Driving Malaysia car in S'pore or Driving S'pore car in Malaysia

[Papsmearer]

I am asking this for an expat friend. He plans to spend a few month in Singapore and Malaysia after the Covid restrictions are over. He needs to use a car. He plans to spend about equal time in Singapore and Malaysia. His question to me was:

Is it cheaper and easier to:

1) Buy/Rent a car in Malaysia and drive it part of the time in S'pore

OR

2) Buy/rent a car in S'pore and drive it part of the time in Malaysia

He has a budget of RM$20K for the car if he were to buy one in Malaysia. Comments about the costs such as VEP, autopass, tolls, etc. would be very appreciated.

 

[wuqi256]

If he doesn't have PR or work permit, S Pass etc in Singapore, yes he can as a foreigner to drive in Singapore.
Else he cannot if has any such permits or Employment pass. 20k is more than good enough to get a working one

 

[Papsmearer]

If he doesn't have PR or work permit, S Pass etc in Singapore, yes he can as a foreigner to drive in Singapore.
Else he cannot if has any such permits or Employment pass. 20k is more than good enough to get a working one

Thanks for the reply. No, he is not on S pass, or a PR. He is a complete foreigner expat. But from what I can see, if he buys a car in Malaysia for around RM$20k, he is restricted to how often he can drive it in S'pore, right? But if he bought the car in S'pore, he can drive it more freely in Malaysia?

 

[James Porn]

Thanks for the reply. No, he is not on S pass, or a PR. He is a complete foreigner expat. But from what I can see, if he buys a car in Malaysia for around RM$20k, he is restricted to how often he can drive it in S'pore, right? But if he bought the car in S'pore, he can drive it more freely in Malaysia?

Your friend definitely needs a car to move around in Malaysia, so it makes sense to buy one and a RM 20k budget will get a decent one. If he needs to move around in Singapore, drive to JB and park the car and get over to Singapore via taxi etc. In Singapore, it is more convenient to use public transport. To buy a car in Singapore, to use for both countries, doesn't make economical sense, at least to me.

 

[Papsmearer]

Your friend definitely needs a car to move around in Malaysia, so it makes sense to buy one and a RM 20k budget will get a decent one. If he needs to move around in Singapore, drive to JB and park the car and get over to Singapore via taxi etc. In Singapore, it is more convenient to use public transport. To buy a car in Singapore, to use for both countries, doesn't make economical sense, at least to me.

Thanks for the information. I think that makes the most sense. Driving in s'pore is too expensive even if you could get a car for free, what with the ERPs, and all those other costs. Your advice is the one I will provide to him