2019 update: Automo has ceased operations in Singapore, but provide car rental services in Indonesia. You can check them out here.
Affordable rental cars for every occasion
With Singapore’s extensive public transport network, saving for a car is something that we’ve all thrown to the back of our minds – after all, we’ve our HDBs to scrimp for. But there are occasions like Raya visiting or taking a road trip to JB that call for the convenience of our own vehicle.
When the need of having a car starts to outweigh here are 10 cars you can rent fuss-free and at the best prices from Automo – a newly launched Expedia of automobile rentals, which scans through existing car dealerships’ deals and recommends the best ones for you, sorted by car type, price, and license requirements.
Favourite cars-next-door
1. Toyota Vios – $52/night
Image credit: Aero7
Most of us would have driven a Toyota Vios before back at CDC, so if you’ve developed a soft spot for the car, or simply are a creature of habit, you can rent the Toyota Vios for a steal at $52 a day, with a minimum lease of 1 month.
Do the math, and this translates to just $360 a week, and a sweet $1.5k a month. With low fuel consumption, the automatic sedan (1500cc) also has insurance included when you rent it.
Note: Renter must have a local driver’s license with a minimum 2 years of road experience, be at least 25 years of age, and pay $500 deposit. Delivery of the car to your location is also available for just $30.
2. Subaru Impreza – $60/night
Image credit: IFCAR
The Subaru Impreza is almost a household name here in Singapore, thanks to the annual Mediacorp Subaru Impreza Challenge. For just $60 a day, you can rent this sporty-looking vehicle and be on your way to cruising down the Causeway for a quick getaway with your friends.
Besides, the 1500cc manual sedan is well-known for its impressive safety features – which are always good to have, especially on a road trip. There are a grand total of 6 airbags, electronic braking aids, stability control, and an all-wheel-drive system that gives the car good handlingl.
Do note that the Subaru Impreza has comparatively high fuel consumption, with user reviews estimating that you’ll get about 9-10km per litre of petrol – although for the safety it provides, it’s a fair trade.
Note: Drivers with P-Plate and international licence allowed. $100 deposit and $30 surcharge upon entry to Malaysia. Insurance included, with insurance excess of $3.5k. Delivery of the car to your location is also available for just $30.
3. Proton Persona – $53/night
Image credit: Wikipedia
For those of us who don’t have a car to drive to JB for some cross-border golfing or apocalypse-level grocery shopping, we can now rent a Proton Persona for $55 a day.
With its humongous 430L boot and lots of rear legroom, the automatic 1600cc sedan is ideal for a day trip across the Causeway to get your moolah’s worth – bulky golf bags and cartons of Indomie included.
Plus, the Proton Persona is a Malaysian car that’s popular among locals, which will help you to blend in.
Note: Drivers with P-Plate and international licence allowed. $100 deposit and $30 surcharge upon entry to Malaysia. Insurance included, with insurance excess of $3.5k. Delivery of the car to your location is also available for just $30.
4. Toyota Wish – $110/night
Image credit: Sabung.hamster
Should you have a large family or group of friends that needs ferrying, the 7-seater Toyota Wish is just the car for you to rent at $110 a day, and an additional $30 if you decide to drive across the border.
One of the best-sellers in Singapore, the 1800cc automatic Toyota Wish is a family car that’s naturally spacious with decent legroom and a moderately powerful engine. Despite its large size, it also has surprisingly efficient fuel consumption and decent acceleration.
Note: Drivers with P-Plate and international licence allowed. $100 deposit with insurance included and insurance excess of $4.5k. Delivery of the car to your location is also available for just $30.
5. Mazda 6 – $105/night
Image credit: Rent the Toyota Wish here.
Renting a sports car can set you back by a couple of thousand easily even for just a single day. For a cheaper, more viable alternative that gives you a similar sporty driving experience, the Mazda 6 is available for rental at $105 daily.
Disguised as an economical sedan, the 2000cc automatic Mazda 6 is lightweight with capable suspension and fuel efficiency. Don’t fret if you’re not that confident on the roads, the car also has tons of features to aid you with your drive, like the blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, and a whopping 8 parking sensors.
Plus, while the aesthetics are not as flashy, the sleek exterior and leather-wrapped steering wheel still provide a classy touch.
Note: Drivers with P-Plate and international licence allowed. $100 deposit and $30 surcharge upon entry to Malaysia. Insurance included, with insurance excess of $4.5k. Delivery of the car to your location is also available for just $30.
6. Honda Civic – $73.10/night
Image credit: Asia Carz Leasing
Similar to the Toyota Vios, the Honda Civic might be a familiar car to new drivers as it’s the instructional car model of choice at BBDC. Known for its efficient fuel consumption, peppy engine, and nimble handling, the 1600cc automatic sedan is unsurprisingly one of Singapore’s top-selling cars.
Promotion: from now till 20th Oct, you can rent a Honda Civic for only $63/night..
Note: Renter must have a local driver’s license with a minimum 2 years of road experience. Deposit required will be 150% of the rental amount. Insurance included, with insurance excess of $3.5k.
Luxury cars to impress
7. BMW 320i – $150/night
Image credit: jimmy631
Be it for a wedding gatecrash or an important date, cruise around in a BMW 320i for just $105 a day. While everyone’s familiar with the luxury that’s synonymous with BMW, the 320i introduces that luxury in a compact, accessible package.
Image credit: jimmy631
Fit for any occasion and bound to impress, the 2000cc automatic luxury sedan is powerful, filled with comfortable legroom, and even has a roomy trunk that opens hands-free – suitable for avoiding storage fails for wedding or surprise paraphernalia.
Note: Drivers with P-Plate and international licence allowed. $300 deposit and $30 surcharge upon entry to Malaysia. Insurance included, with insurance excess of $4.5k. Delivery of the car to your location is also available for just $30.
8. Mercedes E200 – $180/night
Colour of the actual car not true to image. Image adapted from: Luhan Auto
Those into the timeless elegance of the Mercedes-Benz will be pleased to know that the Mercedes-Benz E200 can be theirs to coast in at a fraction of the cost to own one instead. At $180 a day, this E200 has even greater deals for weekend ($480), weekly ($750), and monthly ($2.8k) rentals.
Actual image of the car to be leased. Image credit: Car Cove Leasing
A well-refined car delivering understated performance, the automatic midsize luxury sedan (1600cc) also comes with high safety ratings, a fuel-saving ECO start/stop function that shuts down the engine whenever it’s stationary, and even massage functions to get rid of the knots from the long hours at your desk.
Note: Drivers with P-Plate and international licence allowed. $100 deposit and $30 surcharge upon entry to Malaysia. Insurance included, with insurance excess of $3k. Delivery of the car to your location is also available for just $30.
9. BMW 116i – $1.8k/month
Image credit: Radical Auto
If you’ve considered owning a luxury car but want the agility of a small hatch, go ahead and rent this BMW 116i for a few months to get a taste of what the best of both worlds have to offer. You won’t want to miss this value-for-money deal that has a rental rate of $1850 a month – that’s $60 a day for a BMW.
Image credit: Radical Auto
With plush red leather seats, a supple suspension that cushions road bumps, and BMW’s variable steering response selector, I’m kicking myself for not getting my driving licence sooner – the 1598cc automatic sedan has a minimum lease of 3 months and requires at least 2 years of driving experience.
Note: $1850 deposit required, no surcharge upon entry to Malaysia, and insurance is included. Delivery of the car to your location is also available for just $30.
The heavy duty reinforcement
10. Toyota Dyna 150 Box Truck – $85/night
Image credit: Radical Auto
If you have a Class 4 driving licence or know somebody who does, this is for you – rent a Toyota Dyna 150 Box Truck (manual transmission, 2986cc) for just $85 a day the next time you’re moving furniture and save yourself a whole lot of cash.
Image credit: Radical Auto
The average cost of hiring a moving company can cost up to a couple hundred bucks, depending on the number of items you have, trips the moving company must make, and how bulky the items are. With your own truck, of course there’ll be more menial effort required, but the horror stories floating around on internet threads cements how worthwhile this sweet deal really is.
An alternative Toyota Dyna 150 Box Truck (2982cc) is available here for $85/night.
Note: A $500 deposit is required, with insurance included and insurance excess of $3k. Delivery of the truck to your location is also available for just $30.
Rent cars and drivers on a single platform
Recently launched with the aim of streamlining search, comparison and booking of automobile rentals in Singapore and Indonesia, Automo is a one-stop car rental site that saves you from the potential terrors of Carouhell.
Provided by local registered rental companies, the automobiles can be used by both locals and tourists who want to get around Singapore with the convenience and comfort of a personal vehicle.
So the next time you need a car for grocery shopping in Malaysia, or a truck for moving some furniture over to your new place, you know where to turn to.
Win a BMW for a week!
Automo’s giving away a week’s rental of a BMW 118 in partnership with AsiaCarz Leasing worth $505. To snag the chance to cruise in style
- Like and share this article on Facebook
- Comment below with what you plan to do with your BMW for a week
- One lucky winner will be selected at random!
Giveaway ends on 8th October 2017 and the winner will be announced on the second week of October 2017.
Prize is not transferrable, but the winner can nominate a family member to drive the car should they not possess a valid driving licence
Gear up with your ride of choice with Automo here!
This post was brought to you by Automo.