehicle.

• Comprehensive: The most all-encompassing plan type, a comprehensive plan includes what Third Party Fire and Theft covers, plus coverage for the repairs or replacement required for accidental damages to your vehicle. It can also include personal accident and medical expense coverage.

You'd also have to compare other perks and coverage terms offered by the insurer, such as whether 24/7 roadside assistance is provided, if there's daily transport allowance and the excess that applies.Armed with a better understanding of car insurance, check out some of the best plans available on the market below.

(Credits: https://www.asiaone.com/money/11-fun-and-lesser-known-facts-about-car-insurance-you-car-owners?fbclid=IwAR1ffHAalVAMKnDaxIfcGwshwzV4MyHi0BAL61sLqltOoYw8F9ODOzrbxjU)

Everyone always tells you not to neglect your car, to keep up with the maintenance schedule and to replace broken components as soon as possible, but does it mean that everything is fine and dandy as long as you do so?

Sometimes, the result can vastly differ from your intentions. With cars, often you'll end up hurting it more despite your best intentions. Here are some things that you thought you should be doing to your car, but really shouldn't.

Cheap car wash

Nobody likes to drive around in a dirty car, understandably, you'll want to keep yours clean and fresh.

There's nothing wrong with that, but how would you do it? Would you pop by your favourite detailing shop for a thorough wash? Or would you pay for those services where one guy with a bucket of water goes around washing all the cars in the carpark?

Just hosing off the dirt will be a thousand times better than those sub-par car wash services.
PHOTO: sgCarMart

Well, if you opted for the latter, I have some bad news for you. Just think of all the dirt and debris swimming in that same bucket of water - contamination is certain. Instead of a wash, I'd rather call them car scuffing services…

Sub-standard car wash services can cause damages to your car's paintwork, which will be costly to rectify. If you want to keep your car looking good, don't cut corners, do it the right way.

Running till empty for a tank of fresh petrol

You must have heard that petrol turns bad overtime. That is true, petrol can oxidise and turn bad in as quickly as a month. You might think that it is a good idea to use up as much of the petrol in your car's fuel tank before refuelling.

You should avoid running your car close to empty.
PHOTO: sgCarMart

But that would have been a serious mistake. Running a car till it's fuel tank is near empty is very harmful to the fuel pump.

The fuel pump is designed to work while submerged in fuel. Running near empty can cause the fuel pump to overheat without the surrounding fuel to aid in cooling. It can also cause the fuel pump to suck up air, overworking and damaging it, resulting in premature wear of the fuel pump.

Getting maintenance done haphazardly

Maintenance is maintenance right? As long as you get it done, it's all good… If that was the case, no one will choose to pay for premium parts and fluids. Opting to use sub-standard and cheaper parts can be a disaster in the making.

Don't skimp! Opt for the premium options when getting maintenance done!
PHOTO: sgCarMart

You should always opt for quality products when it comes to important components such as tyres, parts of the braking system and fluids such as engine oil. For example, different tyres perform differently, using a cheap and poorly designed tyre can result in poor traction, especially in the wet - even if it's brand new.

A little bit of extra spending can go a long way in ensuring the safety and reliability of your car.

Using unnecessary additives

Although additives all claim to be beneficial to your car, you shouldn't pour everything in indiscriminately. While most additives are generally safe, there can be instances where incompatibility might occur.

Quality engine oils already include additives to ensure the best protection for your engine, there is no need for third-party additives which can cause more harm than good.

Adding all sorts of additives indiscriminately into your engine can cause more harm than good.
PHOTO: sgCarMart

Another popular add-on are engine flushes during an oil change. While it sounds like an effective 'detox' session for your engine, it can be potentially harmful to your car as well - the flushing process can dislodge large particles and cause blockage in other areas of the engine, or even damage the seals in some older engines.

In most situations, regular maintenance with quality products is all your car needs.

Retrofitting LED or HID head light bulbs

You might think that bright head lights will make your drive safer, but blindly putting in brighter bulbs is not only illegal, it can also be dangerous.

Aftermarket LED and HID bulbs are much brighter than the original halogen units found in many cars, but they also require specific projector lenses and head light housings to work properly.

Yes, those LED head lights on new cars are amazing, but don't just go and slap that eBay LED unit in!
PHOTO: sgCarMart

HID bulbs can be extremely hot and draw a ton of power, which can result in a damaged head light assembly and overheated wiring.

Installing incompatible bulbs will cause irritation to other drivers and can also result in poor light scatter pattern and a shorter throw, impeding visibility when driving at night - the reverse of your original intention. Having head lights that doesn't work correctly will surely be a hazard that can cause potential harm to not just your car, but yourself.

(Credits: https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/5-things-you-may-be-doing-your-car-really-shouldnt?fbclid=IwAR2xkRbzrt92o8U6c1WNbAGB3tiz39d-sxsfOpKkOV2aR2OhFXvVYUwp0rk)

Car subscriptions have recently entered the automobile industry in Singapore, allowing people to drive their favorite cars without the high upfront costs that come with owning a car.

With its term flexibility and all-inclusive monthly subscription fee, the car subscription model is rivalling traditional car ownership. We've compared the costs of car subscriptions to car ownership in order to determine where you can save money.

Car subscriptions: Flexible terms with hidden costs

Car subscription companies are the first of their kind in Singapore. Unlike traditional methods of leasing a car, car subscriptions allow Singaporeans to rent a car on a monthly basis, with no fixed term contract that binds the buyer to a rental car for a year or more.

These car subscription costs take the form of a monthly fee that includes all car ownership expenses like: car insurance, road tax, warranty, and 24-hour assistance maintenance costs.

PHOTO: ValueChampion

Though one of the car subscription's selling points is that you can return it at any time, many of the cars that Carro lends actually have a minimum term of 6 months. With this in mind, you can expect a minimum payment of $10,558 for a Kira Cerato (LX Sedan) — the cheapest subscription available.

In addition to this subscription fee, Carro requires you to pay a nonrefundable $1,000 reservation fee for new cars or a refundable security deposit for used cars that varies per car model.

Similarly, the company charges an optional concierge fee of $99 per month, which accounts for pick up and delivery services when your car is in need of maintenance.

It's important to note that your monthly payment is not fixed. Carro actually determines your car insurance by a pay-per-km model, which is then calculated into your monthly subscription.

So while you don't have to pay an external premium on car insurance or maintenance fees, you may still be responsible for additional costs outside of the base fee advertised on Carro's website.

Car ownership: High costs with an expiration date

PHOTO: The Straits Times file

It's well-known that car ownership in Singapore is expensive. The average cost of a compact car $92,888, which includes the COE — a pricey component of car costs that may even exceed the value of the car.

In addition to the COE, you'll also be responsible for registration fees, road tax, car insurance , and a down payment for your vehicle as your upfront costs.

Total five-year cost of owning a car

PHOTO: ValueChampion

The total cost of car ownership also depends on your car's depreciation value. Assuming you pay off your car loan, your Mazda 3 Series will still have 51 per cent of its original value after five years, which brings down your total net cost to approximately $52,856 if you decide to sell it.

Similarly, you'll find that your Mercedes Benz has 44 per cent of its original value after depreciation, so your total net cost amounts to $94,949.

It's important to note that car insurance and car loans strongly depend on your needs and qualifications, while maintenance costs depend on the model and maintenance needs of your vehicle.

Therefore, it's likely that you'll end up paying more in running costs for your car, especially if you run into unforeseen accidents.

Where can you save money?

The car subscription's lower up-front costs have strong appeal against the expensive commitment that is car ownership. Just in the first year, alone, you pay almost 162 per cent more to own a Mazda 3 Series car compared to using a subscription service, and 262 per cent more to own a Mercedes-Benz.

Though, when it comes to subscribing or owning in the long term, we found that you can actually save money by owning, as long as you can sell your car after you've successfully completed your car loan payments.

Additionally, we found that the annual recurring costs of owning a car are actually 22 to 36 per cent cheaper than paying for a car subscription service.

In the case of these two car models, you'll save more money by owning a car if you sell your vehicle right after you pay off your loan (when the value of the car hasn't fully depreciated).

By doing so, you could save 45 per cent and 37 per cent on total costs for your Mazda 3 Series and Mercedes Benz, respectively, as compared to using a car subscription service.

However, the upside of car ownership is that you can have a car in your name for as long as you want, so it may not make sense to sell it after a few years. In this case, it may seem like a car subscription is cheaper.

For instance, by the end of the five-year period, you will have saved up to seven per cent to 29 per cent by subscribing to a Mazda 3 Series or a Mercedes Benz than if you had bought the cars.

However, the longer you keep your car, the more expensive car subscription services become.

Over the course of 10 years, we actually found that you'll end up paying 24 per cent to 39 per cent less for your car if you own it than if you subscribe to one (not counting the rebates you get for scrapping).

Between annual depreciation, high up front costs and eventual COE renewals, car ownership may not be as cost-effective as a car subscription in the short-run. Furthermore, the major selling point for a car subscription is that you can trade in your vehicle for a better one when you want to.

This model works well for those who can foresee a need for a different type of car in the future, whether it's time to test out a luxury vehicle or you require more space for new additions to the family.

Thus, when it comes to deciding between the two, it's important to consider not just the upfront costs of the car, but what you want to get out of it as well. If you tend to keep your car for longer periods of time between selling them, owning a car may be more worthwhile.

This article was first published in ValueChampion.

(Credits: https://www.asiaone.com/money/car-subscription-or-car-ownership-which-one-will-save-you-money?fbclid=IwAR37aTCq9Q-T3Y3d7RnHBmPtZyoGDt-9ofDlQfzP13EG76o3MPv1FD3KRVI)

Yes, we had an article that explained how renewing the COE of your car might be a fatal mistake.

However, if you have read the article, you would have known that it doesn't apply to all cars in the market, as with all kinds of decisions, there are pros and cons to consider, and the best course of action is undoubtedly the one where the former outweighs the latter.

So how do you determine what's a good car for COE renewal?

Factors to consider when choosing a car for COE renewal:

1. PARF rebate

When you deregister a car in Singapore towards the end of its COE, you will be eligible for a PARF rebate of 50 per cent of the ARF paid (the ARF is derived from the car's Open Market Value). When you choose to renew the COE, you will be forfeiting this sum of money, effectively adding to the depreciation of the car.

2. Engine capacity

The road tax of cars in Singapore is derived from the engine capacity. Additionally, cars that are over 10 years of age is subjected to an increasing surcharge of 10 per cent per annum up till a maximum of 50 per cent on the 15th year (effectively 150 per cent of the car's original road tax amount). It will make little sense to renew the COE of a car with 6000cc.

3. Parts availability

Parts availability can be a headache for older cars that have long stopped being produced, the problem gets worse with rare and uncommon cars. Hence renewing the COE of a common car with great parts support will make more sense here.

4. Desirability

Much like choosing what new car to buy, the car must be good. The lower cost of a COE-renewed car can also mean that you will be able to enjoy a car that was much more expensive or when new. Imagine being able to drive a luxurious European sedan with an annual depreciation that is less than $10,000!

Calculations are based on the following:

July COE PQP: $46,896

Renew 5 years COE (50 per cent of PQP): $23,448

Honda Jazz 1.3 A

PHOTO: Facebook/Eng Wan Automobil

You won't go wrong with an economical hatchback in Singapore - the city environment makes these cars the perfect choice here. Since the first iteration, the Honda Jazz has been a favourite around this part of the world, this second-generation Jazz offers increased space as well as a smoother and quieter ride than before.

It is also economical to run, being reliable, cheap to maintain, low priced as well as having a low road tax thanks to its 1.3-litre engine.

Despite its small footprint, the Jazz packs in 384 litres of boot space with full passenger capacity, excellent for a hatchback of this size! The low PARF rebate and used pricing of the Jazz makes it a smart pick for COE renewal. It is also one of the winners in the 2010 SGCM Car of The Year awards.

Used price before COE renewal: $13,800 - $21,000

Used price with 5-year COE renewal: $37,248 - $44,448 (5-year COE) / $60,696 - $67,896 (10-year COE)

Forfeited PARF rebate: $8,370 - $9,971

Annual depreciation after COE renewal (for new owners): $6,070 - $8,890

Annual depreciation after COE renewal (for existing owners): ~$4,690

Annual road tax: $590, with a 10 per cent increase every year

Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6A

PHOTO: Facebook/singaporeautos

The ever-so-loved Toyota Corolla is arguably the benchmark for cars in the sedan category. It has always been the people's go-to sedan, with more than 37 million units sold internationally since its introduction in 1966. This economical sedan is well-known for its reliability, practicality, and comfort. Hence, it is often the preferred choice of car for first-time owners.

The Toyota Corolla Altis comes in two main variants, the 1.6-litre, and the 1.8-litre model. The latter variant is less popular among consumers due to its more expensive road tax and COE premium. Regardless, the Corolla Altis' low PARF rebate makes it a good pick for COE renewal.

Used price before COE renewal: $20,800 - $23,500

Used price with 5-year COE renewal: $44,248 - $46,948

Used price with 10-year COE renewal: $67,696 - $70,396

Forfeited PARF rebate: $7,216 - $7,551

Annual depreciation after COE renewal (for new owners): $6,770 - $9,390

Annual depreciation after COE renewal (for existing owners): ~$4,690

Annual road tax: $742, with a 10 per cent increase every year

ALSO READ: COE premiums rise across all categories on eve of COE supply drop

Toyota Wish 1.8A

PHOTO: Facebook/W & F Motoring

When the Toyota Wish was first introduced in Singapore in 2006, it instantly succeeded and ousted its rivals - The Honda Stream and the Mazda 5 (Even with both their combined sales). Its success is due to the modern design and practicality of it as an MPV. Unlike the first generation of the Wish, the second generation introduced in 2009 has two main variants (1.8-litre and 2.0-litre).

Are you worried about it being an underpowered MPV? Fret not. Coupled with Toyota's 7-speed (A) CVT transmission, the Wish has an ample power output of 141 bhp with 173 Nm of torque, and 158 bhp with 196 Nm of torque for both variants, respectively.

Unfortunately, the Toyota Wish has been discontinued and replaced by the Toyota Prius+ hybrid. Well, that is a sign for both existing and prospective owners to renew the COE of their Toyota Wish.

Used price before COE renewal: $13,200 - $22,800

Used price with 5-year COE renewal: $41,250 - $50,850

Used price with 10-year COE renewal: from $69,300 - $78,900

Forfeited PARF rebate: $10,752 - $11,122

Annual depreciation after COE renewal (for new owners): $6,930 - $10,170

Annual depreciation after COE renewal (for existing owners): ~$5,610

Annual road tax: $976, with a 10 per cent increase every year

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI

PHOTO: Facebook/RemapTronic Ecu_Performance_Upgrade

This is an ideal hatchback for younger consumers seeking a stylish, practical, fuel-economical, yet efficient vehicle - all of which the Volkswagen Golf possesses, making it an excellent choice for COE renewal. This generation of the iconic hatchback previously bagged the premium award for SGCM Car of the Year 2010 (Hatchback category).

Unlike its sporty counterpart - The Volkswagen Scirocco, this iconic 5-door hatchback comes with a turbocharged engine instead of a twin-charged engine. Its ability to produce a power output of 120bhp and 200Nm of torque mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox allows for an effortless acceleration whenever required. Despite its powerful output, it comes with an affordable road tax due to its 1.4-litre TSI engine.

Used price before COE renewal: $20,800 - $27,900

Used price with 5-year COE renewal: $44,248 - $51,348

Used price with 10-year COE renewal: $67,696 - $74,796

Forfeited PARF rebate: $11,160 - $13,877

Annual depreciation after COE renewal (for new owners): $6,770 - $10,270

Annual depreciation after COE renewal (for existing owners): ~$4,690

Annual road tax: $620, with a 10 per cent increase every year

Kia Cerato Forte 1.6A/1.6M

PHOTO: Carousell.sg

The Kia Cerato Forte undoubtedly paved the way for the Korean mid-sized sedan segment. It is unlike most Asian cars out on the market. It is well-known to be a pseudo continental car as it bears a resemblance to continental cars of the same period.

The Kia Cerato Forte has two main variants. The 1.6-litre variant is offered either in the baseline EX trim or the premium SX trim, while the 2.0-litre variant comes with the SX trim. Both variants are available in automatic and manual transmission.

For a mid-sized sedan, it comes with a generous boot space of 415-litre, which is only 10-litre shy of the Toyota Camry, a luxury sedan. Furthermore, the Cerato Forte is one of the more performance-inclined sedans out there in the market. The 1.6-litre 6-speed transmission can push out 124 bhp and 156 Nm of torque, while the 2.0-litre 6-speed transmission pushes out 156 bhp and 194 Nm of torque.

However, if you feel the aesthetics of the Cerato Forte is still not sporty enough for you, the Kia Cerato Forte Koup is the answer to your woes. With similar performance capability, the Koup is the sporty alternative to the forementioned Cerato Forte. It comes only in the SX trim and features a sporty two-door design.

Used price before COE renewal: $12,500 - $16,800

Used price with 5-year COE renewal: $35,948 - $40,248

Used price with 10-year COE renewal: $59,396 - $63,696

Forfeited PARF rebate: $4,585 - $5,407

Annual depreciation after COE renewal (for new owners): $5,940 - $8,050

Annual depreciation after COE renewal (for existing owners): ~$4,690

Annual road tax: $738, with a 10 per cent increase every year

All prices are accurate at the time of writing. Used prices are based on SGCM used car listings.

(credits to https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/5-cars-singapore...)

Punggol's House of Seafood, which drew flak earlier in June this year for "walking" their live crabs, has come up with a new dining initiative that caters to those who are not fully vaccinated.

In a Facebook post on Aug. 10, the seafood restaurant announced that it will be providing an "in-car dining service" for patrons who are not yet fully vaccinated, but who still wish to dine-in at restaurants.

Under the current Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures, dining-in at restaurants for unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated individuals is not allowed.

From the comfort of your own car

House of Seafood claims that this in-car dining service is the first of its kind in Singapore.

It promises that patrons of this service will receive "excellent food and services", just as though they are dining in at the restaurant.

Photo by House of Seafood.

The restaurant said that interested parties can park at one of the over 200 lots at the Punggol Settlement carpark, near where the restaurant is located.

Your meal will then be served to you, while seated in your car.

Photo by House of Seafood.

House of Seafood also clarified in its post that no alcohol will be served for this in-car dining experience, so as not to encourage drink driving.

Other publicity stunts

House of Seafood has attracted public attention before for pulling other questionable publicity stunts in the past.

Earlier in June this year, House of Seafood received a visit from Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), after it posted pictures of its crabs being "walked" along Punggol Beach.

In 2019, the restaurant received backlash from SPCA and the public for putting up a live crab claw machine, for customers to catch their own crabs.


The restaurant apologised for both incidents.

(credits to https://mothership.sg/2021/08/house-of-seafood-in-car-dining/?fbclid=IwAR2VNsFsotjoGR_rNOvEw2BFBUe3gR0VvvEHvu7bX11BUopH1M1YhY9jQtA)

(Photo Credit: Pixabay)

Here's our complete list of Singapore car parks with free parking in 2021.

They say the "best things in life are free". And if you are a car owner, you'd probably be ecstatic over the sight of free parking. After all, parking for free is similar to getting a free meal from a friend.

It's not that we can't afford it, but the cost of car ownership is just too high in Singapore. Taking that into consideration, who wouldn't want to save on parking and petrol costs?

With that said, here is a list of places with free parking in Singapore. Hopefully, it will help you save as much as possible.

We'll keep this list as updated as possible throughout the year, so check back often for updates on new free parking locations.

Free Daily Parking

Adam Road Medical Centre
Free parking daily.

Changi Chapel and Museum
Free parking daily.

Delta Hockey Pitch
Free parking daily. Limited free parking lots available.

Hotel Re!
Free parking daily. For patrons only.

Japanese Garden
Free parking daily during operation hours (6am to 7pm).
Limited free parking lots available.

Marina Bay Golf Course (MBGC)
Free parking daily during operation hours (6am to 12midnight). Free Parking for Patrons only

Memories at Old Ford Factory (MOFF)
Free parking daily.

NEWater Visitor Centre
Free parking daily during operation hours (9am to 5:30pm).

Orchid Country Club (OCC)
Free parking daily. For club visitors only.

Reflections at Bukit Chandu (RBC)
Free parking daily.
Under renovation, the revamped museum will reopen in mid-2021

Republic of Singapore Air Force Museum (RSAF Museum)
Free parking daily. Limited free parking lots available.

Sentosa – Costa Sands Resort
Free parking daily.

Sentosa Golf Club (SGC)
Free parking daily during operation hours (7am to 7pm).

Tampines Retail Park (IKEA, Giant, and Courts)
Free parking daily.

The Grandstand
Free parking daily.

The Singapore Mint
Free parking daily.

Lunch Hour Free Parking

888 Plaza
Free parking daily, from 12pm to 2pm.

Clarke Quay Car Park
Free parking on Mondays to Fridays, from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.
Excluding Public Holidays.

Downtown East
Free parking on Mondays to Fridays, from 12pm to 2pm

East Village
Free parking daily, from 12pm to 2pm.

Heartbeat @ Bedok
Free parking on Monday to Friday, from 12pm to 2pm.

Greenridge Shopping Centre
Free parking on weekdays from 12pm to 2pm.

Katong Square
Free parking daily, from 12pm to 2pm.
Excludes Public Holidays.

Our Tampines Hub
Free parking daily from 12pm to 2pm.

Free Parking (Hourly Basis)

18 Tai Seng
Free parking on Monday to Friday, from 5pm to 11:59pm.
Free parking on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, from 6pm to 11.59pm.
Valid till 31st March 2022.*
Subject to changes by the management.*

35-43 Kranji Way
Free parking on Monday to Friday, from 7pm to 7am the following day.
Saturday: Same Charge as the Weekday
Free parking on Sundays/Public Holidays, from 7am to 7am the following day.

Alexandra Retail Centre
Free parking on Monday to Friday, from 6:30pm to 11pm.
Free parking on Weekends and Public Holidays, from 7am to 11pm.

Aperia Mall
Free parking on Monday to Friday, from 6:30pm to 9:59pm.
Free parking on Weekends and Public Holidays for the first three hours.

Berjaya Hotel
Free parking daily, from 10pm to 8:30am the following day.

Biopolis (At North Buona Vista Drive)
Free parking daily, from 5:01pm to 6:59am the following day.

BreadTalk Building
Free parking daily for the first hour only.

Cairnhill Art Centre
Free parking on Monday to Friday, from 6pm to 8am the following day.
Saturday: Same charges as the weekday.
Free parking on Sundays/Public Holidays.

Downtown East
Free parking daily, from 9pm to 5am (Only at Begonia Open Air Carpark).
A grace period of 30mins daily, from 5am to 9pm (promotion valid till 18 August 2021)

Esplanade Mall
Free parking daily, from 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm

Gillman Barracks
Free parking on Monday to Friday, from 5pm to 8:30am the following day.
Free parking on Weekends and Public Holidays, from 8:30am to 8:30am the following day.

IKEA Tampines
Free parking daily, from 7am to 11pm.

ITE Headquarters and ITE College Central
Free parking on Sundays/Public Holidays, from 7am to 10:30pm.

Jelita Cold Storage
Free parking daily for the first hour only.

Jewel Changi Airport
"Welcome Back Free Parking" promotion valid for parking at Jewel / T1 Carpark, B2 to B5 (excluding short-term parking), from 10am to 11pm.
Extended till 18th August 2021

JTC Aviation One @ Seletar Aerospace Park
Free parking on Monday to Saturday, from 5pm to 7am the following day.
Free parking on Sundays/Public Holidays, from 7am to 7am the following day.

JTC Aviation Two @ Seletar Aerospace Park
Free parking on Monday to Saturday, from 5pm to 7am the following day.
Free parking on Sundays/Public Holidays, from 7am to 7am the following day.

JTC BioMed One @ Tuas Biomedical Park
Free parking on Monday to Saturday, from 7pm to 7am the following day.
Free parking on Sundays/Public Holidays, from 7am to 7am the following day.

JTC CleanTech Two @ CleanTech Park
Free parking on Monday to Saturday, from 5pm to 7am the following day.
Free parking on Sundays/Public Holidays, from 7am to 7am the following day.

JTC MedTech Hub @ MedTech Park
Free parking on Monday to Saturday, from 7pm to 7am the following day.
Free parking on Sundays/Public Holidays, from 7am to 7am the following day.

Jurong Bird Park
Free parking on Monday to Saturday, from 7pm to 7am the following day.
Free parking on Sundays/Public Holidays.

Kaki Bukit Autohub
Free parking on Sundays/Public Holidays, from 7:01am to 10:30pm.

Midview City
Free parking on Monday to Friday for the first hour, and from 7pm to 12midnight.
Free parking on Weekends and Public Holidays, from 7am to 12midnight.

Mustafa Centre
Free parking daily for the first hour only.

TradeHub 21
Free parking on Monday to Friday, from 7pm to 12midnight.
Free parking on Weekends and Public Holidays, from 7am to 12 midnight.

Parks and Nature Attractions

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Free parking daily during operation hours (7am to 7pm).

Bollywood Veggies / Poison Ivy Bistro
Free parking on Thursday to Sunday, during operation hours (7am to 7pm)

Changi Point Coastal Walk / Changi Beach (Car Park 1 to 6)
Free parking on Monday to Saturday, from 5:01pm to 8:29am the following day.
Free parking on Sundays and Public Holidays.

Fire Flies Health Farm
Free parking daily.

Hausmann Marketing Aquarium (Fish Farm)
Free parking daily.

Labrador Nature Reserve (Car Park A and B)
Free parking daily.

Mandai Orchid Garden
Free parking daily.

Mount Faber Park
Free parking daily.

Pasir Ris Park (Car Park B and E)
Free parking daily, from 10pm to 8:30am the following day.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Free parking daily during operation hours (7am to 7pm).

With Minimum Spending

City Square Mall
Redeem a parking coupon for 2-hour free parking with a minimum spend of S$30 (during weekdays only).

Kallang Wave Mall
Redeem a parking coupon for 2-hour free parking between 11am to 4pm, Mondays to Fridays.
Maximum 3 same-day receipts per redemption per day, limited to the first 50 shoppers only.
Minimum spending of S$50 (or S$100 for FairPrice Xtra receipts).

Marina Bay Link Mall
Free parking on Monday to Friday for first 30 minutes before 6pm.
Free parking on Monday to Friday for four hours after 6pm. Valid until 11:59pm.
Free parking on Weekends for first four hours.

Free S$3.50 complimentary parking coupon with minimum spending of S$30

Limited to first 50 redemptions on Weekdays and first 100 redemptions on Weekends/Public Holidays.
Minimum spending of S$30 (max. 3 same-day receipts).

Marina Bay Sands The Shoppes
Free parking with minimum spending of S$50 in a single receipt.
Valid of up till 3 hours from the time of entry into the carpark only.

Resorts World Sentosa
Free parking with minimum spending of S$50 at these participating dining outlets.
Same-day in a single receipt or 7 combined receipts from different stalls at Malaysian Food Street.
Limited to one redemption per participant per day.

Singpost Centre
Free parking for the first 2 hours on Monday to Friday from 6am to 6pm and Saturday 6am to 1pm.
Minimum spending of S$10.
Limited to 200 shoppers a day.

Star Vista
Redeem a parking coupon for 2-hour free parking from 10am to 9:30pm.
Minimum spending of S$30 (max. 3 same-day receipts).
"Shop And Park For Free" promotion till 30th September 2021.

Zhongshan Mall
Redeem a parking coupon for 2-hour free parking from 8am to 11pm.
Minimum spending of S$50 (max. 2 same-day receipts).

Note: Information is correct as at 05/08/2021.

(credit to https://www.motorist.sg/article/774/free-parking-i...)

Internal combustion engines and transmissions can last for over one million kilometres if maintained well. What about electric motors and batteries?

Internal combustion engines that are known to have run a million kilometres are actually rare.

Few owners keep their cars running that long and even those who have persevered would have overhauled the engine several times during the course of its life.

With electric vehicles (EV), the question of longevity revolves around the batteries and motors.

We know from our experiences with rechargeable batteries at home or office that their storage capacities gradually diminish over time.

Eventually, a battery replacement is necessary if one desires the device to continue functioning. Mobile phones are the most typical example of this.

HOW LONG DO EVs LAST?

Battery technology for EVs is still at a relatively early stage. There is not much long-term information available on lifespan. Most EV makers offer warranties of between 80,000km and 100,000km.

The batteries could probably continue beyond that mileage albeit with increasingly reduced storage capability.

Compared with an internal combustion engine, an electric motor's biggest advantage is that it has no reciprocating parts. It is a pure rotary device and does not have issues with imbalance in operation.

Electric motors have been in use in transportation, industries and commercial buildings. Most of these, such as air-conditioning and ventilation blowers, conveyor belts, water pumps, and of course our trains, run continuously for several hours a day, year in and year out.

The main rotating component, called the armature, is the only moving part. Electric motors do not need an oil change. There are no oil filters, spark plugs, fuel filters, timing belts or radiators to replace either.

Electric motors have negligible wear and tear. Even if modern EVs have not been around long, the track record of motors is long enough to suggest that an EV's motor will outlast several battery swaps and several hundred thousand kilometres.

credits: https://www.torque.com.sg/advice/ev-motors-and-batteries-how-long-do-they-last/?fbclid=IwAR2Pkq03568teHCQWKIOkWPX5XOvcuKozp9xobHsw7QYnFb3F4iBMPdpN_M

Foodpanda Deliveryman Helps To Fix Punctured Tyre For Driver In Tampines

When drivers encounter a punctured tyre while travelling, they'd usually call someone for help or fix it on their own. However, not everyone may be ready to handle such emergency situations.

In a recent post on Instagram by Sgfollowsall, a netizen shared about being stranded for an hour after the tyre on his car punctured.

Thankfully, a Foodpanda deliveryman who noticed the driver in distress decided to come over and lend a helping hand.

Foodpanda deliveryman helps to fix punctured tyre

The caption to the post states that the incident happened in Tampines, likely on Wednesday (14 Jul). The driver who submitted his story described how he was stranded at the roadside due to his flat tyre.

After an hour or so, a Foodpanda deliveryman who happened to be passing by stopped to ask what had happened.

Upon understanding the situation, he offered to fix the punctured tyre for the driver. According to the caption, this took up an hour of the deliveryman's time.

source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRV0WJChalg/?utm_sourc...

He apparently said that he would rather do it for free than let the driver spend money on professional assistance.

Offered to impart skills to driver

A portion of the clip shows what looks like tools by the roadside, though it's unclear where those came from.

source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRV0WJChalg/?utm_sourc...

As the deliveryman set about fixing the tyre like a pro, he offered to teach the driver some useful skills, which he has apparently imparted to many youths.

Going the extra mile

While delivering food can be an exhausting job, this deliveryman sure didn't let that stop him from taking time out of his day to help someone in need.

Kudos to the Foodpanda deliveryman, for going above and beyond to help the driver. We're sure he's deeply appreciative of the gesture.

We hope this would inspire more people to spread kindness around.

credits: https://mustsharenews.com/punctured-tyre-foodpanda...

Tesla superchargers at Orchard Central carpark on July 19, 2021.ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

SINGAPORE - Users of electric vehicles (EVs) will have easier access to chargers soon as Singapore steps up its push to get more motorists to choose this less polluting option.

Applications open this month (July) for a grant that subsidises the installation of charging points in non-landed private residences.

Electric car maker Tesla has set up three charging points at the carpark located on the ninth level of Orchard Central. It will set up more in the coming months.

Transport Minister S. Iswaran said on Monday (July 19) that Tesla's charging points were installed under a regulatory sandbox by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

Mr Iswaran, who was speaking at a media event held by Sembcorp, said LTA launched the scheme this month to accommodate technologies that are on track to be included in Singapore's national charging standard.

He said LTA has been engaging companies to submit specific sandbox applications for case-by-case assessment.

Mr Iswaran said the Tesla V3 supercharger, which is only for Tesla vehicles, is expected to shorten charging time to 15 minutes. Typical EV chargers can take up to a few hours to charge a car.

The grant to subsidise the installation of EV chargers in condominiums and other non-landed private residences will open for applications on July 29.

The Electric Vehicle Common Charger Grant is aimed at building up charging infrastructure in eligible residences. Through it, LTA will co-fund installation costs of 2,000 EV chargers as an early adoption incentive.

The grant was announced in March during the Ministry of Transport's budget debate.

On Monday, LTA said: "As non-landed private residences form a significant proportion of residences in Singapore, improving charger provision is an important step towards improving the coverage of Singapore's national EV charging network."

Mr Iswaran, announcing the launch date of the grant, encouraged condominium residents to "seize this opportunity to ensure that their car parks are future-ready".

He said that EV charging infrastructure in private premises currently accounts for one-third of some 2,000 charging points in Singapore, but most of them are in commercial developments like shopping malls.

Tesla superchargers at Orchard Central carpark, on July 19, 2021. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Owners of the EV chargers, whether a charging operator or owners of the residences, can apply for the grant to cover three upfront cost components of charger installation. These are the charging stem, licensed electrical worker fees, and cabling and installation costs.

The grant will co-fund 50 per cent of the three cost components, subject to an overall cap of $4,000 per charger.

The chargers must have smart charging functions that can monitor and react to energy consumption information.

The grant will be allowed for installation of chargers at only up to 1 per cent of residential carpark spaces within each non-landed private residential development.

LTA said the installation of EV chargers at landed properties, shophouses, hotels, hostels, serviced apartments and workers' dormitories would not be covered under the grant's conditions.

The grant will be available until Dec 31, 2023 or until 2,000 chargers have been approved for co-funding, whichever is earlier.

Those who are interested can visit the LTA website for more details or apply via the Government's business grant portal.

credits: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/tesla-charging-points-now-in-orchard-grant-for-charger-installation-in-non?fbclid=IwAR0WDO26hN8boQIin8oQ6sYEks1jBzTP8XGwl7zWEZawNiuXMQyOWiAgfVs

Electric car maker XPeng is chasing market leader Tesla in China. (Photo: AFP/Hector RETAMAL)

HONG KONG - Shares in electric carmaker XPeng debuted in Hong Kong on Wednesday (Jul 7), as Chinese-based firms trading in the United States seek to avoid the glare of Beijing's regulators by listing closer to home.

XPeng, which is already Nasdaq-listed and is chasing Tesla in China, is the latest Chinese company to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange, following other big tech firms such as video platform Bilibili and search giant Baidu.

The Guangzhou-headquartered car maker raised HK$14 billion (US$1.8 billion) in its initial public offering ahead of the start of trade in Hong Kong on Wednesday, selling 85 million shares at HK$165 (US$21.20) each.

Its shares traded around 1.8 per cent higher on opening.

The IPO comes as Chinese companies face pressure to list closer to home, and shortly after ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing attracted scrutiny over data security when it listed abroad.

"Companies have to split their business," said Ferdinand Dudenhoffer, head of the Center Automotive Research in Germany.

Didi's fate shows how important the protection of Chinese customer data is, he added.

Bloomberg News has reported that two other US-listed Chinese electric car makers - Nio and Li Auto - are also aiming to list in Hong Kong.

China is the world's largest car market and Beijing expects new energy vehicles to comprise 25 per cent of car sales by 2025.

XPeng has come a long way since co-founder He Xiaopeng proposed a merger with another struggling electric carmaker Nio.

According to Chinese media reports, Nio's founder William Li turned him down.

XPeng eventually raised US$1.5 billion in its US IPO last year. In fiscal year 2020, the Tesla-challenger delivered more than 27,000 vehicles.

If XPeng performs well in Hong Kong, it could pave the way for similar pivots by other electric vehicle companies.

The proceeds will help expand its product portfolio, technology development and speed up expansion, its prospectus said.

Vehicles in its pipeline include an SUV featuring an autonomous driving system to be launched next year, targeting China's "growing base of technology-savvy middle-class consumers".

But even as revenues rose from 9.7 million yuan in 2018 to 5.8 billion yuan (US$900 million) in 2020, the company has yet to turn a profit.

Some analysts remain bullish.

"XPeng is at the forefront (of autonomous driving) in China, and its gap with Tesla is getting smaller," said North China University of Technology researcher David Zhang.

Source: AFP/dv

credits: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/xpeng-tesla-challenger-debut-hong-kong-1-8-billion-ipo-15171250?fbclid=IwAR0w34nY9jasoqlIjVp5oWUBXp9W0hul9tJ3ArhRWgaifCnBCccZ-coyvtg

The campaign will focus on raising awareness of running red lights and speeding offences.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

SINGAPORE - Exemplary motorists who are spotted by the traffic police driving safely or performing acts of courtesy on the road will be given a Covid-19 care pack, as part of a month-long road safety campaign.

The theme of the campaign, which ends on June 27, is Road Safety for All. Along with the Spot the Safe Motorist programme that rewards good motorists, the campaign will focus on raising awareness of running red lights and speeding offences.

The campaign was launched on Friday (May 28) by the Singapore Road Safety Council (SRSC) and the traffic police, with support from the Land Transport Authority, Ministry of Education, People's Association and Automobile Association of Singapore.

Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim was the guest of honour at the virtual launch.

He said: "Singapore Road Safety Council and Traffic Police will launch the Spot the Safe Motorist programme to encourage motorists to be alert and courteous while driving. Traffic Police patrol officers will stop motorists who exhibit good driving behaviours - not to give them a ticket, but to reward them with a Covid-19 care pack."

The care pack includes a small pouch, pack of antiseptic wet wipes, travel-size hand sanitiser, bottle of pocket hand sanitiser, reusable face mask and road safety brochure.

Two road safety videos highlighting the consequences of running a red light and speeding will be aired on national television, as well as SRSC's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

SRSC chairman Bernard Tay said: "We should always remember that the road is a common space shared by various road users. Remaining gracious on the roads and driving with the correct driving behaviours can ensure that everyone will return home safely to their loved ones.

"We hope that the initiatives unveiled at the Singapore Road Safety Month 2021 will encourage all road users to do their part in making our roads even safer."

(credits: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/road-safety...)

Gurmit Singh leaving the State Courts on Jun 8, 2021. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)

SINGAPORE: Local celebrity Gurmit Singh was fined S$800 and banned from driving for three months for speeding on Tuesday (Jun 8).

The 56-year-old actor and presenter, best known for his sitcom character Phua Chu Kang, pleaded guilty to one count under the Road Traffic Act for exceeding the speed limit while driving a vehicle.

He drove at a speed of 131kmh at about 9.30pm on Apr 12 this year along Woodlands Avenue 12 towards Seletar Expressway, on a road where the limit was 70kmh, the court heard.

Singh, who was named as Gurmit Singh Virk Chainchal Singh, was unrepresented and turned up in a grey long-sleeved shirt and pants.

The prosecutor sought a driving ban and left the sentence to the court. She said Singh has no prior convictions.

Singh told the court that he was driving to fetch his son from the workplace he was interning at when he noticed a "flapping sound".

"After I got him I wanted him to hear the same sound, so I realised it comes out at 100kmh," he said.

"Of course I'm not saying I should drive at that speed at that street, but it was just a short (distance). I don't know how I got 131, I wish I knew, but I just ask the court's understanding that I'm not this reckless driver who does this daily. It's just a one-off thing I wanted my son to hear."

District Judge Salina Ishak told him he could have put his son's life in danger, as well as his own.

"I understand, your honour. I regret doing what I did," said Singh.

Singh recently reprised his role as contractor Phua Chu Kang for a song in support of COVID-19 vaccines.

The penalties for speeding for a first-time offender are a jail term of up to three months, a fine of up to S$1,000, or both.

This is doubled for repeat offenders. Drivers who are convicted of speeding can be banned from driving for whatever period the court deems fit.

(credits: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/gurmit-singh-fined-speeding-banned-driving-phua-chu-kang-14971220?cid=FBcna&fbclid=IwAR26GiOmzdIfKbWo2sD7kidE24RHTXSccd0WmrpJPDr94aYlGKdaXyC7Wd8)

While some motorists may soup up their cars or even race illegally, the issue of speeding in Singapore goes beyond this group. The programme Talking Point investigates the safety risks at play here.

SINGAPORE: It claimed more than twice as many lives on the roads as drink-driving did last year.

There were 29 deaths due to speeding-related accidents — more than two deaths per month — and 13 fatal drink-driving accidents

Speeding is in fact Singapore's number one traffic offence. Between 2018 and last year, there were 2,212 speeding-related accidents that led to injuries or deaths. In the most recent high-profile case, in Tanjong Pagar last month, five men died.

Drivers who are caught exceeding the speed limits by more than 40 kilometres per hour must appear in court, instead of just paying a composition fine.

Those who take part in a race face the possibility of jail time, a fine and having their car confiscated.

Yet despite the casualties and penalties, some motorists love going fast, with or without vehicle modifications that can endanger lives.

Speeding is more dangerous than motorists may think for several reasons, the programme Talking Point finds out. And the risks are found not just in the underground world of speedsters.

LITTLE PROTECTION

At normal speeds, safety devices such as seat belts and airbags can minimise injury in road accidents. But at high speed, safety devices like seat belts can do some harm while trying to save lives.

An accident victim could have a "belt burn" across the chest, for example, or something worse.

"I need to worry about whether there's a neck injury … or whether the blood vessels within the neck have been torn," said Tan Tock Seng Hospital's director of trauma services, Adjunct Assistant Professor Teo Li Tserng.

"And sometimes the heart can be bruised by hitting against the breastbone."

Survivors of a high-speed crash often have internal injuries that lead to long hospital stays, as the impact of the crash may have caused significant damage to organs such as the liver, spleen and intestines.

"If we were to take a box of soft tofu (and) shake it … look at the state of the tofu — that's exactly what's happening to the liver," cited Teo.

When we hit something, the seat belt pulls us back. The solid organs are like the tofu within that box … and just tear.

The faster a car goes, the greater the force at which the seat belt restrains its wearer. "Without the seat belt … you may have smashed right against the windscreen. You might not even be making it into hospital," he noted.

"(But) if you're going to travel at very, very high speeds and … crash the vehicle, the speed would now essentially render the safety devices not very useful."

ERRORS OF JUDGEMENT

It is also not very easy to prevent an accident at the first sign of trouble. Of all the traffic accidents Melvin Lum has investigated over almost a decade, "98 to 99 per cent" were due to "judgement errors".

"People have misjudged the speed of an oncoming car," cited the senior forensics consultant and accident reconstructionist at Koays Accident Reconstruction.

"There are also instances where they realise that the car has already lost directional control, and they step on the brakes, which … would worsen the situation."

In the daytime, a driver's reaction time when faced with an obstacle is about 1.5 seconds — and about 2.5 seconds at night. But Lum cautioned that longer distances are needed to stop a vehicle going at high speed.

During the daytime, a motorist driving at 50 km/h would need 34.9 metres to come to a stop. At 90 km/h, the stopping distance increases to 83.1 m. At night, this increases to 108.1 m.

These distances apply to drivers who are in control of their vehicle. But if the driver loses control, the car can go into a spin, "which is why braking when doing a high-speed turn is never a good idea".

Lum said: "The car would go off at a tangent and just slide. It would've lost any braking or steering input."

IMBALANCE OF POWER

It is fair to say that owners of fast cars such as sports cars are prone to drive faster than other drivers, thinks sgCarMart editor Julian Kho. And typical cars do not compare with these machines.

"Sports cars tend to give you that better feedback. They are equipped for faster driving habits. They're more communicative in that sense," he said.

"You sort of get a feel of what exactly you need to do and how to do it, especially when you're handling turns."

The cost of a sports car might be beyond the reach of some drivers, however, so another way to go fast is to soup up a lower-end car.

This may include modifying the air filter system, the suspension, tyres and brakes, cited Jason Lin, who is in charge of business development at the Garage R Performance Centre's motorsports division.

He showed Talking Point the legal modifications made to a Suzuki sedan at his workshop — ones that could make the car go from zero to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, compared to 7.4 seconds for the unmodified version.

But power-specific enhancements can render a car "off balance", making it dangerous. "The handling would be different," he said. "You can't really control the car well."

A car is basically at its optimal state when it leaves the factory floor, as its original components are meant to work together for safe handling. For instance, the tyres and brakes are suited to that vehicle's engine power.

So when customers ask Lin's team to modify their cars to go faster, the advice is to take a holistic approach to car tuning, as customers should not be changing only the engine power. Some modifications are also outright illegal.

LACK OF SKILLS, OR SPACE?

While drivers of sports cars may feel that they can handle their cars better, there is more to handling speed than just understanding one's car, according to professional racer Andrew Tang.

"A lot of people think that you just sit in the car and turn the steering, and you're fast. But there's a lot more skill to it … how you use your braking technique, your steering technique," he cited.

One corner isn't the same as another … You're always applying different techniques for the entry, in the middle and the exit.

High speeds thus require more than what motorists learn before obtaining their driving licence. "It requires a whole different kind of training," he said.

Kho, for one, acknowledged that he used to be "irresponsible" on the roads.

But he said he "absolutely" got it out of his system after he took his car to Sepang several times and put the pedal to the metal on the Malaysian track.

"I felt so satisfied that once I was back on public roads, I told myself, 'You know what? I've been there, done that,'" he said.

This is why former thrill seeker Sam (not his real name) thinks Singapore should have a similar venue.

"I know that (racing) is illegal and isn't right. But I feel that people do it because we don't have a space to express our interest in motorsports," said the convicted speedster who used to enjoy "the sense of accomplishment" and adrenaline rush he got whenever he raced.

"If the Government can build a casino just to let people gamble, I don't see why they can't build a racetrack for motorsports enthusiasts."

A "safe space" is a must to "push the limits" of speed, noted Tang. But it still takes more than that, like having the right equipment, including helmets and racing suits.

"We have specific harness systems and everything to hold our neck in place as well as neck braces. And then obviously, the cars are manufactured with six-pin safety belts, so when you hit something you don't go flying," he said.

The fact is most cars and roads here are not built for high speeds, summed up Talking Point host Steven Chia, and "most of us overestimate our driving ability".

His suggestion on where to "work off that need for speed": On a go-kart track.

(credits: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider/wh...)

Over a year into the pandemic, socially distanced dates have become the new norm — think FaceTime, Zoom calls and staying in rather than going out.

But if you're getting tired of doing the same thing every weekend, why not hit the road for your next date?

From lush greenery to panoramic cityscapes, here are seven romantic car date spots where you and your partner can enjoy a change of scenery while staying safely ensconced in your ride. And did we mention they've all got free parking?

Labrador Nature Reserve

PHOTO: AsiaOne/ Kimberly Anne Lim

Whether you're content to chill in your car at the open-air carpark overlooking Reflections at Keppel Bay or you're up for a seaside stroll, this is the perfect place to spend a quiet evening.

While there usually are ample parking space on weekdays, do note that the carparks can get pretty full during the weekends.

Parking: free all day.

Mount Faber

For a stunning panoramic view, head up Mount Faber. Drop by restaurants Arbora and Dusk, located at the peak, and enjoy some romantic hilltop dining from the comfort of your car. They're also currently offering 20 per cent off all takeaways.

Parking: free all day.

Gillman Barracks

For some old-school charm, take a drive down to Gillman Barracks. The military barracks turned arts enclave is perfectly tranquil, even on weekends. If you've got a sweet tooth, don't forget to get yourself some handcrafted ice cream from Creamier located just right by the carpark!

Parking: $0.60 per half hour for the first two hours; $3 per hour from the third hour from 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays. Free after 5pm.

Free from 8.30am on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Changi Beach Park

If you or your partner are itching to travel, the next best alternative is probably to enjoy an idyllic afternoon plane spotting at Changi Beach Park. Don't forget to dabao some food from the nearby Changi Village to fuel up.

Parking: $0.50 per half hour from 8.30am to 5pm on weekdays. Free after 5pm.

Free on Sundays and public holidays.

Seletar Aerospace Park

Enjoy the quaint charm of the area's colonial-style buildings. There's also a good variety of restaurants and cafes here, such as 5 by Sans Facon and Wildseed. Do note that the popular Wheeler's Estate is closed till June 13.

With Seletar Airport a stone's throw away, you might even spot some planes if you're lucky.

Parking: $0.60 per half hour from 7am to 5pm from Mondays to Saturdays. Free after 5pm.

Free from 7am on Sundays and public holidays.

Yishun Dam

Park along the dam and soak in the beautiful, unobstructed sea view on both sides of the road.

Parking: free (no parking between 7am and 7pm, except on Sundays and public holidays).

Kranji Reservoir Park

Miss travelling to Malaysia? Well, you can feast your eyes on the view of the Johor Straits from the carpark just beside Kranji Dam.

There are also lots to explore in the area. The park is home to two fishing grounds and is part of the Sungei Buloh Nature Park Network.

Parking: free all day.

(credits: https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/romancing-phase-2-heightened-alert-best-car-date-spots-stunning-views-and-free-parking?fbclid=IwAR2TiBQB_rQElqXB7S7D2hV2UBw94uXv1a5DVKqpr4ZteukjTZjcEqPG2oY)

An ERP gantry on the Central Expressway. (Photo: Google Maps Street View)

SINGAPORE: Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates will be reduced by S$1 across all gantries and time periods ahead of the June school holidays, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Monday (May 24).

The revised rates will apply from Thursday until Jun 27.

LTA said it decided to reduce ERP rates due to lower traffic volume after the implementation of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures.

The changes mean that 13 half-hour timeslots will have ERP rates reduced to S$0.

There will also be no charges on the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) and Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE).

These rates will revert to the pre-school holiday charges from Jun 28.

(Table: Land Transport Authority)

(credits: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/erp...)

( credits: https://www.torque.com.sg/advice/mounting-kerb-damage-suspension/?fbclid=IwAR3Ka56JE9ukMLD9rRM_Z1BGpY-1O_Ab5ImSZ2mUcsoTlQGdTHa76AKwnNc )

While I was driving out of a carpark, I misjudged a sharp right-hand turn and one of the front wheels mounted the kerb.

Although this happened at low speed, the thud was quite sickening.

Even worse, now my car keeps drifting to the left on straight roads unless I keep tugging at the steering wheel.

Do you think the damage is serious, and will it be difficult to fix?

On a separate note, why are turns set at sharp 90 degrees, and why can't kerbs be tapered and not so high?

Any incident with kerbs can cause damage to a car's wheel and some part of its suspension.

Your car may have sustained a mild, unnoticeable bending of the tie rod arm, which maintains front-wheel alignment.

In this case, a re-alignment will most likely fix the problem, unless the tie rod is bent severely.

If so, it will have to be replaced.

Often, a collision with a kerb at a higher speed will cause distortion of the suspension's lower arm or even the suspension strut.

In such circumstances, the damaged parts will have to be replaced.

Most workshops will refer to the strut as "shock absorber", although this long component that links the lower arm to the upper part of the front chassis frame is really the damper unit.

On some cars with complex multi-link suspensions, more elements of the suspension could be damaged during an impact with a kerb.

In any case, it is always advisable to ask the workshop to physically show you the distortion or crack before you agree to replacements.

On the subject of the kerb height and the sharp-turn set-up, we can only sympathise with you as we are in no position to comment on the layout and design of our roads or parking spaces.

Just be more mindful in future.

( Credits to Torque SG: https://www.torque.com.sg/advice/mounting-kerb-damage-suspension/?fbclid=IwAR3Ka56JE9ukMLD9rRM_Z1BGpY-1O_Ab5ImSZ2mUcsoTlQGdTHa76AKwnNc )

A total of 14,114 COEs were available from February to April 2015.

The latest quota for the upcoming three-month period is a drop from the 17,511 that was available from February to April, which in turn had also seen a decrease from the 19,994 for the November 2020 to January 2021 period.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Thursday (Apr 15) gave a breakdown of the COEs available for the May to July period.

Category A (cars up to 1,600cc and 97kW) will have a quota of 4,973, lower than previous quarter's 5,299.

Category B (cars above 1,600cc and 97kW) will have a quota of 4,856, a drop from 5,651.

Bidding under this quota will start on the first Monday in May.

COE bidding resumed in July 2020, following the suspension of exercises in April, May and June 2020 due to the closure of motor vehicle dealerships and showrooms as part of COVID-19 restrictions.

A total of 19,490 COEs from the suspended bidding exercises were returned from July 2020 onwards, said LTA.

It added that the remaining 2,890 COEs from the accumulated quota of 19,490 will be redistributed over three months starting May 2021.

Goods vehicles and buses in category C will have a quota of 943, compared to the previous quarter's 1,535.

The quota for Category D (motorcycles) is the only one to have increased, from 3,250 (February to April) to 3,686 (May to July).

COEs in category E, which is open to all vehicles except for motorcycles, will have a quota of 1,552, down from 1,776 in the previous quarter.

(Credits to: Channel NewsAsia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/coe-quota-may-june-july-2021-lta-14627478?fbclid=IwAR1nbR_CtxCNLW7OtmQfBPFqSOQtx1iqu7y-_gupXy97zAYQlHPT7glnhMw)

No matter how sturdy a manufacturer claims them to be, tyres will eventually wear out and have to be replaced.

Do not believe anyone who says your brand "can last 90,000km". Your driving and usage patterns directly influence your tyres' wear rate. Just like fuel economy, your mileage will vary.

For the record, we recommend that you get a fresh set every three years, 30,000km or when the tread is worn to the treadwear indicators – whichever comes first.

Even if they haven't worn out after three years, it is still a good idea to get a new set as the rubber may have hardened. When this happens, there is a risk that cracks may develop.

That said, here are five ways to prolong your tyres' service life.

ROTATE YOUR TYRES EVERY 5,000KM

Rotating your tyres helps them wear evenly over time. If you didn't rotate your tyres, the front ones would probably wear out before the rear ones did.

If this happens, you are at risk of an accident, especially in wet weather.

Some tyre shops or car dealerships recommend rotating your tyres every 10,000km. In theory, this is fine.

However, the majority of drivers in Singapore go up and down carpark ramps every day. This results in even greater wear on the "inside" tyres.

This means the right front and rear tyres will wear out faster than the ones of the left. That's because most carparks require us to turn right when ascending and descending.

Rotate your tyres every 5,000km to help mitigate this.

KEEP THEM PROPERLY INFLATED

Tyres provide optimum grip when they are correctly inflated. The correct pressures for your car are displayed on the driver's side door sill.

Under-inflation or over-inflation is dangerous. If the air pressure is too low, the "shoulders" and sidewalls will wear out quicker than the rest of the tread.

On the other hand, if the air pressure is too high, the centre will wear out faster. There is also less grip in this condition. On wet roads, the risk of aquaplaning is very high.

DON'T DRIVE OVER KERBS

Repeatedly driving over kerbs, especially in a harsh manner, can damage your tyres. And apart from scratching your wheels, such actions can also damage your suspension!

It goes without saying that you need to pay attention when manoeuvring in caparks, especially unfamiliar ones. Observe other cars as they drive up or down the ramps and follow their lines if it is safe.

AVOID POTHOLES, TOO

Apart from avoiding kerbs, you should also avoid driving over potholes as these can also damage your wheels and suspension components.

Pay attention to the cars in front of you. It's easy to tell when the car in front has hit a pothole. Or if you see the vehicle in front veering slightly left or right, it is possible that the driver is trying to avoid a pothole.

INSPECT YOUR TYRES REGULARLY

Every car owner should inspect their tyres at least once a month. Apart from cracks, punctures and other damage, look for signs of uneven wear.

If you have been keeping them correctly inflated, uneven wear is a sign that something in your suspension is misaligned. Your wheel alignment or camber could be off.

When caught early, the problem can be rectified, and you would have saved yourself from prematurely purchasing a new set of rubbers!

(Credits to Torque Post: https://www.torque.com.sg/advice/tyres-5-things-you-can-do-to-make-them-last-longer/?fbclid=IwAR0VY49z0gmDEM8Hud67XfLR05ZmDNXaAiUjB9M9_gzoUjj9OKj1WMRGt48)

Physics tells us that machines become less efficient with age because friction causes parts to wear out. Even if the necessary components are replaced, an old machine cannot be as powerful or as efficient as it was when it was new.

This applies to cars as well. As a car ages, it produces less power and becomes less efficient as well.

But it is actually possible for the opposite to happen. A car can actually deliver better fuel economy after it has clocked 20,000-30,000km compared to when it was brand-new.

If this has happened to you, it is no fluke. Our resident mechanical engineer, Shreejit Changaroth, explains why.

A LONGER "RUNNING-IN" PERIOD

We all know that an engine's running-in or break-in period is between 1000-1500km. However, it is only after an engine has clocked between 20,000-30,000km that it finally "loosens up".

By this point, the components are nicely "seated", and everything fits better. As a result, the engine operates more efficiently than it did when it was new and still "tight".

Of course, this does not mean that your car's running-in period is 20,000km. It just means that it takes longer for things to really come together.

However, this improved fuel economy can only be experienced if all other major influencing factors remain the same as before. These include your driving style, timely servicing and keeping the tyres properly inflated.

A "SEASONED" DRIVER

You would have gotten quite familiar with your car after driving it for two months. After driving it for a year, you will probably know all its quirks, too.

The more you get to know your car, the better you become at driving it. You become more used to when it provides maximum power and torque. You know the stopping power and handling abilities.

And this knowledge is used unconsciously. Because you know the power delivery, you know when to go for that overtake and when not to. You know how early or late you should be braking.

Even knowing when to release the accelerator pedal – and how gradually you need to ease off depending on traffic conditions – becomes second nature to you.

Without realising it, you are driving your car more efficiently, which in turn is improving your fuel economy.

ROUTES AND TIMES

Also responsible for better fuel economy is your choice of route and the time you drive it.

Many companies have adapted staggered hours for employees who need to come in. So, if you have been avoiding peak hours, this would have helped as well.

Sometimes, taking a longer and more circuitous route is better than going by the shorter, more direct one. Traffic conditions can be smoother if you take the longer way, since most drivers usually take the most convenient route.

(Credits to Torque Post: https://www.torque.com.sg/features/fuel-economy-can-a-car-become-more-efficient-over-time/?fbclid=IwAR1BKk91wC4VcO2EOP0Mf6Y5llA7DJotNBT7d6Fx-mlVGr1QBYd3CRMLMHI)

As motorists, we are always trying to reduce our running costs so that we can put the money we saved towards more important things.

Faced with a pandemic and a gloomy economic outlook, the need to reduce our car running costs has never been greater.

Here are seven handy tips to help you lessen your motoring burden.

PLAN YOUR ERRANDS

This process can be quite tedious as it requires everyone in your family to share their schedules. But as they say, a bit of planning goes a long way.

Planning your daily trips helps economise the use of your car. For instance, if you live in the east and have an errand in the west, wait till someone also needs to head in that direction. Then, set a day to run both errands together.

Having a car makes it easy to just get in and drive anywhere, anytime. But keep doing that and you'll only spend more on petrol.

Which leads us to the second tip…

TRY NOT TO EXCEED 20KM PER TRIP

We know this isn't always possible. But if you really want to minimise your car running costs by reducing your petrol expenses, don't drive more than 20km per trip.

Obviously, the further you drive, the more fuel you are going to burn.

We recommend 20km because that's usually when the engine has had enough time not just to warm up, but reach its optimal temperature. When this happens, the engine oil's protection should also be at its peak – provided you're using the correct grade and viscosity.

FIND CHEAPER PARKING

This is one of the best ways to reduce your car running costs.

If you're heading to an area like the CBD where parking is expensive, search for carparks with cheaper rates instead. Utilise resources such as sgCarMart's Parking Rate Guide.

When I travel into the CBD, I usually park outside the area and take the MRT in. The commute gives me some exercise and I also get to enjoy the improvements made to the train services.

Such an arrangement is also a good way to avoid ERP charges, which will soon be levied on drivers again.

DIY CAR WASHING

Washing your car yourself instead of paying $10 at the petrol kiosk every month goes a long way towards reducing your car's running costs.

A good quality shampoo will cost around $20. But from that single bottle of concentrated formula, you should be able to wash your car at least 20 times.

Even if you factor in $0.80 per bucket of water, you'll still come out way ahead compared to paying $10 per wash.

As a bonus, you get a bit of a workout, too, what with all that standing up, squatting down and carrying pails of water around!

SWITCH TO ECO-FRIENDLY TYRES

If you're not a driving enthusiast, you should definitely consider swopping to eco-friendly or low rolling resistance tyres at your next tyre change.

Tyres from Yokohama's BluEarth and Bridgestone's Ecopia lineups are a good bet if you want tyres that can help you save fuel.

Your engine will not have to work so hard when moving off, since the tyres help it more easily overcome the car's inertia. In the long run, the fuel saved reduces your car running costs.

USE A LOWER OCTANE FUEL

Before switching to a different fuel grade, check your owner's manual and see what RON or octane it recommends.

If your car can run on 92-octane, you can definitely switch to this instead of filling up with 95-octane. Similarly, if you've been filling up with 98-octane, see if it's safe to switch to 95.

If it's safe to switch to a lower octane, go ahead and do so. You'll be saving a bundle on your car running costs.

SMOOTH AND STEADY

Following the preceding tips is good, but it will all come to naught if you don't adopt a gentler driving style.

We don't suggest hypermiling to reduce your car running costs as this is impractical for most drivers. However, we do recommend avoiding abrupt acceleration and sudden braking, as these will cause poorer fuel economy.

Accelerate progressively and anticipate slowdowns so you can time your braking. Actions like these will make you a smoother and more efficient driver, thus putting more money in your pocket.

(Credits to Torque Post: https://www.torque.com.sg/advice/car-running-costs-7-ways-to-reduce-them/?fbclid=IwAR0XfyF2SqjcoNa8DpqK78-sOFBpwgjUbhccoHdY_wrpffiR_bfRRc-cJqk )

Singapore has a grand vision of phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2040, according to Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in his February 2020 budget speech.

To achieve this goal, the Singapore government has laid out various measures to boost the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the nation, from rebates for buyers to expanding the EV infrastructure.

Singapore's electric car fleet has gone from just one at the end of 2015 to about 1,125 as of January 2020.

With the huge rise in the number of EVs on our roads, Singaporeans might be starting to wonder whether their next car should be an electric one.

Here's all you need to know if you're considering to purchase an electric car.

What Are The Electric Car Models In The Market?

Currently, electric cars cost between S$100,000 and S$160,000 for mass market models, while higher-end models may cost up to S$500,000.

These are just some examples of the electric car models available in Singapore, their prices, and where to purchase them.

Most big-name brands have showrooms in Singapore, where buyers can head down to enquire about the electric cars.

Even though electric car giant Tesla does not have a showroom in Singapore yet, a quick search on the Tesla website shows that it is slated to enter the Singapore market.

Besides, getting one's hands on a Tesla is not impossible in Singapore, as many car dealers in Singapore have imported them for sale in the nation.

Rebates Available When Getting An Electric Car In Singapore

Since Singapore is making a big bet on electric cars as part of its sustainability efforts, the government has implemented rebate schemes for electric car buyers to enjoy.

First, an early adoption incentive scheme will be rolled out for EV buyers from 2021 to 2023.

It will offer a 45 per cent rebate on the car's Additional Registration Fee (ARF, the main car tax), capped at S$20,000 per vehicle. Furthermore, the road tax for electric vehicles will be lowered.

However, despite the lowered road tax, there will be a six-monthly lump sum tax for EVs from 2021, starting at $100, then $200 in 2022, and $350 from 2023 onwards.

Charging Your EV

When it comes to having an electric car, charging it is sure to be a concern.

To pave the way for greater adoption of EVs in Singapore, the government has also highlighted its plan to expand the EV charging infrastructure to 28,000 by the end of 2030.

Currently, there are about 1,600 EV charging stations islandwide.

Of the public charging stations available in Singapore, over 200 belong to Bluesg, while other players include Shell Recharge, SP Group, and Greenlots.

Despite the sizeable number of charging points available islandwide, they are not widespread enough, and drivers still have to end up walking from the charging points to their final destination.

Besides the current firms that offer charging stations in Singapore, new players are slated to enter the industry to offer more charging points.

For example, it was speculated that Tesla's first charging station in Singapore will be at the Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) at Sime Road.

However, according to The Straits Times, the SICC has not been approached by Tesla for the said charging points on its grounds, leaving the plans ambiguous as of now.

On the other hand, Charge+ said that out of the 10,000 EV charging points it plans to install, 4,000 of these points will be located in at least 1,200 condominiums due to "strong unmet needs".

Charging up an electric vehicle is relatively fast. Last year, ComfortDelGro announced that it would introduce charging stations that would take a mere 30 minutes to fully charge an electric vehicle.

Even though the cost of purchasing an EV is high, a major benefit of switching to an electric car is saving on energy costs in the long run.

According to government data, a private car has an average annual mileage of around 17,500 kilometres, while petrol goes for an average of S$2 per litre.

On the flip side, the energy tariff rate is S$0.22 per kWh.

Thus, when looking at the estimated costs on energy for an electric car compared to a regular petroleum car, it seems that drivers are looking at thousands of dollars of savings each year.

Furthermore, consumers can expect new payment models for EV charging to be rolled out in the new future.

For example, Charge+, a green mobility business by clean energy company Sunseap Group announced that it plans to install 10,000 EV charging points by 2030.

EV drivers who use its charging points will pay a fixed monthly fee on a subscription basis, which is the first of its kind for EV charging in Singapore.

According to the company, the fee will only be about half of what a driver would typically spend on fuel each month.

To add on, electric vehicles have fewer parts than normal cars, which can lead to less servicing visits, and even more cost savings.

Are Electric Cars The Future Of Driving?

In the automotive industry, electrification is the undeniable future, especially so with the push by the government.

More and more car companies have developed electric alternatives to their vehicles, while even tech companies like Apple have plans to release EVs.

Previously, a major hurdle to EV ownership was the upfront cost. However, the availability of rebates has made EVs more attractive to purchase.

Despite the higher affordability, the current worry when getting an EV is charging it.

Even though public EV charging spots are steadily growing, owning an EV is likely only feasible if you have access to a dedicated charging point at home or at your workplace.

EV owners tend to install their own charging points if they live in landed properties. However, most Singaporeans do not live in houses with garages where they can plug in their cars overnight.

Despite these concerns, Singapore looks well poised to welcome a greater volume of electric cars, especially with its plans to ramp up the availability of charging points.

Thus, EV ownership might be a viable option for many, especially in the coming years.

(Credits to Vulcan Post: https://vulcanpost.com/732446/buying-electric-car-singapore/?fbclid=IwAR0QDZe_bsuMN3ED_YPJAWwe9EL6ZJlNgLkgMLhQZoUdZEghb9dxmka0L2E )

(CNN) The science is looking pretty unanimous on this one: Drivers of expensive cars are the worst.

A new study has found that drivers of flashy vehicles are less likely to stop and allow pedestrians to cross the road -- with the likelihood they'll slow down decreasing by 3% for every extra $1,000 that their vehicle is worth. Researchers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas speculated that the expensive car owners "felt a sense of superiority over other road users" and were less able to empathize with lowly sidewalk-dwellers.

They came to this conclusion after asking volunteers to cross a sidewalk hundreds of times, filming and analyzing the responses by car drivers.

Researchers used one white and one black man, and one white and one black woman -- also finding that cars were more likely to yield for the white and female participants. Vehicles stopped 31% of the time for both women and white participants, compared with 24% of the time for men and 25% of the time for black volunteers.

But the best predictor of whether a car would stop was its cost, researchers discovered. "Disengagement and a lower ability to interpret thoughts and feelings of others along with feelings of entitlement and narcissism may lead to a lack of empathy for pedestrians" among costly car owners, they theorized in the study.

And the discovery of a car-value-to-jerkish-behavior correlation isn't new; the research, published in the Journal of Transport and Health, backed up a Finnish study published last month that found that men who own flashy vehicles are more likely to be "argumentative, stubborn, disagreeable and unempathetic."

According to that survey of 1,892 drivers by the University of Helsinki, those deemed to have more disagreeable character traits were "more drawn to high-status cars."

But it also found that conscientious people often favor higher-priced vehicles, too. If you're reading this while stuck in traffic in your brand new BMW: yes, you're definitely in that category.

"I had noticed that the ones most likely to run a red light, not give way to pedestrians and generally drive recklessly and too fast were often the ones driving fast German cars," Helsinki University's Jan-Erik Lönnqvist said in a press release.

He set out to discover what kind of person is more likely to buy an expensive car, creating a personality test of Finnish car owners.

"The answers were unambiguous: self-centred men who are argumentative, stubborn, disagreeable and unempathetic are much more likely to own a high-status car such as an Audi, BMW or Mercedes," the press release states.

"These personality traits explain the desire to own high-status products, and the same traits also explain why such people break traffic regulations more frequently than others," Lönnqvist added.

His study cited previous research that indicated drivers behind the wheel of a costly vehicle are more likely to flout traffic regulations or drive recklessly.

But he also found people with "conscientious" characters seek out pricey models, too.

"People with this type of personality are, as a rule, respectable, ambitious, reliable and well-organised," the statement said. "They take care of themselves and their health and often perform well at work."

(Credits to CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/26/world/expensive...)

SINGAPORE: A total of S$113 million will be set aside by the Government to provide road tax rebates for petrol and petrol-hybrid vehicles to ease the transition towards higher petrol duties, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a news release on Tuesday (Feb 16).

Petrol duty rate was raised by 15 cents per litre for premium petrol on Tuesday, while intermediate petrol duty will be raised by 10 cents, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced in his Budget 2021 speech in Parliament.

Here are four things to know about the tax rebates:

1. ROAD TAX REBATES

A 15 per cent road tax rebate will be given to owners of private cars for one year, while motorcycle owners will get 60 per cent road tax rebate. With the 15 per cent road tax rebate for cars, the minimum road tax payment for petrol and petrol-hybrid off-peak cars and revised off-peak cars will be reduced from S$50 to S$43 and from S$70 to S$60 respectively for the one-year period.

The road tax payable for petrol and petrol-hybrid classic cars will be reduced from S$280 to S$238.

With the 60 per cent road tax rebate for motorcycles, the road tax payable for petrol and petrol-hybrid classic motorcycles will be reduced from S$280 to S$112.

Owners of commercial vehicles will get a 100 per cent tax rebate for a year. These comprise goods vehicles, goods-cum-passenger vehicles and buses.

2. IMPLEMENTATION OF ROAD TAX REBATES

The road tax rebates will be applicable for a one-year period from Aug 1, 2021 to Jul 31, 2022.

Vehicle owners will continue to pay road tax based on the existing rates until July 2021. This is because "time is needed to effect the necessary system changes to implement the road tax rebates", said LTA.

Any excess road tax paid will automatically be used to offset against the amount payable at the next renewal, and vehicle owners will be informed of the road tax payable one month before their current road tax expires, in line with current practice.

For those who have already paid road tax beyond Aug 1, 2021 based on the current road tax rates, the excess will be automatically offset against the amount payable at the next renewal, LTA added.

And if the vehicle is transferred before its next road tax renewal, the excess road tax paid will be offset against the transfer fee payable, and any amount remaining will be transferred along with the vehicle to the new registered owner.

3. PETROL DUTY REBATES

Petrol duty rebates will be given in addition to the road tax rebates "to provide further support to those who rely on their vehicles for their livelihoods", said LTA.

On top of the 15 per cent road tax rebate, active drivers of taxis and private-hire vehicle will get a petrol duty rebate of S$360 disbursed over four consecutive months.

Some motorcycle owners, who are registered as at the end of Tuesday, will also receive petrol duty rebates on top of the 60 per cent road tax rebate.

Individual owners of motorcycles with engine capacity of 200cc and below will get S$80 in petrol duty rebate, while individual owners of motorcycles with engine capacity of between 201cc and 400cc will receive S$50.

The road tax and petrol duty rebates will be disbursed automatically to those eligible, and there is no need to apply, said LTA.

4. MORE REBATES FOR MOTORCYCLES, TAXIS, PRIVATE-HIRE CARS MID-2021

Additional petrol duty rebates for motorcycles, taxis and private-hire cars will be introduced by the middle of 2021, with more details to be released by LTA in April, said Mr Heng, who is also the minister for finance.

"Taken together, these measures will offset about one year of petrol duty increases for taxis and motorcycles and about two-thirds for commercial vehicles and cars.

"Most of the expected revenue increase from the petrol duty changes in the coming year will be given out through the offsets, estimated to cost S$113 million," he said.

(credits to Channel NewsAsia: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/petrol-duty-rate-road-tax-rebates-cars-taxis-motorcycles-14209200?fbclid=IwAR3qafSED9MmTC8SRdvb3h_7Fp5YZQRtKAzOx4tx9ZNRB6-TV-AJ0fT6OYk)

Anyone who's ever experienced the frustration of driving circles around a carpark looking for an empty spot will appreciate this new service.
An app that's preparing to launch in Singapore is touting its ability to allow users to pre-book a parking lot for a "stress free experience". On its website, SureReserve said it was "leveraging advanced technologies" so drivers could make advance reservations for the "most desirable" parking spots.

Images by the company shows this will include barriers that can can be unlocked via an app.

Image by SureReserve

Image by SureReserve

So far, the company have not listed any locations where its service will be provided.

The website says the app is "coming soon" to both Google Play and the Apple App store, though eager drivers can sign up to receive notifications for its launch.

Doing so with your email address and filling out a survey will get you free reservation coupons.

Will be found in S'pore's leading shopping malls

Responding to queries from Mothership, a spokesperson from SureReserve said that Singaporeans can expect to see the service at "leading shopping malls, mixed-use and commercial properties with high visitor footfall."

The spokesperson — who declined to disclose which malls they were woking with — added that the service would be deployed in a small percentage of the lots, conveniently located near a mall's access points.

"A nominal booking fee will be charged only to those who wish to avail of the service. All other drivers can park as they normally do."

Booking fees will be charged in-app and the parking lot will be reserved for a period of time, before being released to others in the case of a no-show.

SureReserve said that its service would be available in Singapore before the end of the year.

article credited to Mothership.sg:
https://mothership.sg/2021/02/surereserve-book-parking-spots/?fbclid=IwAR1Cpto3rl_jWOXESGmkrwtYuJL-re95EDFOVyp17IWyatnZbSRMMIAUMSw

Whether it's your first time buying a car or you're replacing your current car, second-hand cars are more cost-effective, if you do it right. Firstly, you will want to look at car listings and pick a car depending on your budget and other needs such as the number of seats, PARF or COE car, transmission type. When you've found what you're looking for, you can contact the seller and arrange for a viewing and a test drive. This is the most important part before you make your final decision. Look out for these before you make your purchase:

1. Exterior checks

Look out for any rust or corrosion, uneven surfaces, mismatched paint colours or misalignment of body parts and evaluate how much repairs will cost you. It is advisable to do exterior checks in a well-lit place, or else use a flashlight to help you inspect clearly.

2. Interior checks

Pay special attention to the condition of the seatbelts, and make sure that the windows, air-conditioning, audio, lights and other electronics are working. Check the condition of the seats and any persistent odours that might be present.

3. Engine check

If you are unsure of the basic engine checks such as engine oil levels, coolant level and transmission fluids, you can usually find out the date for the last engine check as most workshops will paste a decal on the car to remind owners of when to come for their next visit. Do check under the car for any leaks.

4. Test drive

Finally, take the car for a spin. Before that, check if the car lights are all working. When you get in the car, ensure that no warning lights are on, before and after switching on the engine. While on the move, test the brakes and the acceleration and look out for any noise or vibrations.

Once you're satisfied with the condition of the car, all you have to do now is make the purchase.

News Source: The Straits Times

Measures include tax rebate extension, early adopter perks and more charging points

A BlueSG vehicle recharging in Race Course Lane. Mr Heng Swee Keat said Singapore will expand the electronic vehicle charging infrastructure significantly from 1,600 charging points now to 28,000 by 2030, a move that was hailed by diversified motor group Prime chairman Neo Nam Heng as a breakthrough.ST FILE PHOTO

In declaring its ambition to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles within the next 20 years, Singapore will make electric vehicles (EVs) more attractive from next year.

"Our vision is to phase out ICE and have vehicles run on cleaner energy by 2040," Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said, adding that this goal is for "both public health and climate change reasons".

Singapore has said that it sees climate change as an existential threat, and Mr Heng, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday announced several measures to make EVs a viable option.

First, the Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES), which metes out tax rebates and surcharges based on a vehicle's emission levels, will be extended to light commercial vehicles.

Second, an early adoption incentive scheme will be rolled out for EV buyers from 2021 to 2023. It will offer a 45 per cent rebate on the car's Additional Registration Fee (ARF, the main car tax), capped at $20,000 per vehicle.

Third, the road tax for EVs and some hybrids will be revised to be less punitive.

Fourth, Singapore will expand the EV charging infrastructure significantly from 1,600 points now to 28,000 by 2030.

But as excise duty from fuel sales contributes around $1 billion a year to tax coffers, Mr Heng said the Government will introduce a six-monthly lump sum tax for EVs from 2021, starting at $100, then $200 in 2022, and $350 from 2023 onwards.

"Total road tax, after the revision in methodology and the new lump sum tax, will be higher for some EV models," Mr Heng said.

"However, EV buyers can expect to enjoy substantial savings because of the significant EV Early Adoption Incentive."

Mr Heng said the excise duty on fuel is a form of mileage tax to discourage indiscriminate usage, which will have an impact on pollution and congestion.

Industry players said this lump sum tax will negate much of the savings derived from the revised road tax.

For instance, the Hyundai Kona Electric, which is part of ride-hailing firm Grab's fleet, will see its annual road tax fall by around 36 per cent to $1,447. But the lump sum tax will pare this saving down to 4 per cent from 2023.

The buyer, however, will qualify for a $20,000 rebate on the car's ARF, which translates to a saving of around $10,000, assuming he keeps the vehicle for 10 years.

On the whole, the move was well received, even if the VES - which currently grants EV buyers a tax break of $20,000 - may change next year.

Mr Glenn Tan, deputy chairman and managing director of Tan Chong International, said: "This is good, as globally, manufacturers have been moving towards less pollutive vehicles, but the cost of adoption has been prohibitive. The increased rebate will encourage more people to adopt cleaner vehicles quicker, with the lower cost of ownership."

Nissan agent Tan Chong Motor's head of sales and marketing Ron Lim said the revised road tax means the Nissan Serena e-Power's road tax falls from $1,306 to $860 a year.

Mr Victor Kwan, managing director of multi-franchise Wearnes Prestige Division, said the tax changes are encouraging, but the move to build 28,000 charging points "will truly make a difference", even if it takes 10 years.

On the move to extend the VES to light commercial vehicles, Mr Neo Nam Heng, chairman of diversified motor group Prime, said: "I have been pushing for this for seven, eight years. This is a breakthrough.

"The market will evolve - just like the taxi market evolved from diesel to hybrid models. This will be positive for the environment."

What happens to the COE bidding market post circuit breaker?

While the automotive industry takes a hit with having to close down all of its showrooms and dealerships, the impact of the circuit breaker extended to the roads through COE prices. With changing lifestyle perspectives and consumer behaviours, COE prices were impacted and influenced the past few months post circuit breaker. COE bidding exercises have recently resumed and here's all you need to know about it.

COE 101

COE prices depend on the number of cars on our roads, in other words, the quota available for each vehicle category. If there are lesser cars on the roads, it reflects a lower demand and thus a higher quota, which results in lower COE prices. The alternative is also true, where higher demands contribute to an increase in COE prices. While there are other various factors they affect COE prices, this is still the main cause.

COE Post Circuit Breaker

During the circuit breaker, there was a delay in getting cars scrapped due to social distancing measures that were in place, which resulted in a spike in scrapped cars in the subsequent months. Many were also working from home, conducting their businesses or errands online, and refrained from spending on big-ticket items due to the uncertainty of the pandemic, which resulted in lower demand and a higher quota. This is reflected in the drop of COE prices in the latest November 2020 bidding exercise.

What happens next?

In previous years, pre-pandemic, December usually sees lower demand for cars because most are spending their dollars on holiday trips overseas. However, with the new normal and imposed travel limitations, we cannot hold on to this precedent. As the economy slowly recovers and provided the world is blessed without a second wave of the virus, we see the demand slowly increasing and the quota dipping, which will mean in COE prices increasing gradually. Till then, now is a good time as any to take advantage of the lowered COE prices before it goes up again.

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One of the most daunting task of driving in Singapore is firstly finding a parking lot but even after so, you have to abide by the bounteous of parking laws Singapore has in place. The need to equip yourself with the knowledge of these laws is critical and essential to avoid a hefty fine. So if you are one of those who has fallen trap, you have come to the right place. We are here to rescue you and mending that hole in your wallet!

Like everything else, let's start with the basic knowledge.

• 
  1.Parking Lot Line Markings
  

4 colour codes generally used on parking lots.

• 
  a.White Line Parking lot: Low Cost
  

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The typical and omnipresent white parking lot, the safest of the safe. Short-term visitors can park in these white-lined lots during the operating hours of the car park. This is stated on the signboard situated at the entrance of the car park.

• 
  b.Yellow Line Parking Lot: Mid Cost

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Yellow lots can be found in car parks within the Restricted Zone. These parking lots incur a higher parking fee of $1.20 per half hour if parked between the time period of 7:00am and 5:00pm, Mondays to Saturdays. The normal parking fee of $0.60 per half hour is charged after 5:00pm, including Sundays and public holidays. Again, the parking charges are clearly listed on the signboard at the entrance of the car park.

• 
  c.Red with White (bi-coloured) Line Parking Lot
  

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These bi-coloured lined parking lot serves as a vivid visual illustration for visitors to avoid them as these parking lots are generally reserved for season parking holders from 7:00pm to 7:00am, Mondays to Saturdays, and whole day on Sundays and public holidays.

However, car parks may differ slightly in terms of reserved days/ time. Short-term visitors are highly advised take reference to the information sign plates near the reserved parking lots or the wordings painted in front of these parking lots (if any), before parking.

For example, the supplementary sign plate may indicate:

- "Reserved for Season Parking from 7pm to 7am, Mondays to Saturdays & Whole Day on Sundays and Public Holidays",

or- "Red-With-White Lot Nos. XXX to XXX, No parking for visitors for these periods, Mon to Sat : 7pm to 7am, Sun & public holidays : Whole day",

Meaning to say, you can only park in these reserved parking lots from 7:00am to 7:00pm, Mondays to Saturdays.

Red Line Parking Lot

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Red lots are reserved strictly for season parking holders all day, including Sundays and public holidays. Short-term visitors cannot park in these lots.

• 
  2.Visitor Parking
  

If you are parking at a car park which utilises the coupon system, and you do not possess a valid season parking ticket, display of valid parking coupons are required to pay for the parking charges there. Here are the varying parking coupons available in the country:

• 
  a. Hourly or Half-Hourly Day Parking Coupon
  

The coupons are available in booklets:

Denomination

No. of Coupons

Value per Booklet

$0.60

20

$12.00

$1.20

10

$12.00

$2.40

5

$12.00

These coupons can be used when you park your vehicle in HDB/ URA coupon car parks during designated parking hours. These coupons can only be used to park at a specific car park, and cannot be used in a different car park. Read the individual car park's signboard carefully to determine if the charges are $0.60 or $1.20 per half hour.

Here are samples of the coupons:

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• b. Whole Day Parking Coupon

You can buy a Whole Day Parking Coupon if you wish to park for an entire day.

Denomination

No. of Coupons

Value per Booklet

Valid for use in

$12.00

5

$60.00

HDB/ URA coupon car parks that are outside the restricted zone, and charge $0.60 per half hour during coupon operational hours

• If the coupon operational hours are from 7:00am to 7:00pm with no night parking, the coupon is valid from 7:00am to 7:00pm
• If the coupon operational hours are from 7:00am to 10:30pm with night parking, the coupon is valid from 7:00am to 7:00am the next morning

$20.00

5

$100.00

HDB/ URA coupon car parks that are outside and within the restricted zones during coupon operational hours

• If the coupon operational hours are from 7:00am to 7:00pm with no night parking, the coupon is valid from 7:00am to 7:00pm
• If the coupon operational hours are from 7:00am to 10:30pm with night parking, the coupon is valid from 7:00am to 7:00am the next morning

You can use a Whole Day Parking Coupon for short-term parking, in a specific car park, but not at different car parks.

Here are samples of the coupons:

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• c. Night Parking Coupon

Some car parks have the Night Parking Scheme, where you can park between 10:30pm and 7:00am and pay

• An half hourly rate of $0.60, or
• Flat rate of $5

You can check the location of car parks with the Night Parking Scheme. The signboards of these car parks also state the time and charges.

Here is a sample of the night parking coupon:

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• d. Monthly Payment Coupon (MPC)

There are 2 types of HDB/ URA Monthly Parking Coupons:

1. $360 Monthly Parking Coupon

With this coupon, you can park in HDB/ URA coupon car parks where parking charges are $0.60 per half hour and coupon parking is allowed.

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1. $552 Monthly Parking Coupon

With this coupon, you can park in HDB/ URA coupon car parks (outside and within restricted zones) where coupon parking is allowed.

Both types of coupons are valid for overnight parking in car parks with the Night Parking Scheme. Monthly Parking Coupons can only be purchased from our HDB Branches (except Tampines Branch) or the URA Centre.

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3. Temporary Parking Ticket for Bereaved Family Members

For those mourning the death of a loved one, attending funerals can be a lengthy affair. If the wake is held at an HDB estate, immediate family members of the deceased can get a Temporary Parking Ticket (TPT) to park their vehicles at a car park nearby.

Temporary Parking Ticket

Timing

Charge

Whole Day Parking

7am to 7am the next day

$10 per day

Overnight Parking

10.30pm to 7am the next day

$4 per night

Application for the TPT can be done at any HDB Branch or Service Centre during office hours, from 8am to 5pm, and requires the Death Certificate of the deceased and documents to prove the relationship between the applicant and deceased.

4. Expired and Wrongly Torn Coupons

Not only do you save time, you can also save a trifle of money from coupon parking too!

If you have an expired stash of coupon parking, rejoice as you can exchange them for new ones (as long as at least 1 segment of the tabs are intact and there are no irregularities). These include old tickets that have expired validity dates or wrongly torn coupons. Head down to any HDB branch or the service counter at the URA Centre and exchange those old coupons for new ones.

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With used car dealership being a top marketplace for sellers, we feel that it is crucial for you to be informed on the selling processes for a better judgement. So, here is a useful guide to the 5 stages of selling your car to a used car dealership.

• 1.Sourcing for the best price: Get Quotes From At Least 3-5 Car Dealerships.

There are currently 5 car marts with over 700 used car dealership in Singapore. To negotiate a better price, it will be good to drive down to the dealership to speak to the boss instead of the sales person. If you find it too tedious, you can alternatively call the various used car dealership directory for price quotes. Often than not, the attractive buying price quoted offered over the phone can be substantially reduced upon the dealer's further inspection of the car.

2. Vehicle Inspection:

Now that you have obtained a good selling price for your car, the next step is to go for the car inspection. It is typical of a used car dealer to view the selling vehicle before giving a confirmation offer. Both interior and exterior of your vehicle will be examined for defects or signs of previous accidents. This is to ensure that the car is in a proper selling condition while new defects found will result in the deduction of the initially offered price.

It is crucial to obtain a comprehensive description of your vehicle condition to avoid discrepancy in the final offered price. Sometimes, dealers may even markup their repair costs to obtain the best price for themselves.

3. Signing Documents

Upon agreeing on the final offered price, you will have to sign a couple of relevant documents. Do take extra time to read through each of the documents sequence and clarification thoroughly.

Documents will Include:

• A.Cash Deposit – Amount ranging from $500 to $2000
• B.Purchase Agreement - At this point, you are obligated to sell your car to the dealer or you will be liable to pay double the amount of deposit.
• C.Full Settlement Form – When there is still outstanding bank loan on your vehicle. This is for the dealer to check and settle the loan balance amount with the bank.
• D.LTA Form (ES04 Transaction Pin Form) - If you are comfortable with the dealer keeping your NRIC, they can help with the collection of the transaction pin at Land Transport Authority. If you are collecting them yourself, do note to not to open the envelope.
• E.LTA Form (M01 Transfer Form): Lastly, both dealer and you will agree on a date and time — usually within a week — to hand over the vehicle.

4. Days before handover date

If your vehicle still has an outstanding bank loan, the dealer will contact the bank for the outstanding balance which will take two to three working days. During this period, take extra precaution and drive with care. You will not want an event where your vehicle is rejected by the dealer.

5. Handover date

On the car handover day, you will receive a cheque by the company. If your vehicle still has an outstanding loan, the cheque value would have been taken account of the outstanding loan. Even if there is no outstanding loan, you should request for a cashier order from the dealer just to be sure.

Upon receipt of the payment, you can now hand over the vehicle with the transaction pin obtained from LTA. OF course, sign on the purchase agreement and state the specific handover date/time to avoid possible dispute. In an event of traffic offenses, fines or damages after the stated handover date, it will not be incurred by you.

6. Post-Handover

After handing your car over, you should contact the insurance company to terminate your policy and request for rebates refund if any.

We hope that this article has served you well and provide a more in-depth understanding on the process of selling your car to a used dealership. All the best!

Beg to differ, but owning a car in Singapore is an exorbitant responsibility. Accumulating more costs as years go by and when your COE expire at the end of 10 years, you bid goodbye to your car, sad but definitely a little relieved. What if we tell you that there is a way to relieve you of some monetary burden by bringing your car out to work.

1. Advertise with Adogo

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By putting up ads on your car, you get to earn up to $300 effortlessly! Meet Adogo! Renting out your car's rear bumper space can acquire $50 a month, while having ads on your bumper and side doors can fetch you $150 a month!

You only have to follow simple steps of, firstly, answering a few questions on a survey. Secondly, matching up with an advertiser, and thirdly, parking somewhere that's convenient to put up the ads. You don't even need to be present while they put it up!

Next, off you go and show the world a richer you.

Start advertising here!

2. Drive Grabcar/Uber

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With spare time on your hands, opt to drive for either Uber or Grab! In fact, you wont be the minority to do so. Many drivers look at it as a way to earn back some petrol money. It's like driving a cab, but with your own car, or a car you're loaning. You are entitled with the freedom of driving any amount of hours you will like as and whenever you please. But of course, unlike cabs, you can't pick up passengers on the streets.

The application process is a tad lengthy, but the returns will be worth it! You can check out the whole process here for GrabCar, and here for Uber!

3. Carpool with Uber Pool, Ryde, and GrabHitch

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If you are unable to dedicate time being a full-time Uber or Grab driver, maybe carpooling is better up your alley. This platform allows you to search for people that are in your area that want to go somewhere in the same vicinity as your destination! You pick them up, drop them off, and get paid! It's as simple as that.

This way, you save costs on your fuel, meet new people and earn money all at the same time! For passengers, a trip could be 25% cheaper than a typical UberX ride.

If you're interested, check out Uber Pool, GrabHitch and Ryde!

4. Deliver with Gogovan and Lalamove

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For those van owners, don't feel dejected. Put those idle vans to good use! Gogovan and Lalamove works something like Uber and Grab, except it connects you to people that need things delivered. You can choose your job types which ranges from delivering small goods, to transporting large and bulky items, to moving jobs! They pay pretty well too.

Check Gogovan out here, and Lalamove here!

5. Deliver Food with Foodpanda and UberEATS

Want to take up a more solid and stable job, go for Foodpanda! They offer full shifts from 11am-10pm, Lunch shifts from 11am-3pm and Dinner shift from 5/6pm-9/10pm! The pay itself is pretty attractive!

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If you prefer to work on a moreflexible schedule, UberEATS lets you to connect people to the food they love while you earn some money! All you need is a car or a motorcycle, and you're good to go. You can drive whenever you please, and choose the deliveries you want to make. Although the flat $3 delivery charge isn't substantial, UberEATS promises that deliveries are made within 35 minutes. If you can fit multiple deliveries in an hour, the payout is alright!

6. Rent out your car with iCarsClub

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With iCarsClub, you don't have to be in the car to make money. Whenever your car is idle, for example being overseas, working or sleeping, why not rent it out to people and make money at the same time?

iCarsClub lets to rent out your car whenever and to whoever you want. You can choose rental durations without it hassling your schedule with their keyless entry system so you don't have to exchange keys in person!

Best of all, you set the prices.

Sign up here!

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Is your car's COE term coming to an end? Thinking of scrapping or exporting your car instead of bidding for a new COE? Here are 6 helpful tips that you should take note of before you scrap or export your car.

1. Do not procrastinate until the last minute

Don't leave scrapping or exporting your car until the very last minute. Once the COE expires, your car cannot be on the road anymore. As such, you will have to incur additional costs to tow it to the scrapyard. We highly recommend you to start making the arrangements at least 2 to 3 weeks before the COE expiry date.

2. Prices depends on supply and demand

The value that you get is dependent on various factors such as the supply/demand and the make/model of your car. Particularly in the year 2014 and 2015, it was observed that many new cars were being registered. So when we do a ten years count down, many cars were to be scrapped in 2014 and 2015. Consequently, there was an excess supply of car and therefore lowering the value for the body of your car.

3. Exporting your car will fetch you a better price than scrapping

Briefly explained in the earlier point, the value obtained from your car is dependable on the make & model.

Exporting your car will definitely fetch a better price as compared to scrapping your car. Essentially, selling your car to an exporter refers them helping to sell the car to dealers in other countries. As such, there will be some requirements that your car has to meet before you are able to sell it to an exporter.

Note that these requirements may changes from time to time, but the three below criteria are the common ones that we have observed so far.

• 1.Popular
• 2.In Demand
• 3.Good driving condition

If no exporter is willing to take in your car, then the next option would be to scrap your car at a scrapyard. This option will see your car being torn down for its spare parts and precious metal.

4. Offers from exporter varies

For the same car, different exporters will offer varying prices. This will depend on the contacts and countries each exporter deals with. For example, certain countries might ve willing to pay more for a particular brand of car, hence the difference in price offers.

5. Paper value = Total COE rebate + Total PARF rebate

To find out your car's 'paper value', you can check it on LTA's website by clicking on this link. A point to note, you will have to select the intended deregistration date and that the amount will varies depending on the date you select.

6. De-registering the car

Now that you understand the factors for de-registering your car, let's proceed to the final stage of completing the process.

• A. Deregistering the car yourself

Pro: You will get the full paper value plus the road tax rebate.

Con: Hassle and Effort Required.

First, drive your car to an LTA appointed scrapyard and arranging a return trip. The rebate will be held with LTA for about 3-4 weeks before eventually being released to your bank. To find out more about on the process of deregistering the car yourself, click here.

• B. Sell Direct to Exporters

Pro: Additional body value. Hassle-free and Efficient! All paperwork will be sorted out and completed by them. You will receive the money immediately upon handling over the car, you don't have to wait and monitor when the money will be dispersed by LTA.

Con: There will be a 1-2% deduction from the paper value that acts as interest due to their money being stuck at LTA.

To find out more about this hassle-free service, then please click here.

One of the most crucial documents that you are required to submit when applying for a car loan in Singapore is the Vehicle's Log Card. Here are 3 easy steps to obtain an LTA log card for your vehicle.

Step 1: Access http://www.onemotoring.com.sg

Step 2: Login with your Singpass

Step 3: After successfully logging in to e-Services@ONE.MOTORING, select 'Vehicle Hub' > 'Enquire & print veh reg details' > Select the vehicle registration number of the required vehicle > click Next and print the details accordingly.

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Lemon law was incepted on 1st September 2012 as part of an effort to protect consumers against defective goods. Here are 4 relevant Lemon Laws explained if you are ever stuck in a sticky situation.

1: 6-month timeframe

Buyer can make a claim under the lemon law:

• Within the 6 months' period — Defect(s) is presumed to have existed at the time of delivery, unless the dealer can prove otherwise.
• After the 6 months' period —Buyer has to show that the defect(s) existed at the time of delivery.

2: Lemon law is invalid when:

• Defects were caused by buyer through misuse or unauthorized repair.
• The fault was caused by wear and tear, and not an inherent defect.
• Buyer knew about the fault before purchase.
• The car is not defective; buyer simply changed his or her mind.
• Transaction is done between a direct buyer and seller

3: Pros and cons of an evaluation report

Before purchase, buyer can add a clause to the Sales Agreement to have the car evaluated by a third party, such as STA or VICOM. These expenses are usually borne by the buyer, unless the dealer claim that the car is damage-free but excluding the effect of wear and tear.

With the evaluation report, the buyer can request a dealer to correct the faults, less wear and tear. However, if another problem pop ups within 6 months of delivery, he or she is unable to make a claim under lemon law.

4: Seeking remedies

Stage 1
The dealer may first offer to repair or replace the defective car within a reasonable period of time, without causing as much inconvenience to the buyer.

Stage 2
The buyer may

1.Keep the defective car and request a reduction in price

2.Return the defective car for a refund if:

Unable to repair or replacement

Reasonable to the dealer

The dealer did not provide repair or replacement within a reasonable period and causing much inconvenience to the buyer.

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You won't want to risk a misstep on your COE which might have costs you tens of thousands. To help you lighten the burden of COE renewal amongst all your other worries in life, we have curated a simple and easy-to follow-list on things you need to know to make a well-informed decision!

1. Cost of COE renewal

Good news! When renewing your COE at the end of the car's 10 year cycle, you need not bid for a COE again. Instead, you pay for something called the Prevailing Quota Premium (PQP). The cost of PQP is determined from the moving average of COE prices of the past 3 months. Meaning to say, PQP will vary every time. To get the PQP, follow the link here!

2. When do you apply?

You will have to consider both the balance of your existing COE as well as the cost of PQP. This is because the remaining balance of your existing COE will be forfeited when you pay for the PQP! Do make your choice wisely. Furthermore, any COE rebate from any lay-up period during the COE validity period will also be forfeited when you renew your COE. So make sure the PQP price you're getting is worth the amount of COE you're forfeiting!

When the COE renewal is made before the month that your COE expires, the PQP will be determined by the date you renewed your COE. The new COE will start from the 1^st of the following month from the PQP month.

3. Should I renew my COE for 5 or 10 years?

For a 5 year COE, you will only pay for half of the PQP. Despite the savings, it is crucial to note that once your car is renewed for 5 years, you won't be able to renew that car again. Comparably with a 10 years renewal, you are entitled to enjoy the privilege of continual renewal of your car. Do weigh your pros and cons!

4. Getting a Loan

While most banks do not offer a car loan for COE renewal, we have found the hidden gem Maybank – offering loans up to 60% for 4-5 years, depending on the duration of the new COE period.

5. Depreciation

Before renewing your COE, there are still a few things to take note of. For COE renewal at the end of the 10 year cycle, you will lose your Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) rebate in which the PARF value is determined by the Additional Registration Fee (ARF). Here's a handy chart to aid in your calculation.

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Factor to your vehicle's depreciation in this formula:

6. Wear and Tear

One vital point to reckon is whether your car is able to last for the next 5 to 10 years. With the prolonged wear and tear, an important indicator will be a car's mileage. A typical Singaporean cars would run an average of 20,000km per year. At the end of COE term, it should amount to about 200,000km. With such a high mileage, you probably need to replace the affected parts to ensure a smooth driving for the next 10 years. Head to your mechanic to find out what you need to change!

Click here for a quick valuation of your vehicle based on current market conditions.

7. How can I pay?

The application to renew the COE must be received by LTA within one month after the expiration of your current COE. The different modes of payments are:

• 
  A. By Internet
  

You can make your payment daily, from 6am to midnight. You will need an Internet Banking Account with either of the following banks:

Citibank

DBS/POSB

OCBC/Plus!

Standard Chartered Bank

UOB

Do make sure that your payment is within the set payment limit by the bank!

• 
  B. By Post
  

You will have to make your payment at least 2 weeks before your COE expiry date. The postage will have to include both the application form and payment. It should reach the LTA before the end of the month that the PQP is applicable, and the application date will be the date which LTA receive your application.

This means that, depending on which is earlier, the date of PQP will be that of the application date or the COE expiry date.

• 
  C. At the LTA Customer Service Centre
  

Before or on the COE Expiry Date:

You can make your payment through cheque, cash or cashier's order. You can also pay by Diners Club Card or NETS if it is within the daily transaction limit set by the bank. However, if you choose to pay by cheque, the COE will only be renewed on the date of the cheque clearance.

• D. After COE Expiry (Within 1
  month from the expiry date of the COE):

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After the COE has expired, you can only pay by cash, cashier's order or NETS. You will also have to cover for the late payment fees.

All in all, make an informed decision, and evaluate your situation to maximize your COE life value. Drive Smart!

During those peak hour jams and overly packed roads, they sure make bus lanes all the more tempting. Unfortunately, buses today are equipped with video cameras and traffic wardens are stationed at bus lanes to write down that hefty $130 fine on you. Here are some notes to take for better understanding of the different rules imposed and avoid getting into trouble!

1. Types of Bus Lanes

There are 2 types of bus lanes:

Single yellow line (Normal bus lane) — are solely for approved vehicles during peak hours; BUT periods in between for normal motorists to use.

Single yellow line + Single Red Line (Full day bus lanes) —operate throughout the morning peak hour to evening peak hour without the period in-between.

Operating Hours

Days

Normal Bus Lanes

Full-Day Bus Lanes

Mondays-Fridays

7.30am - 9.30am
5pm - 8pm

7.30am - 11pm

Saturdays

None

7.30am - 11pm

Sundays & Public Holidays

None

None

Get the list of Normal and Full-Time bus lanes here!

2. Do's and Don'ts

If you ever find yourself near or inside bus lanes during the restricted hours, follow these rule of thumb!

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  A.Do not drive in the bus lanes.
  

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  B.Filter in and out only at dotted bus lanes.
  

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  C.Stopping, picking up or letting passengers alight along bus lanes is not allowed.
  

Driving a bus (scheduled and non-scheduled)? Rejoice as bus lanes are open to you. However, non-scheduled buses, such as school or factory buses, are not allowed to stop, drop off, or pick up passengers along the bus lanes. Vehicles such as emergency vehicles, polices vehicles and bicycles are also permitted to use the bus lanes.

3. If You Get Fined…

A. Punishment

If you are caught, you will face a hefty fine of $130 — same value as not giving way to buses which are exiting bus stops in the Mandatory Give-Way to Buses Scheme. But rest assured as the fine does not come with any demerit points.

B. What To Do

In many cases, offenders are unintentionally caught in bus lanes. Jams, turns which are too close to the bus lane and unfamiliar roads are all common reasons for such cases. If you are caught in this sticky situation, you might have a strong case to appeal and waive the fine!

Try these tactics to maximize your chance of getting a second chance!

Try to contact the officials as quick as possible as their processing and reply periods are uncertain. You can even make your way down to try to appeal, and if unsuccessful, pay the fine on the spot.

4. When Writing the Appeal

Be sincere, sound repentant and apologize while appealing for the waiver. If you are a first-time offender, do assure them that you will not repeat the same mistake. If you do face some issues with paying off the fine, it could be something to add in your appeal to help them understand your plight better.

If your offence was due to uncontrollable circumstances like jams, unfamiliar roads and turns too close to the bus lanes, say so! You have a strong case, and can even ask them to cite the details and ask them to review the evidence.

Also, if your offence was with necessary reason (such as rushing to the hospital with your wife in labor or a situation where time is of the essence) then state so in your appeal. They might empathize with your situation but make a note to not exaggerate your story as it just makes it seem like a lie to evade the fine.

If you need some reference on appeal writing, search it up. There are a range of formats and examples cited from past offenders in hopes of helping fellow drivers in the same situation.

The ever so emblematic and fear-inducing Housing Development Board Mobile Enforcement Vehicles have continued to haunt many of us who may have taken a few chances with them – taking up season parking lots without valid parking passes. To aid in your understanding, we have gathered as much information about the HDB MEVs for your sake.

What is 'HDB's Mobile Enforcement Vehicle'

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Mobile Enforcement Vehicles, or MEVs for short – They are HDB contracted personals who are operating under Certis Cisco. Little did you know, the big box sitting at the back of the vehicle houses the entire MEV system, including the integrated cameras that recognise vehicle registration plates and lights.

Purpose: To scan for non-season parkers parked in reserved lots and passing out fines against them for the relevant offences.

Breaking Down 'HDB's Mobile Enforcement Vehicle'

The primary power of MEV can be attributed to that big white box. When the MEV system seeks out a potential offender, it will notify the rider who will then dismount the bike and conduct a second validation check on the vehicle. If proven true, the LTA officer will issue a parking summon on the spot with their handheld device and clamping it onto the windscreen. Even in the dark, they are as fearful due to the assistive lights equipped to improve the visibility of the cameras to scan the respective vehicle registration plates.

Location: MEV operates solely at HDB parking enforcement- surfaces, basement car parks and MSCPs. The routes and frequency are hush-hush to the public, so don't try gaming the system.

Q&A

Are Traffic Wardens not enough?

Essentially, MEV saves manpower costs and is more efficient. With MEV, LTA need not employ as much parking wardens. Moreover, the MEV is able to patrol more car parks throughout the day and reducing the need for the ever so labor-intensive manual scanning and checking.

What other authorities do they have?

Despite the primary purpose to check for non-season parkers found in reserved lots during the restricted hours, the MEV personals are licensed to much more than that. If they detect any parking infringement, they do have the authority to fine as well.

What is the range of parking fines?

The range of composition amount is $50-$200.

Conclusion

With MEVs omnipresent in our little red dot, the lesson to learn here is to Park Legally At All Times and Be A Considerable Driver To Others.

Singapore being a land scarce city, parking lots are a nightmare to find and even more so, parking fees can be such money suckers. To be able to locate a free parking site within proximity is like heaven-send. With these free parking sites we have seek out for you, let your worries be gone – simply park your car and enjoy your time out.

No longer do you have to be on your guard for potential traffic warren sightings or constantly being conscious about how long you have parked.

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  1.IKEA & Giant Tampines
  

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While the Alexandra branch still requires you purchase in IKEA in exchange for free parking hours, the IKEA branch in Tampines offers parking space completely free. Even on peak hours and weekends, you need not worry about the parking lots getting filled up completely as you can conveniently head to Giant which is located next to IKEA and enjoy free parking there as well. Free parking every day, 7 am to 11 pm.

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  2.Dempsey Hill
  

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Dempsey Hill, a food haven but it's also inconveniently located within the expansive Bukit Timah. With the need to drive, you will be happy to know that there is free parking all day, every day! So Drive Ahead! Just a word of caution: Dempsey Hill has seen its fair share of complaints of tight lots and errant parking offenders, so park well!

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  3.Plaza Singapura
  

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A drive to town can really take a toll on our wallets. Shopping, Dining and most of all PARKING. As if going through ERPs isn't bad enough, the outrageous parking rates in town can really add up.

Thank god for Plaza Singapura's free parking! Free parking is available on Monday to Friday for the first hour between 10 am to 5:59 pm, excluding public holidays and eves of public holidays. But you have to be swift! Parking rate will increase to $0.32 per 15 mins after the first hour.

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  4.Breadtalk iHQ
  

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Making a stop within the proximity of the Taiseng Bread Talk HQ, you don't have to sought further for cheaper parkings to enjoy their well-known floss buns and ramen. Despite its exorbitant and stylish façade, they actually offer free parking for their visitors! With accordance of their current promotion, parking is free for the first hour on Mondays to Fridays, and free for the first two hours on Weekends and public holidays!

During their normal Mondays to Fridays, it's $1.50 per hour for the first 2 hours, and $3.50 for the subsequent hours.

On weekends and PHs, it's $1.50 per hour for the first 3 hours and $4.50 onwards.

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  5.Mustafa Centre
  

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In line with Mustafa Centre's cheap groceries, the property also offer free parking for an hour for its visitors. Great if you are stopping by for a quick prata meal nearby. But perhaps you will have to hasten your shopping at the mall itself as it is massive. If not, you will have to suffer paying $1 per subsequent half hour.

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  6.Mount Faber
  

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Out with the family to take the iconic cable car to Sentosa, or venturing into the oldest park in Singapore – Mount Faber Park? Ahoy parents out there! Visitors are entitled to the free parking in the area. The number of parking lots can be quote limited on peak hours or weekends but not to worry as valet services are also available at The Jewel Box for a fee of $5.00!

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  7.Jurong Point
  

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An expansive mall located at Boon Lay, Jurong Point boasts an agglomerate of outlets which provide for the extensive functions of entertainment, shopping, restaurants and household products. Fairprice Xtra hypermarket, to rows of Japanese, Korean and Hong Kong food streets, to Beauty Language. With free parking to drive home with all your goodies and filled bellies, all your needs are satisfied in one place! From 12 pm to 2 pm, Monday to Thursday, Jurong Point offers free parking with a charge of $1.07 per subsequent hour.

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  8.The Grandstand
  

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Perhaps one of the top picks to go to for the young and hipsters, the Granstand does not fall short. The Largest Family Lifestyle Destination in Bukit Timah, go all out at the Red Dynasty Paintball Park or Micro Range Golf with your loved ones. You're not paying a cent for the free parking!

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  9.IMM
  

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Name what you need and you most probably are able to locate it at IMM. With huge outlet stores, Giant Hypermarket and Daiso, it's pretty convenient to get all your shopping done in one place. Despite its longer establishment as compared to adjacent malls in Jurong, it still retains some of its former glory and having the one thing most other malls don't provide – 2 hours free parking daily. From there, it's only $0.30 per subsequent 15 minutes or $1.07 per subsequent hour. Old is still gold.

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  10.Parks
  

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Looking for a quick workout during the hours of 6.30am to 8.30am before work, run easy as parking is free! NParks are offering free parking for many parks dotted around our little red dot. Check it out!

For motorcyclists, check out the list of places with free parking here!

What is COE?

In Singapore, COE is the Certificate of Entitlement. It is usually given to anyone who wants to register a new car. You must obtain the COE according to the appropriate vehicle category.

The COE you get gives you the representation of the right to own a certain vehicle. It also gives you the limited road space for 10 years. When the 10 years are over, you, as the vehicle owner may choose to deregister your vehicle. Alternatively, you may revalidate your COE for an additional 5- 10 years. This will require that you pay the prevailing quota premium.

How do we do it?

With so many countries trying to prevent imports of used cars into their country because of the environmental implications they have, it has become a challenge knowing whether it is possible to export a car without COE. There are 2 ways you could go about it:

1.Ship the special parts

One legal way of exporting a car into any other country without COE is to dismantle the car and ship the parts and sell them in another country of your choice. If the car is still new and has fairly useable parts, like the engine, the gearbox, the other parts of the mechanical components and the panel parts of the body, it will give you good money.

If you package the parts right, for example packing them as household items rather than as car parts, they will be able to pass the inspection and the restrictions that come from exporting car parts. You should ensure that you take it to a scrap operator who is authorized in scrapping cars so it can pass the shipping if you will not package it as household items.

2.Exporting as a drivable vehicle

The other option you have is to ensure that you can use the vehicle and that it can pass some mechanical tests. You will also need to provide all the information about the vehicle and not just the parts it has. Knowing a person who works in JB will allow you to have a way to break it down and ship it. Then you will have to change it into a left handed drive.

There are currently many restrictions when it comes to exporting used cars to other countries. Getting an authorized channel and knowing people in the industry will help you find an easy channel to export the car or its parts easily and without any problems with authorities.

Direct Cars is one such authorized channel that can you with your car scrapping needs.

Buying a used car is tricky business, and it is important that you navigate through the process with the right questions:

1. Is there a pre-certification inspection from a mechanic?

Used cars go through thorough inspection before they can be certified. This inspection does not go undocumented and is always accompanied by official paperwork that indicates what has been fixed. Ask for a copy of the paperwork as it will come in handy should you experience problems in the future.

2. Where and from whom was the vehicle purchased?

If the dealership involved a trade-in, obtain a copy of the maintenance records. Offer them to black out the owner's name and address if the seller is uncomfortable with giving away this kind of information. If the car was auction-bought, make sure that it has been certified by a mechanic who specializes in inspecting second-hand cars.

3. What is the return policy on the dealership?

Consumer-friendly dealerships usually give you time to rethink the purchase and at least replace the car with one with equal value. However, don't expect any dealership to offer you cash back.

4. How much is the car?

Dealers earn from car dealerships through financing, but paying in cash should make you get a lower price for a purchase in any industry. Negotiate at least 5% off the price. Emphasize that it eliminates a lot of work on the dealer's end when you choose to pay the full amount in cash.

If the dealer won't make you a deal for cash, ask what kind of benefits you'll get by doing the financing through them. Also make sure that the rate they offer is than or at least equal to what your bank or credit union would offer.

5. How long can I take the car for a test drive?

Before deciding on anything, see if the dealer will allow you to take the car overnight for an extended test drive. Make an official written statement that you won't put more than 100 miles on the odometer, that you have car insurance that could cover for any damage, and that the car will be returned in tiptop shape and with a full tank.

1. Great Demand And Heavy Regulation

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The Singapore government has enacted very tough regulations in its automotive market. These laws emerged because of the need to control the density of traffic and create a balance between old vehicles that are moving out of the market and the sale of new the ones.

Having a high per capita income, the automobile vehicles in Singapore are in great demand. Because of the great demand and heavy regulation from the state, competition in the automobile industry is very high amongst importers, used car dealers and car selling channels.

2. Used Car Dealers Are Winning

However, used car dealers are winning, and many Singaporeans are turning to the market for their cars - an indication that buying vehicles from used car dealers is a lot more preferred than buying vehicles from car selling channels.

3. Price Is One Of The Most Pivotal Determining Factors

When buying a car, price is one of the factors to consider. Used cars bought from dealers are cheaper compared to cars sold by car selling channels. Despite their low prices, these cars are of high quality since dealers are seeking to protect their reputation and image.

Most of them have mechanics who will groom their vehicles before selling. The intention is to sale a vehicle in good condition, and the process involves repairing any dents, knocks and polishing the vehicle to make it attractive. They also provide warranties for a few months, meaning that a buyer is guaranteed of purchasing a high-quality product, at a lower price.

Despite the provision of new vehicles and warranties, car selling channels charge a very high price. An average Singaporean, who is price sensitive, will prefer buying their vehicles at a car dealer, and not at a car selling channel.

4. The Convincing Factors

Used car dealers have the capability of getting any model of car you want. Dealers have a wide variety of cars on sale, and if they do not have the particular model you want, they will recommend you to another dealer.

On The Other Hand,

Car selling channels cannot refer you to another seller because of competition. Furthermore, most of these organizations sell a particular car brand of car. Y ou are likely not to get a variety of cars to choose from, since you will be limited to the brands they have for sale.

To get your brand from a used car dealer, all you have to do is to notif them of your budget, and the types of car brands you are looking for. The sales assistants will address your needs, and locate a car that you want.

5. A Used Car Dealer Is Better Than A Car Selling Channel In Singapore

The superiority of these businessmen lies on two factors; a Favorable Pricing and the Ability To Get Any Brand A Customer Wants. Affordable but high-quality vehicles are in demand, and used car dealers have the capability of offering them. Getting a car of your desire, with an expert advice is tempting, used car dealers will provide your dream car for you, and all that you need is to identify your budget and tell them your needs.

Buying second-hand cars can be very tricky and difficult, and if you do not know the first thing about cars, you may end up with a bad deal.

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Some people prefer buying slightly used vehicles instead of brand new ones to save money, but in order to avoid getting tricked and to ensure you land a good deal, here are 3 things you need to bear in mind before purchasing that used car.

1. Ask for the Car Record

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When buying used cars, it is strongly advised to first look for the car's history record and other supporting documents. Car records will show you how long the car has been used and how well the vehicle is maintained.

Checking the car record will also give you presence of mind, or will at least let you know what problems to expect if you go through with your purchase. If, for example, the car has not been serviced for a while, you will know that that will be one of the first tasks that you will have to take care of.

At the very least, checking the record will help keep you from buying a stolen car or unknowingly paying good money for a damaged car.

2. Conduct Test Drives

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Before finally deciding on that second-hand car, it is best that you do a couple of test drives to check the car's overall performance. Cars that have seen action for five years or more will likely need more maintenance.

Also, conducting test drives is an effective evaluation tool to get a good feel of the car in terms of comfort and efficiency. A car is more than just a machine, after all, and doing a test drive will let you get a feel of its "personality".

3. Consult the Pros

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For newbies who do not have the slightest idea about cars, it is highly suggested that you seek the help of a professional.

Instead of doing car evaluation yourself, you may consult a good mechanic and have the car checked and tested. This would not only spare you the worry but would also ensure that you get a good deal. In any case, having a mechanic with you will help you spot potential problems with your second-hand car.

For people interested to buy second-hand cars, the problem lies in the certainty that the used car is still in good condition.

Yes, the car's appearance, including the interior, may be impressive, but the important thing is the car's running condition. This is where test driving comes in. Having the second-hand car tested is an important evaluation tool to ensure driving comfort and efficiency.

Listed below are 3 Reminders on how to do a test drive, especially when buying any used car.

1. Conduct More Than One Test Drive

Every buyer should conduct at least one test drive before closing the deal. This will give the buyer more time to check how well the car runs.

The First drive could be dedicated to the car's overall feel and driving comfort.

On the Second test drive, the buyer can focus on a more technical evaluation, including how the engine sounds when running, whether the transmission is smooth, and how well the suspension works.

2. Do a Physical Check-up

It is highly recommended for all buyers to have a checklist ready when conducting test drives.

First, check the tires and look for any fluid leaks from the engine.

Check the disc brake rotors.

Opening and closing all doors, including the locks. They should not stick, or be difficult to operate.

Open the hood and listen to the engine. Check for ticks, knocks, or hisses.

3. Consider Affordability and Practicality

As a potential buyer, you have to be mindful of the car's practicality and affordability. For instance, you may want to consider fuel cost based on the mpg of the car. You don't want to purchase a gas guzzler or one that will require too much maintenance.

Another thing you should consider is the car's age. Although vintage cars are definitely sought after in the market, you do not want a car that is difficult to find parts for and that is due for heavy maintenance every few months.

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Modified cars took the car industry by storm. All over the world, people have developed a passion and liking on remodeling used cars to suit their individual taste. Although this still holds true until now, there may be some exemption to the rule. In Singapore, the value for modified cars could be considered low and unattractive compared to other others.

To shed light on this matter, below are 3 quick facts about modified cars in Singapore which may explain the reason behind this unlikely condition.

1. The Road Traffic Act

In mid-November of 2013, the Singapore Parliament passed some amendments to the Road Traffic Act which directly penalized people conducting illegal car modification. Because of the amendments made, the court can now impound these illegally-modified vehicles. There is also a good chance that offenders may see jail time, worst-case-scenario. Moreover, the Singaporean government could not turn a blind eye to the increasing violations made by offenders.

2. Maintenance and Repair

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Modified cars are already used items. And from a practical stance, any used cars pose greater maintenance and repair issues compared to brand news. No matter how well you maintain the modified car, time would reveal its disadvantages in the long run. Sooner or later, more complications will definitely arise in terms of performance, comfort, and efficiency. Hence, you will need to spend a bit more just to ensure the wellness of your vehicle that may bring discomfort to the user later on.

3. Impression from People

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In Singapore, a number of car-related accidents have been reported where a modified vehicle is involved. In turn, the tendency for mass media to take advantage of the incident could not be helped. Thus, affecting the way people view modified cars in a negative manner. In addition, modified cars have been regarded as the road bullies in Singapore, which is attributed to the reckless driving of the owners.

Just like a living person, cars also grow old and weary. As time passes by, the value of cars depreciates and their performance becomes awfully poor—especially those that have reached the 8-10 year-old mark. And through the years, one of the most common challenges among people has been how to practically dispose of their used cars without having to compromise too much on the price.

Listed below are some clever and practical hacks that would guarantee a good deal when selling your used vehicles.

1. Polished and Clean

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One important rule in the trade industry focuses on the items' overall appearance and presentation. No potential buyer would like to purchase something rusty and old, unless you are selling antiques. But for used cars, it is highly recommended to do a general cleaning of both the exterior and interior of the vehicle. You may start by giving your car a complete wash. Make sure to use car polisher or wax to give your vehicle that shinning effect. You can also change the carpets and seat covers especially if stains couldn't be removed anymore.

2. Repair and Maintenance

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The problem with cars running for about 10 years already is their performance. Perhaps the engine eats up too much gas or there are burnt-out lights which need replacing. Either way, potential buyers would take this factor as their top measurable indicator when buying used cars. And so, it is highly suggested to do an overall check-up of your vehicle before posting any ads online. In this way, you can ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the car, despite its age.

3. Car Records and History

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tential buyers would have the tendency to have some doubts and issues with used cars. Aside from the performance and efficiency of the vehicle, they would also look into the car's legal documents. Of course no one would like to purchase something stolen. In this regard, it would be wise to keep a thorough record of the vehicle's legal documents, including history tracks. This would establish the seller's integrity and create a sense of security on the part of the buyer.

Just

like any other asset, the value of cars goes down over the years.

There will come a time when cars must retire due to old age and wear and tear, which really affect performance and resale value. This is not always bad news, because it means you have a chance to check out a new ride.

Here are 3 things to consider when you are thinking about letting go of your old faithful automobile and replacing it with a newer model.

1. Maintenance and Repair

Do you spend more money now on your car's repairs? Or do most of its parts need replacing? If it is no longer practical to keep on spending money just to keep your car in running, then this is already an indicator that you need to replace it. Although this will mean a bigger expense on your part, it will mean savings in the long run.

2. Car Lifespan

On the average, an SUV or similar vehicle will need serious maintenance after five years.

There are three distinct points, reflected in the car's odometer, which signify when service is needed: (1) 48,000 to 64,000 km; (2) 96,000 to 112,000 km; and (3) 160,000 km and above.

When your car reaches the third point and beyond and you are not looking forward to investing on maintenance and repair, then it is time to consider selling it.

3. Fuel Cost

Although how you drive also affects fuel consumption, efficiency is very much related to the age of your vehicle. The engine may not be working as efficiently as when it wa s new due to its old age. In turn, the overall performance and efficiency of the car are also affected. But the good news is, technological advancements have led to fuel efficient cars that you can replace your old car with.

For potential dealers of used cars, it is a standard practice to know the value of the car first before looking for buyers in the market. You must be able to estimate the actual value of the vehicle, without repair or maintenance, in order to determine the initial pricing. From there, you can identify the necessary steps you must undertake in order to increase the value of the vehicle.

Below are 3 things you need to consider when evaluating used cars. This could serve as your explicit and practical guide in carrying out the task smoothly.

1. Brand

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Some people have higher appreciation for the car brand despite its age. For instance, vintage cars are considered as classics due to their authenticity and grandeur. So when evaluating the price of your used car, consider the brand. Sports cars tend to have higher value as time passes by. But for SUVs and other similar vehicle, it could be the opposite. In addition, some brands may have a higher sale value than the others.

2. Presentation

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Truth is: Used cars grow weary throughout the years. So in order to increase the value of your vehicle, appearance is everything. A well-presentable used car would definitely attract potential buyers at any time. Since people have the tendency to buy good-as-brand-new items, making sure that the car's physical condition appears well-maintained may help close a deal.

You can start by doing complete car body repaint. Replace any damaged car parts light lights and mirrors. Do not just focus on the exterior but also do a makeover of the interior portion.

3. Condition

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Another factor you need to consider in evaluating the actual price of your used car would be its performance. Of course, secondhand cars no longer have the efficiency it once have. But what you can do is to conduct maintenance and repair on a regular basis to ensure that it is still working properly. Through this, you can keep track of the vehicle's performance and lifespan. In addition, a car's mileage is also a good indicator of the car's sale value.

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For people exposed in the industry of car dealership, one common challenge is the process of transforming used cars into something more bankable in the market. Since secondhand vehicles tend to have more issues in the long run, the need to properly maintain the vehicle, especially in terms of performance and aesthetics, is a must.

Listed below are some common HACKS in order to carry out the task most efficiently. Let this be your ultimate guide in pitching a higher price when selling your used vehicle.

1. Redo Inside Out

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A standard practice among car sellers is to maintain the attractiveness of the vehicle. The car's color may have faded over time and need some major body repainting. Or perhaps the headlights or side-mirrors need replacing. Either way, the car should pose an impression that it is fresh and ready to get on the road again.

1. Neat and Shiny

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You can probably get a good deal with your used vehicle if the aesthetics are in order. Start by doing a car wash. Potential buyers will definitely inspect the car's cleanliness and orderliness. Apply car wax as well. Make sure that the carpets are thoroughly washed and vacuumed. In this way, you can impress potential buyers by presenting a shining, spotless car.

1. Car Repair and Maintenance

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Among the three (3) suggested approaches, this is the most crucial. Beyond aesthetics, the major concern of the buyer would be the vehicle's performance and efficiency. The car may have been on the road for more than five (5) years now, and complications are on the way. But in order to prevent this, a regular check-up of the vehicle should be conducted. Start by greasing the oil or replacing any broken engine parts. This would ensure a better quality of the vehicle. Or you can also consult a professional car mechanic to do the job for you.

For most people who would like to purchase a new car, the challenge of disposing their old ones remains a frustrating problem every time. It isn't that owning two cars is illegal, but it would pose some issues over time – such as additional maintenance and repair. Hence, you have two options: trade it in at a dealer or sell it yourself.

Either way, you will have to take these necessary steps to make your old car look good and as close to new as possible. Here are some clever hacks to carry out that task without too much expense and effort. These will help make sure that you will still get a good price for your old cars.

1. Wash and Wax

The first rule of selling second-hand items is to make it look as good as new. You can entice the interest of potential buyers by making sure that your old cars look clean and shiny.

Start with a thorough wash inside and out. Shampoo the carpet, degrease the engine, and replace any broken lights. In addition, repainting is also highly recommended but only in the areas which with visible light to heavy scratches.

2. Replace Any Broken Or Old Car Parts

You may opt to do this only if truly necessary as replacing car parts could prove to be very expensive. But potential buyers would want to be assured that the car is still in good running condition.

Secure any car parts that need replacing, especially in the engine area. Or to spare you the worry, you can have your old car checked by professionals.

3. Secure the Car Record

To convince your potential buyers that your old car is well maintained, you must prepare some important documents to support your claim.

Be ready with the car record showing your car's history which proved that it has not been involved in any accidents before. This would ease the doubt and worry of potential buyers, which in turn, may lead to a good deal.

For most people who would like to purchase a new car, the challenge of disposing their old ones remains a frustrating problem every time. It isn't that owning two cars is illegal, but it would pose some issues over time – such as additional maintenance and repair. Hence, you have two options: trade it in at a dealer or sell it yourself.

Either way, you will have to take these necessary steps to make your old car look good and as close to new as possible. Here are some clever hacks to carry out that task without too much expense and effort. These will help make sure that you will still get a good price for your old cars.

Wash and Wax

The first rule of selling second-hand items is to make it look as good as new. You can entice the interest of potential buyers by making sure that your old cars look clean and shiny.Start with a thorough wash inside and out. Shampoo the carpet, degrease the engine, and replace any broken lights. In addition, repainting is also highly recommended but only in the areas which with visible light to heavy scratches

Replace Any Broken Or Old Car Parts

You may opt to do this only if truly necessary as replacing car parts could prove to be very expensive. But potential buyers would want to be assured that the car is still in good running condition.

Secure any car parts that need replacing, especially in the engine area. Or to spare you the worry, you can have your old car checked by professionals.

Secure the Car Record

To convince your potential buyers that your old car is well maintained, you must prepare some important documents to support your claim.

Be ready with the car record showing your car's history which proved that it has not been involved in any accidents before. This would ease the doubt and worry of potential buyers, which in turn, may lead to a good deal.