Provisional and Qualified Driving Licences
What Traffic Police currently publish about the PDL and QDL: when each is needed, the $25 and $50 fees, L-plates, and how to apply online after the tests.
Primary source: https://www.police.gov.sg/Knowledge-Hub/Traffic/Traffic-Matters/Provisional-Driving-Licence
Traffic Police issue two different driving licences on the path to driving legally in Singapore. The Provisional Driving Licence (PDL) lets a learner take practical lessons. The Qualified Driving Licence (QDL) is the licence that authorises a person to drive after passing the required tests. Driving a vehicle without a valid QDL that authorises that class is an offence (SPF, Apply for Qualified Driving Licence; SPF, Provisional Driving Licence).
Provisional Driving Licence
The PDL allows learner motorists to take practical driving or riding lessons while training for a Singapore driving licence, after they pass the Basic Theory Test. It is an offence to take those practical lessons without a valid PDL (SPF, Provisional Driving Licence).
SPF states that a valid PDL is a digital-issued licence, is valid for 2 years, and that all driving instructors can verify it online (SPF, Provisional Driving Licence).
The official Basic Theory of Driving handbook restates the same 2-year validity from the date of grant, and that a PDL can be renewed subsequently for every 2 years (SPF, Basic Theory of Driving).
What a PDL holder must do
As a PDL holder you must display two 18 cm square ‘L’ plates, in a conspicuous position on both the front and back of the motor vehicle during driving lessons and driving tests, and be insured against third-party risk during tests and lessons. You can only drive whilst under the supervision of your licensed driving instructor or a driving school’s driving instructor (SPF, Basic Theory of Driving).
Who may apply, and the fee
Apply or renew online via SPF e-Services (SPF, Provisional Driving Licence).
For Singapore citizens and permanent residents, all PDL classes: log in with Singpass; pass the eyesight test and Basic Theory Test at any of the 3 driving centres (the eyesight test is conducted when applicants register at a driving centre to book the theory test); fee $25; payment by e-NETS / Visa / MasterCard / Debit Card (SPF, Provisional Driving Licence).
The same $25 fee and Singpass login apply to foreigners holding listed work or long-term passes who apply for Class 2B / 3 / 3A, and to Class 4 / 4A / 4P / 4AP / 5 / 5P applications that SPF lists separately on that page (those heavy-vehicle applications also require stated documents such as a valid Class 3 / 3C / 4 Singapore licence, a valid work permit or S Pass, and a signed company letter) (SPF, Provisional Driving Licence).
The handbook adds eligibility at the date of application: the applicant has not accumulated more than 12 demerit points; has passed BTT; can read a series of 6 letters and figures in white on black, of the size used for a vehicle identification mark, at 25 metres (with glasses if worn); and can distinguish red, amber, and green from 25 metres (SPF, Basic Theory of Driving).
A learner motorist aged 65 years old and above must be certified fit to drive by a Singapore registered medical practitioner before applying for a valid PDL. Completed medical examination reports must be submitted online to Traffic Police in JPEG or PDF format; once accepted, the applicant may apply for the PDL (SPF, Provisional Driving Licence).
Qualified Driving Licence
After passing the practical test at a Traffic Police Test Centre, you must apply for a QDL online using your Singpass account. SPF states that driving or riding without a valid licence is a serious offence punishable by law (SPF, Apply for Qualified Driving Licence).
You can use that e-service to (SPF, Apply for Qualified Driving Licence):
- apply for a new QDL after passing the practical test;
- replace the licence if it is lost or damaged;
- renew the licence only when it is expiring within 1 month (early renewal more than 1 month before expiry is not permitted).
Fees on that e-service page: $50 for a licence application online; $25 (inclusive of GST) for licence replacement online; $50 for licence renewal online. Accepted payment methods listed there are valid credit / debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayNow. Estimated completion time is 15 minutes; processing lead time is 14 working days (SPF, Apply for Qualified Driving Licence).
A separate SPF knowledge-hub page on application, replacement, and renewal states that upon successful application you should receive the new or replacement licence within 7 working days (SPF, Application, Replacement, and Renewal of Singapore Driving Licence). This article records both figures; it does not choose between them.
Photograph and extra class
For Singapore citizens and permanent residents, a digital photograph must be taken at the driving centre before a new application. If you already have a valid Singapore driving licence and have passed another class, you do not need to submit a new photograph: the driving tester will paste an endorsement sticker on the existing licence at no additional cost (SPF, Apply for Qualified Driving Licence).
The knowledge-hub page says the same for an extra class: the endorsement sticker shows all valid classes, with no fee, and a new sticker may be obtained at Traffic Police if the sticker has detached, defaced, or been damaged (SPF, Application, Replacement, and Renewal of Singapore Driving Licence).
Foreigners holding valid MOM work passes or ICA Student / Long-Term Visit passes who passed their test at a Traffic Police Test Centre must also apply online using Singpass (SPF, Apply for Qualified Driving Licence).
Replacement and renewal details
If the photocard is lost or defaced, apply online with Singpass. The existing photograph in the system is used. You must return the original licence (if found or defaced) to Traffic Police within 7 working days, via the drop box at Traffic Police Headquarters or registered mail to Testing & Licensing Branch, Traffic Police Headquarters, 10 Ubi Ave 3, Singapore 408865 (SPF, Apply for Qualified Driving Licence).
The knowledge-hub replacement fee for citizens and permanent residents is $25 (SPF, Application, Replacement, and Renewal of Singapore Driving Licence).
The QDL e-service states that the renewal service is not for drivers aged 65 and above who require a medical examination to submit their report (SPF, Apply for Qualified Driving Licence).
Traffic Police will reject a foreigner’s renewal application if the expiry date of the Singapore driving licence has exceeded more than 3 years, or if the expiry date of the work permit / employment pass / student pass / dependent pass and/or other documents showing extended stay is less than one month from the date of the renewal application (SPF, Application, Replacement, and Renewal of Singapore Driving Licence).
For Class 2B only, SPF lists Expressway Familiarisation Ride as a mandatory training programme before applying for a new driving licence (SPF, Application, Replacement, and Renewal of Singapore Driving Licence).
Coverage debt
- The older online QDL FAQ PDF still describes FIN-and-date-of-birth login for foreigners without Singpass; the live e-service page fetched for this article requires Singpass and does not restate that FIN path.
- Lifetime validity for citizens and permanent residents, and the “up to 5 years” foreigner validity in the official handbook, are not copied onto the PDL page and are not restated at length here.