Going ‘car-lite’: why more Singaporeans are quitting driving
When the time came to renew his certificate of entitlement (COE), Andrew Tan hit the brakes on coughing up an eye-watering S$112,000 (US$87,400) to keep his car on Singapore’s roads for another 10 years. Instead, the 49-year-old business consultant decided in May to go without a car for the first time in two decades. High COE prices, rising running costs and the hassle of parking and congestion…
Singaporeans are increasingly opting against car ownership due to escalating costs, congestion, and the city-state's push towards a more "car-lite" society. The primary obstacle for many is the high Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices, which now exceed S$100,000. In May, 49-year-old business consultant Andrew Tan decided to refrain from renewing his car's COE, marking the first time in two decades he has gone without a vehicle.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced a record low of 516,237 privately owned cars in July, reflecting the trend. However, rental, ride-hailing, and corporate vehicles have seen a rise. Rising road tax, fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs, along with ERP charges, have also played a role in this shift. Singapore's limited land area, coupled with the need for efficient public transport and active mobility infrastructure, has driven the government's initiatives to promote alternative modes of transportation.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
