Car Hire Singapore International Airport

Car Hire

Singapore Airport, which is officially known as Changi International Airport, is the busiest airport and main transport hub for Southeast Asia. It sits in the eastern district of Changi, on the island of Singapore, some 10 miles from the bustling centre of Singapore. The Mass Rapid Transit network connects the airport to the commercial heart of the island, and buses operated by SBS and SMRT are available. Car rental in Singapore Airport is another convenient and reliable form of transport.

Who to Book With
The car hire companies at Singapore Airport include Avis, Budget and Hertz, three of the largest car suppliers in the rental industry. Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 have desks for all three suppliers, while Terminal 1 only contains desks for Budget and Avis. All car rental companies are found at the Arrivals areas of their respective terminals.

Need to Know Essentials
Several documents are needed before renting at Singapore Airport is possible:

- A driver’s licence in English
- An International Driving Permit if your driver’s licence is not in English
- The credit card used to make the rental reservation
- Passport identification

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
The roads in Singapore are generally in great condition, and due to heavy policing of road rules, driving here is safe. There is usually parking available in the downtown area and in areas away from the commercial centre. However, motorists will find it more difficult to park during downtown’s peak hours. A foreign licence is accepted when renting and driving a car in Singapore, if the licence is displayed in English. If not, an International Driving Permit is required. There is Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) fees that need to be adhered to when driving in Singapore. Rental agencies provide Cashcards, but tourists will need to make sure there is enough money on their card when passing through the ERP gantry.

Our guide to Singapore offers more detailed information on driving here.

Transport

Car rental at Singapore Airport is a useful way to conveniently explore the island. An underground train network, known as the MRT, travels from Changi Airport station (between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3) and Singapore’s CBD. Buses are a convenient and inexpensive option, while taxis are reliable and expedient.

Trains
The train service from Singapore Airport is known as the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT). The SMRT and the Light Rail Transit are linked, so tourists can travel from the airport to most places in Singapore by train without difficulty. Tickets cost about £1, but a refundable £0.50 deposit is also required. The journey from the airport to the city takes less than 30 minutes.

Taxis
At the airport, taxis can be found outside the Arrivals halls of each terminal. In favourable traffic conditions, a trip between the airport and downtown Singapore takes about 20 minutes. Some of the companies operating at the airport include Citycab, Premier Taxis, TransCab and SMRT.

Taxi prices:
Singapore Airport to City Hall is about £12
Singapore Airport to Sentosa Island is about £18
Singapore Airport to Jurong is about £20

Buses
Bus services are operated by two companies, SMRT Buses and SBS Transit. Services start at 06:00 and end at midnight. Fares to the centre of Singapore’s commercial district incur costs of about £1. Exact change is required for SMRT and SBS buses. There is also a free shuttle bus provided by the airport which connects passengers to Changi Business Park, Bedok MRT Station and Sengkang MRT Station.

Facilities

Terminals
There are three terminals operating at Singapore Airport, which are all connected via a common transit zone. Terminal 1 is the oldest building on site, but still caters to 21 million passengers a year. Terminal 2 can accommodate 23 million passengers annually and currently handles budget airlines, some Singapore Airlines flights and other Asian national carriers. Terminal 3 is the newest edifice and can hold a yearly capacity of 22 million. Long-haul Singapore Airlines flights to the Americas, Europe and Oceania depart from this terminal, in addition to flights operated by more than a dozen other carriers.

Parking
There is a total of six parking zones at the airport. All of the parking facilities operate an electronic parking system. Terminal 1 has an open-air parking facility with 850 spaces. Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 have two parking zones each, with a total of more than 4,000 spaces. Between Monday and Friday, parking fees are calculated at £0.02 per minute and capped at around £10 per day.

Wi-Fi
More than 500 internet kiosks are sprinkled across the three terminals, so passengers can stay connected with ease. In addition, wireless internet service is available free-of-charge throughout the terminals.

Information Services
Information services are offered in all terminals. The Customer Service Counters are located in the Departures Check-in halls, Departures Transit areas and the Arrivals halls of the airport. Enquiries about the terminals, lost and found services, and wheelchair/stroller rental are handled at these counters.

Useful Numbers
Call Centre: +65 6595 6868
Airport Medical Centre: +65 6391 6100

Accessibility
For passengers with reduced mobility, there are several facilities and services available. Elevators, ramp access and specially-equipped restrooms make life easier for such passengers. Wheelchair rental is only £8 and can be organised through the medical centres at the airport, with one in each of the transit lounges.

Restaurants and Bars
All terminals at Singapore Airport have a range of restaurants and bars. Terminal 1 boasts local favourites like 1983 Taste of Nanjing, the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Ruyi and the always popular La Cave Wine Bar. Terminal 2 contains several bars for passengers, such as Hari’s Pub and O’Leary’s Sports Bar and Grill. Toast Box is popular and Crystal Jade provides great Chinese cuisine. Passengers will also find a huge array of restaurants and bars in Terminal 3.

VIP Lounges

Terminal 1:
Cathay Pacific/Sky View Lounge
Emirates Lounge
Qantas and British Airways Business Lounge
SATS Premier Lounge
Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge

Terminal 2:
MAS Golden Lounge
SIA SilverKris Lounge
KrisFlyer Gold Lounge
SATS Premier Lounge

Terminal 3:
SIA SilverKris Lounge
KrisFlyer Gold Lounge
SATS Premier Lounge
dnata Lounge

Money and ATMs
ATMs provided by a range of banks can be found in all terminals. In addition to cash machines, the airport terminals boast currency exchange booths. All terminals contain banks and/or currency exchange services in their Arrivals hall, Departures Check-in hall and Transit lounges. All major currencies can be exchanged 24 hours.

Shopping
The airport’s shopping ventures are without comparison. All terminals boast an impressive list of shops, ranging from duty-free stores to international brand boutiques. The Duty Free Galleria by DFS welcomes thousands of passengers a day. Some of the main brand name stores found in the airport terminals include Hermes (Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3) Gucci (Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3), Charles & Keith (Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3) and Prada (Terminal 2).