In a blink of an eye, we’re already knee-deep into the second half of 2025. If you’ve resolved to get your driving license earlier this year but have yet to even start looking for a driving school, consider this your cue to do so. For Easties, the most convenient option, apart from those operated by private driving instructors (PDIs), will probably be the ComfortDelGro Driving Centre (CDC).
Located in Ubi, it’s one of the 3 driving centres in Singapore, and interestingly, it boasts the highest passing rates for those taking the practical test for the first time amongst the other centres. Having attained my driving license there recently myself, here’s all you need to know about getting yours too, as well as snippets of my experience during my time as a learner driver at CDC.
Table of Contents
The main reason why you’d pick learning how to drive at CDC over the other driving centres is its proximity to where you live or work. The closest MRT station to CDC is the Ubi MRT station in the East, but it’s still a 13-minute walk away.
As such, it might be easier for you to take a bus and alight at the Comfort Driving Ctr bus stop (stop ID: 71079) to get to CDC. Some bus services that can transport you from convenient spots in the East to CDC include bus no. 25, 51, 55, 93, and 94 at Eunos MRT station, bus no. 45 at Tanah Merah MRT station, and bus no. 87 at Bedok Bus Interchange. After alighting, CDC’s Gate 3 is just further up ahead.
Now for the elephant in the room that might deter you from even attempting to get your driving license in the first place: how much does it cost in total to get a driving license at CDC? Well, it differs from learner to learner based on many factors, but first, below is a table breaking down the course fees at CDC at a glance for your ease of reference:
| What you’re paying for | Cost (including 9% GST) |
| Course enrolment (1-year membership) | Standard: $185.30 One Team / Elite Team: $201.65 |
| Membership renewal (6-month extension) | $65.40 |
| Refundable deposit | $10 |
| Eyesight test | $1.96 |
| Digital photograph | $7.09 |
| Induction programme | $23.98 |
| Provisional Driving License | $25 |
| Practical lesson (100 min /lesson) | Off peak-hour timings: $73.03 Peak-hour timings: $81.75 |
| Simulator course | $27.03 |
| Internal evaluation for BTT & FTT | $7.63 / session |
| Vehicular Pre-operative Check (VPC) | Off peak-hour timings: $23.98 Peak-hour timings: $28.34 |
| Learner Driver Competency Screening (LDCS) | Off peak-hour timings: $59.95 Peak-hour timings: $64.31 |
| Theory test | $9.44 |
| Practical test | $353.13 |
The off peak-hour and peak-hour timings at CDC when it comes to booking practical lessons and other modules are listed as follows:
| Off peak-hour timings | Mon-Fri: 8.30am-10.10am, 12.45pm-4.15pm |
| Peak timings | Mon-Fri: 10.20am-12pm, 4.15pm-10.20pm Sat & Sun: 8.30am-6.05pm |
Assuming you decide to enrol for a standard membership, stick to the CDC-recommended amount of 24 practical lessons, take all of them and the pre-requisite modules during non-peak hours, and manage to pass all your theory and practical tests the first time round, the total cost of getting your license comes out to $2,558.34, all in.
But of course, your mileage may vary. Perhaps you’re the kiasi type that prefers to book more sessions with your driving instructor before your test, or you’ve got other commitments that get in the way like school or work, leaving you no choice but to opt for peak-hour driving lessons.
For a better gauge on what to expect to pay for your driving license, below is a table with the total cost breakdown of my experience at CDC. For context, I’m a working adult with a pretty standard 9-6 full-time job in Singapore, with no other major life commitments other than my matcha-loving girlfriend and 2 poodles that occasionally call for a trip to the groomer’s.
I enrolled with CDC in mid-November 2024, went for my first driving lesson in mid-February, and managed to get my Class 3A driving license at the end of June 2025.
| What I paid for | Cost (including 9% GST) |
| Course enrolment (1-year membership) | Elite Team: $201.65 |
| Refundable deposit | $10 |
| Eyesight test | $1.96 |
| Digital photograph | $7.09 |
| Induction programme | $23.98 |
| Provisional Driving License | $25 |
| Practical lesson (100 min /lesson) | 4 off peak-hour timing lessons: $357.52 13 peak-hour timing lessons: $1,275.30 |
| Simulator course | 3 sessions: $81.09 |
| Internal evaluation for BTT & FTT | 2 sessions (1 for BTT, 1 for BTT): $15.26 |
| Vehicular Pre-operative Check (VPC) | 1 peak-hour session: $28.34 |
| Learner Driver Competency Screening (LDCS) | 1 peak-hour session: $64.31 |
| Theory test | 2 attempts (1 for BTT, 1 for FTT): $9.44 |
| Practical test | 1 attempt: $353.13 |
| Total cost: $2,454.07 | |
During my 7 months of learning how to drive with CDC, I opted for mostly peak-hour driving lessons, conducted mostly on weekends due to work, but fortunately, I passed all of my tests within my first attempt. I also enrolled under the Elite Team, which meant I had to pay a little more for each lesson, but it also came with a couple of benefits that I will elaborate on later.
All in all, a good estimate on how much you’d have to fork out for your driving license at CDC ranges from a little under $2,000 to around $2,500.
Image credit: CDC
Once you’ve set aside some money and time to dedicate towards getting your driving license, the process of actually getting it at CDC is pretty straight-froward, albeit a little tedious if I’m being honest. Without further ado, here’s a rough timeline of what to expect as a learner driver at CDC, all the way from enrolling yourself into the right course to finally getting your Qualified Driving License (QDL) in the mail
First things first, you’ll want to begin your driving journey by enrolling yourself into your motorcar course of choice at CDC. As of writing, CDC has 3 course types to choose from.
Image credit: Comfort DelGro Driving Centre via Facebook
It’s pretty self-explanatory; for those pursuing a class 3 license AKA being licensed to drive both manual and auto transmission vehicles, sign up for their Class 3 course. If you’ve decided to go for a Class 3A license to drive only auto transmission vehicles, there are 2 options to consider – Class 3A, and Class 3A (EV). The former will have you learning how to drive and take the practical test with a petrol-powered vehicle, while learner drivers who’ve opted for the latter will do so with an electric vehicle (EV).
Next, you’ll have to decide which coaching scheme you’d like to undergo. CDC provides 3 different coaching schemes for learners to consider – Standard, One Team, and Elite Team. Below is a table showing all the perks, or lack thereof, and additional costs for each of them:
| Standard | One Team (+$13.08/lesson) | Elite Team (+$16.35/lesson) |
| – Different training car each lesson – No fixed instructor – No dedicated lesson slot booking timings | – Same training car each lesson – Learn under a fixed team of maximum 6 instructors – No dedicated lesson slot booking timings | – Same training car each lesson – Option of having lessons and tests conducted in an EV – Learn under a fixed team of maximum 4 senior instructors – Dedicated lesson slot booking timings |
Image credit: Comfort DelGro Driving Centre via Facebook
Personally, I went for the Elite Team scheme, because I gathered that not having to worry about vying for practical lesson slots with a larger pool of learner drivers was a big plus, and I’ve heard good things about the pool of instructors in the Elite Team online. Understandably, this comes with an additional cost that’ll be incurred every lesson booking, so if you’re on a tight budget, there’s nothing wrong with opting for the One Team and Standard schemes too.
You can sign up for your desired course either online or in-person at CDC. To sign up for your courses online, you can do so via the CDC course enrolment website. If you’d rather sign up for your courses in-person, do note that CDC does not entertain walk-ins; you’ll have to book an appointment online ahead of time, typically with a waiting time of about 4-6 weeks.
Either way, you’ll have to arrange for an appointment and make your way down to CDC eventually to conduct your eye test. At the same time, you can also get your digital photograph taken; it’ll be the picture you’ll see on your QDL.
You don’t have to make an appointment for this, but it’s advised to take your photo before you book your practical test, so you can apply for your QDL immediately after passing the test. You’ll also want to come in a dark-coloured top – I was actually initially turned away for wearing a white tee and had to come back on another day with a different shirt.
After you’ve enrolled in a course, you’ll be given a little blue training record book to log your future driving lessons. You’ll also be sent an email informing you of your successful enrolment, which contains your login details for your learner’s account that you can log into via CDC’s website or app (App Store | Google Play) to make lesson and test bookings.
Although you don’t have to pass your Basic Theory Test (BTT) before being able to book and attend practical lessons, it’s recommended that you get it out of the way first.
That’s because you’ve got to pass your BTT before you can apply for a Provisional Driving License (PDL), which allows you to legally drive on roads outside of CDC’s circuit with an instructor by your side. On the other hand, passing your FTT is one of the requirements to book a practical test, so you can study up for it and take your driving lessons concurrently.
When it comes to studying for either test, there are basically 2 tried-and-tested methods. You can take the conventional route by hitting the books; there are BTT and FTT textbooks you can purchase and read up on. CDC also has online theory modules and videos for you to peruse, to learn everything to know about Singapore’s roads’ rules and regulations.
Another way of studying – and I use the word “studying” here very loosely – is to repeatedly complete free, online mock tests on your computer or phone. These mock tests are loaded with hundreds of potential test questions, and many have found it effective to do them over and over again till they memorise most of the answers.
Image credit: TP Test
Some of the websites and apps I’ve used to help with passing my BTT and FTT include the Singapore Police Force’s online mock theory tests and the unofficial TP Test driving theory test app (App Store | Google Play). You’ll need a score of 45/50 or above to pass either test, which means the margin for error is pretty slim, so do your due diligence and revise accordingly.
However, before booking your BTT and FTT, you’ll have to pass an Internal Evaluation (IE). It’s basically an in-person mock test that you’ll have to take at CDC before you can even book the 2 tests. I know, having to sit for mock tests in order to attempt the actual ones is a little absurd, but rules are rules. Your scores are recorded, and after passing your IE with a score of at least 45/50, you’ll be able to book the real deal.
Image adapted from: CDC
As for booking the actual BTT and FTT, you can do so by logging into your learner’s account, and you can also check up on the next available test dates on both platforms to plan ahead. Do remember to bring your NRIC, as you’ll be asked to present it when you head down to CDC for your tests for verification.
The theory tests and IEs will be conducted on touch screen tablets, and you’ll have 50 minutes to answer the 50 questions for the tests. Take your time to study the questions properly, you should have more than enough time to go through all of them at least twice. Once you hit submit, you’ll know of your results immediately; cross your fingers and hope for a green screen to be displayed.
After passing your BTT or FTT, give the system a day or 2 to do its thing, and you’ll then be able to apply for a PDL on the Singapore Police Force website or book a practical test respectively.
Image adapted from: CDC
Do a bit of digging online, and you’ll find that CDC has garnered quite a nasty reputation when it comes to booking practical driving lessons. Fact is, it’s pretty darn hard to snag slots, especially if you’re not under the Elite Team scheme that has access to dedicated timings for learners to book their lessons. Despite this, it’s not impossible to book lesson slots even if you’re on the Standard or One Team schemes.
But before you jump into practical lessons, make sure you book and complete your Induction Programme, as you won’t be able to book them without doing so. To keep it brief, it’s a short 50-minute online Zoom session that’ll give new learners an overview of their experience at CDC, and touches on basics such as how to use the CDC app and what to bring for practical lessons.
What the CDC booking site looks like on their website; give it a check around 1pm-4pm – that’s when learners are most likely to make cancellations according to users on Reddit.
Image adapted from: CDC
One way to get lesson slots is to keep checking the CDC lesson booking site on their website or on the app constantly throughout the day, as it’s common for other learners to cancel their scheduled lessons.
These slots will then be made available for others to snap up, so you’ll want to make sure your learner’s account is topped up with enough money in order to book the slot ASAP. Learners have also found Telegram channels like this one useful, as they’ll ping subscribers whenever there are lesson slots available for booking.
Image credit: Oracle
If you ask around, you might also hear murmurs about learners using bots or other supposedly underhanded services provided on platforms like Carousell to help them book lesson slots. We do not recommend doing this, as CDC has been cracking down heavily on those who rely on bots to book lesson slots by banning accounts, so it’s up to you to decide if you’d like to take the risk or not.
I recommend using a laptop or desktop to access the lesson booking site on CDC’s website to book your lessons if possible, as the app is notorious for being buggy as heck. BTW, if you’d like to cancel a lesson yourself, make cancellations at least 48 hours before your lesson to avoid a late fee of $20. Also, you can’t make cancellations 24 hours before the lesson, so plan your schedule wisely.
Once you’ve successfully booked a lesson, you’re all set to head down to CDC to attend it on your scheduled date. All you need for your lesson is your blue training record book, which your driving instructor will use to mark your attendance and log your progress. Your instructor might also request to see your PDL if you’ve applied for one already; you can bring it up via the SingPass app, or take a screenshot of it on the Singapore Police Force website.
Here are some quickfire, practical pointers for attending your driving lessons based on my experience at CDC and what others have shared online:
Driving instructor-wise, you can’t choose which one you’ll be allocated even if you’re in the Elite or One Team schemes, so whether you’ll be taught by a good one or not is entirely up to chance. However, I believe there are more instructors at CDC who’re truly dedicated to helping their learners pass than those who’re just there for a paycheck.
Image credit: Khoo Yong Hao
In fact, all 3 of my instructors that have taught me throughout my time in CDC made my driving lessons enjoyable and fruitful. They were friendly, but also knew how to be stern when it came to correcting my mistakes. One of them went out of his way to draw diagrams in my training record book to better illustrate his teachings, and even sent me more notes via WhatsApp.
But if you believe you’ve been assigned a bad apple, you can “blacklist” certain instructors by consulting the CDC live chat function on their website, so you won’t be allocated future lessons with them.
One pre-requisite that even private learners will have to complete before booking their practical test is to attend 3 sessions of the simulator course.
Image credit: CDC
One of the reasons why aspiring drivers might choose to go with PDIs is because they aren’t subject to completing a bunch of pre-requisite modules that all school learners will have to sit for in order to book a practical test. All of them require learners to head down to CDC to attend them in-person; from VPC to the simulator courses, read on to find out more about them.
Vehicular Pre-operative Check (VPC)
When you can book it: After completing Module 1 of your practical driving training.
What it is: A class that’ll teach you how to properly inspect the interior and exterior of your vehicle to ensure it is safe and efficient to operate. You’ll learn how to check for fluids and replenish them if necessary, check the air pressure in your tires, and change them if they’re punctured.
Learner Driver Competency Screening (LDCS)
When you can book it: After completing Module 1 of your practical driving training.
What it is: A recorded, mock test-like session that’ll have you drive one of the test routes, bringing you outside of CDC’s circuit. You’ll receive instructions from an instructor who’ll play the role of a testor. After completing the route, you’ll drive back to CDC, and the instructor will review the footage of the drive, pointing out your mistakes and what you can do to improve for your actual test.
Simulator course
When you can book it: After completing 5 practical driving lessons.
What it is: A driving simulator that mimics how drivers would drive on Singapore’s roads. You’ll be tasked with driving a simulated car and to respond to different scenarios such as dealing with irresponsible road users and avoiding other road hazards.
What to take note of:
After going for sufficient practical driving lessons, your instructors will let you know when they think you’re ready to take the practical test AKA Traffic Police (TP) test. Thankfully, booking a test date as a learner under CDC isn’t too difficult; you can usually get a test date 1 month in advance. When reporting for your practical test, ensure that you bring along your NRIC and training record book.
The warm-up office in CDC, located behind a couple of vending machines.
Image adapted from: CDC
Each practical test booking comes with a warm-up session for testees to get used to their test vehicle, as you may or may not be driving the same car you use for your lessons. You’ll want to report to the practical test warm-up office at least 15 minutes before your allocated warm-up session. Once inside the office, an instructor will check your NRIC, collect your record training book, and brief you and other testees about how the warm-up and test will be conducted.
A map of the CDC circuit.
Image credit: u/defiinggravity via Reddit
During the warm-up, an instructor will be seated in the test vehicle to direct you to practice at each station in the circuit at least once. Afterwards, they’ll direct you to exit the circuit for a short drive on the roads outside, and then you’ll head back to CDC. Be sure to use this warm-up session to adjust your mirrors and seat to your preference and to clarify any last-minute doubts with the instructor.
Afterwards, you’ll be directed to the practical test waiting area to wait for the testers to arrive. You’ve got about 5-10 minutes to spare before they come, so take the time to go to the toilet or calm your nerves. Shortly, your tester will call out your name and ask for your NRIC for verification, after which you both will head to your assigned test vehicle and drive off for the test.
Image credit: Khoo Yong Hao
There are 2 portions to the practical test: the first will have you driving within CDC to attempt each of the 7 stations in the circuit, and then you’ll exit CDC to attempt one of the 12 test routes on the roads outside. You’ll be marked down for mistakes committed during the test, and your goal is to not accumulate 20 or more demerit points or any counts of immediate failure.
For some peace of mind, here are some tips that might make it easier for you to pass your practical test:
After completing the test, you’ll be guided by the tester to stop the car outside the main CDC building and head upstairs to await your result. After waiting for a bit, your tester will call you into a room to review how you did with the use of a test assessment checklist, and reveal your test result. Regardless of your result, remember to head back to the warm-up office as instructed during the briefing to collect your training record book.
For those who’ve passed the test – first of all, congratulations -, the instructors at the warm-up office will also assist you with closing your learner’s account, and any unused money in your account will be credited back to your PayNow account linked to your phone number in a few days time.
You can apply for your QDL immediately if you’ve already done your digital phototaking at CDC. You can do so via the Singapore Police Force website, and the application will cost $50. Your physical driving license will then be mailed to you and you’ll receive it within a week. In case you’re wondering, you can start driving right after you’ve applied and made payment for your QDL online; you don’t have to wait for your license to come in the mail.
And that’s pretty much all you need to know about getting your driving license at CDC. It didn’t take me terribly long to get mine, and overall the entire process wasn’t as tedious as I’ve heard from my friends and on the Internet. If you prefer a more structured approach to learning how to drive, I would recommend heading to any one of the driving centres in Singapore.
With many PDIs hanging up their boots due to old age as of late, all indications point to driving schools like CDC becoming more packed with learners than ever, so if there’s a time to get that coveted driving license, here’s your push to do so.
For more driving-related reads:
Cover image adapted from: ComfortDelGro Driving Centre via Facebook, CDC
Book your flights and get ready to jam.
These Christmas exclusive events have magical snowfall shows.
Play Merry-Poly too.
Technically, this is the second time Singapore has qualified for the Asian Cup.
This is your call to get up earlier for work.
As if we need another reason to visit the mall.