7 Important Money Considerations Before Driving from Singapore to Johor

What you need to know when you’re planning for that short weekend getaway.

Lots of Singaporeans love driving to Johor (JB) for a weekend of delicious eats and cheap buys. If you’ve made this long trip before, you’ll know what to expect.

However, if you’re attempting it for the first time, or haven’t done it in a while, here are some tips that could save you a lot of money:

1. Make Sure Your Car Insurance Is Valid Outside of Singapore

The most common mistake, when driving to JB from Singapore, is failing to check whether your car insurance will be valid. Singaporeans have an unfortunate habit of just picking the cheapest option, without checking the car insurance coverage in Malaysia.

If your car breaks down or gets into an accident in JB, and it’s completely un-driveable, you’ll need a tow truck. If your insurance doesn’t cover this cost, you might have to pay for towing all the way back to Singapore. This can cost a small fortune, so make sure you’re covered before you go.

If you're not sure where to get such travel insurance coverage, you can starting by doing a travel insurance comparison on SingSaver.

2. Observe the Three-quarter Tank Rule

Singapore-registered vehicles that are being driven out of the country must have their petrol tanks at least three-quarters full, with the exception of diesel vehicles.

You may have gotten some dodgy advice, such as “sneak past on a quarter-tank, and then top up your petrol in Malaysia where it’s cheaper”.

Don’t do this. If you’re caught with too little petrol, you will be told to drive back to Singapore, and top-up your tank before you can leave. In addition, you can be fined up to S$500 for ignoring this law.

Also, don’t forget the risk of your car running out of petrol, and being stranded in the middle of a massive causeway jam.

3. Bring Full Water Bottles so You Don’t Have to Buy Liquids

Top up your water bottles and bring them with you. Bring about 1.5 litres per person, and always bring a spare two-litre bottle for clean-ups. This spare bottle will come in handy if you need to wash off spilled snacks, or a mess caused by car sick children.

This will save you having to buy bottled water at rest-stops. And be warned: some businesses are quite aware of their advantageous location (there may not be another rest-stop for several kilometres). You may find absurd prices like S$2 for a small bottle of water.

4. Buy Proper Travel Insurance

Many Singaporeans neglect to buy travel insurance, when driving to JB from Singapore. This is dangerous, as you could be left with no coverage during an accident or a crime.

You should have travel insurance that at least covers hospitalisation costs, as some emergencies require on-the-spot treatment. For example, in the immediate aftermath of a road accident, there may not be time to get you back to Singapore; you may have to be treated at the closest facility.

You also have to consider the possibility that, following an accident, it may not be possible to move you. This will require hospitalisation coverage to minimise steep costs.

Ensure that your travel insurance also covers the costs of medical evacuation. If you need to be transported via emergency services, such as by helicopter because you got injured on an isolated back-road, the cost can be significant.