Singapore Travel Guide

Author: Ruchira Roy 

Driving in Singapore is so convenient and can save you a lot of time. This article discusses some ideas for acquiring a car in Singapore.

Buy or rent? 3 years or less : Don't even think about buying a car. Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums have already increased across the board.

• Above 3 years : It will most definitely be better to buy or lease a car.

Tips for renting in Singapore

Who can rent?

You can rent a car in Singapore if:

• You are a holder of a valid Singapore Class 3 or approved foreign license.


• Some vehicle hire companies require the driver to be over the age of 24 and has a minimum driving experience of 2 years. Other companies have lower minimum age or experience requirements, such as age 18 or 21, and may require a large surcharge, and reduced insurance.

Features to look for

• Air conditioning (it is safe to assume that all reputable rental companies will have airconditioning fitted in Singapore).


• Manual or Auto. Most of the cheaper and older cars come with Manual transmission.


• What insurance included in the price?


• Is the Goods and Services Tax (GST) included in the price?


• Can the car be driven across the border to Malaysia? Most major car rental companies allow their cars to be driven in Malaysia. A surcharge will require.


• Is there a mileage limitation? Cars rented for driving in Singapore commonly have unlimited mileage. Cars rented for driving into Malaysia rarely do.


• Is 24-hour Roadside assistance offered?


• Safety features


• Fuel economy


• Maps or GPS navigation system. You may need to pay a small amount of fee to rent a GPS navigation system.


• Pick up and drop off points. Some rental companies offer these service island-wide in Singapore free of charge.


• Is cash card provided? You need one to pay for the toll fee (ERP gantry) in Singapore. Most rental companies offer cash card for sale.

Saving Money

Understand the full insurance cost. Often travel insurance can work out cheaper than paying the excess reduction insurance at the time of rental. If you already have travel insurance, make sure you don't pay for extra insurance that your travel insurance already offers.

Pickup or returning cars to airport or other locations often incurs an additional charge. Look for rental companies that provide these service free of charge.

Many of these tips are true regardless of where you are looking to buy a car, but there are a concern specific to cars in Singapore that you should be aware of.

The Certificate of Entitlement (COE), instituted by the government of Singapore, is a program designed to limit car ownership, and hence, the number of vehicles on the country's roads. An restriction on car ownership is the requirement that motor vehicles more than ten years old, known as 'time expired' vehicles, must either be scrapped, or exported from Singapore, usually to neighbouring countries. So don't buy a car with only a few years left on it's COE!

• Don't buy a car you have not test driven yourself for at least around the block. If you are too scared to drive it, ask the seller to take you on a short ride and tell him what you would like him to do: brake sharp, accelerate fast, etc.


• Don't buy a car (from a private person) if you do not have at least some basic knowledge of cars and know what to look for.


• Don't buy a car from a dealer unless he has a good reputation (ask him for feedback from his customers and check the Internet).


• Don't buy a car that is leaking any fluid (black=engine oil/brake fluid, brown=engine oil/brake fluid, red=gearbox, green=radiator or other.), has an oily looking engine head or rust on important parts of the chassis such as the door areas, or near the suspensions.


• Don't buy a car that has problems with the gearbox (automatic or manual) - this type of repair can be very expensive. Don't buy the argument that you will have to use overdrive or use neutral position when parking.


• Don't buy a car that doesn't stop (SHARP!) when you want it to stop. Check all the car lights with the help of a friend.


• Send the car for inspection.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/rentals-articles/acquiring-a-car-in-singapore-4996413.html

Triston Lai is an sales executive and freelance writer.

According to a Straits Time survey, Singapore parents are spending 10 to 15 times more than the amount they are paying for school fees, on private tuition. This is perhaps due to the fact that parents want to provide the best possible education for their children. Since parents and students have virtually no control over the choice of their school teachers, parents and students have to turn to private tuition as a means to supplement the education the students are already having at school. Choosing a private tutor may be a daunting task, and so how do we go about finding the right tutors from a tuition agency? Some qualities of a tutor to look out for:

• A good tutor should be able to help solve many of the problems encountered by a student when doing homework. The tutor should also be able to impart his knowledge and problem-solving skills effectively to the student, and help him understand certain topics or problems. This is especially crucial in subjects that require much logical thinking like Maths and Physics.
  



• Experience
  Another way to determine whether a tutor is competent enough is to find out how experienced he or she is. There is a saying that "Practice makes perfect" and there is certainly truth in this statement. A tutor who has taught a subject for a long time will most likely teach better. So how do we do that? Parents can observe the tuition lesson and the manners and behavior of the tutor. From the way the tutor speaks, parents can roughly gauge whether the tutor is confident enough to deliver a proper lesson. Also, observe whether the tutor is nervous or calm.
  



• Teaching Methods
  More often than not in the area of Maths, nothing is more useful than a diagram well drawn and explained. Not presenting steps and solutions in a clear, concise manner only leads to more confusion from the student. A tutor may know how to solve a problem, but to effectively present the solution in a clear manner to the student, demands skills that not every tutor has. Furthermore, a tutor who is not very sure about the solution may have to "lie" his way through, introducing unnecessary steps that complicate matters more. Parents are paying for quality service, not someone who beats around the bush and arrives at the conclusion that the child is not smart enough. A qualified tutor should practise good teaching techniques. However, it takes two hands to clap. No matter how good a tutor is, if a student cannot get used to the tutor's teaching methods, all efforts will come to nought. It is therefore more important to find tutors whose ways of teaching are acceptable to the student.
  



• Education Background and Qualifications
  Tutors who have studied before the same subjects and have gone through similar examinations, have probably more to share with their students. If a tutor had excelled before in similar examinations, such as the A-Level, that his student is going to sit through, valuable tips and strategies can be passed on to the student. Success breeds success and there are certainly tonnes of examination tips and techniques the tutor can share. While having good grades is an important criteria in looking for a suitable tutor, one should not neglect the fact whether a tutor can teach well or not. Good grades and the ability to teach well do not always come together.
  



• Commitment
  It is best to employ a committed tutor or one who knows how to manage his time well. Not only that, a tutor should show care and concern towards his students' performance at school and especially so during the examination period. Usually in such a period, students will be very stressful and a good tutor should provide moral support and guidance. It would be even better if the tutor can help his students to destress.

Now that we have enlightened you with some of the things to look out for when choosing a tutor, finding a good tutor is no longer a headache. You may now search for tutors or request for a tutor from us. We will assist you in finding suitable tutors for your child.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/tutoring-articles/qualified-and-committed-private-tutors-in-singapore-449121.html