getting HUMBLED by driving
ok tell me why I took 3 whole tests to finally pass 😭😭😭 learning how to drive was so humbling because I was a super slow learner. but hey, I still got my license in the end!! I thought to provide a breakdown of the process and costs for anyone who might be interested/in a similar situation:
I went for the school route at Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC) because I didn't have any contacts for private instructors and thought it would be easier to just follow the school curriculum. see pic 2 for the flowchart of the entire process!
📝 REGISTRATION 📝
I opted to register for an account in person. I made an appointment on the bbdc website (they do not accept walk-ins) and the process was quite straightforward. the counter staff asked if I was doing school or private, auto or manual, and there was a short vision test. once the account was opened, I topped up some money so I could start booking classes. they recommend booking practical classes ASAP because the earliest slots available are 6 months away. when I registered my account in January, the earliest slots were in July. the max number of slots you can book is 20 for auto and 22 for manual, so I maxed out my 20 bookings. at this point I was feeling good and thought 20 bookings would be more than enough because lots of people said so! I WAS SO SO WRONG (more on that later). anyway after registration I took my photo for the driving license at BBDC as well.
🧠 THEORY 🧠
BBDC has 4 zoom lessons that I had to take. these were pretty easy to book and I could attend from home which was convenient. BUT the school required us to keep the camera on the whole time during the class (2 hours with a 15 min break). I honestly don't remember what they covered during class but it was for basic theory and final theory.
before taking the BTT, you have to pass the Basic Theory Evaluation (BTE) which is basically a mock test. the school has practice sessions where 4 booklets of questions are made available. I was very kiasu so I went for 2 practice sessions before taking my BTE. after passing my BTE, I was able to book my BTT. the questions in the BTT are basically all from the practice booklet, so I highly recommend doing those practices!
After passing the BTT, I was able to apply for the Provisional Driving License, which is needed to go for practical lessons.
Final Theory Test (FTT):
Same process as the BTT, except that there were 11 practice booklets. No real rush to do this, since it only needs to be done before the traffic police test, but I did it early to get it out of the way.
Driving Simulator & Traffic Police Simulator Training:
these could only be booked after completing a few practical lessons. the simulators were basically arcade-like driving seats, and the sessions covered driving at different speeds, driving in the rain, reaction time, etc.
Risk Forecast Training: this could also only be booked after some practical lessons, and was a Zoom class on how to be a safe driver.
The theory classes were the cheapest part of the entire process, my costs for theory came up to $283.73 (this doesn't include the actual BTT and FTT, which are categorized under Test in the system).
🚗 PRACTICAL CLASSES 🚗
This is the fun(?) part! Every class is 100 mins long, and the school has a clear curriculum it follows. There is the option to stick to one instructor, but that would cost extra and you would have to follow that instructor's schedule. I opted for no fixed instructor, so any instructor from my fixed group could be my instructor for each lesson. After every lesson, the instructor will mark in the system which sections were completed during the lesson, and the next instructor will pick up from there at the next lesson. If no section is completed during the lesson, the instructors have a way of indicating as well. For example, I did 5.01 three times because I failed the mock test on the first two attempts. On those attempts, the instructors marked the class as 4.04 instead.
There are 5 substantive sections:
1.01 to 1.11 - introduction to driving
2.01 to 2.11 - driving on the road
3.01 to 3.10 - driving in circuit
4.01 to 4.04 - defensive driving
5.01: mock test
How quickly you complete the lessons depends on each individual, but I was so slow in completing mine 😅. I took 30 classes in total to complete the whole curriculum, which is way more than the original 20 I booked. In order to get classes 21-30, I basically camped on the BBDC website everyday for last-minute slots, as people would sometimes cancel / sell their afternoon slots in the morning of the same day. I also went to the BBDC counter to ask for help in booking slots. In hindsight, I should have started doing that once I finished a few practical lessons, instead of only after finishing lesson 20.
Each lesson costs either $71.94 (off-peak) or $80.66 (peak) but the costs have increased in 2026! :((
The practical lessons were by far the most expensive part, and my 30 lessons cost me almost $2,300.
🎓 TRAFFIC POLICE TEST 🎓
After passing class 5.01 in bbdc (aka the mock test), the website allowed me to book my actual TP test. I was able to book a slot that was in about 2 weeks time, and a revision slot for the day before the test.
The test is super expensive because of the vehicle rental fee. After all the fees, the entire test cost $324 per attempt. 😭😭😭
For BBDC, this cost includes a warm up before the real test. I reported to the driving centre 20 mins before the warm up time, checked my vehicle details at the machine in the centre, and waited at the waiting room. An instructor then came to take down my details and take my physical NRIC. One of the BBDC instructors then brought me to the car for warm-up. This was the time to adjust the mirrors and seat, and the warm up is basically going through all the stations in the circuit + one of the test routes. After warm up is complete, I was brought up to level 2 which is the waiting area for the actual traffic police testers. About 5-10 mins before the stated test time, the tester called my name and brought me down to the car. In the car, the tester set up a camera and explained the test briefly (2 parts to the test, circuit and road, need to pass both with less than 20 points to pass, when to emergency brake). After that, the test officially starts.
😭 FAILED ATTEMPTS 1 AND 2 😭
I failed my first attempt so fast lmaoo I was at my first station (parallel parking) and was adjusting to the sighting point BUT I was looking at the wrong line lol. So I ended up being way too close to the kerb and touched the kerb before even turning into the parking lot. my tester told me that this was an immediate fail and we returned to the starting point. at the starting point he passed me the test form he filled up, but he wrote the wrong date so I had to follow him up so he could write a new one and pass me the correct one. After that, I had to go to the counter to ask for a new revision class and test date, because BBDC only allows you to book the next test if you take a revision class.
My second attempt was also failed in circuit 🤡 I was doing vertical parking and turned too late. while adjusting, I didn't adjust enough and the right front wheel of the car touched the outside of the lot. so that's another immediate failure 🤮
I FINALLY passed on my third attempt after many revision classes 🫠 shout-out to Barry (the tester) who gave off good vibes and clear instructions. Also shout-out to the rain which caused a safety hazard such that one of the test stations (the small ramp with the metal pole) was cancelled 🤗 Looking back, I should have spent more time during lessons working on adjustments and corrections, because my issue was that I would panic when I turned too early or too late, and forget how to correct it. If I did that from the start, maybe I would have passed in the first or second try?
The tests cost me almost $1,000 total because $324 x 3 + the small amounts for the basic theory test and final theory test.
⏰ TIMELINE ⏰
this is the timeline for my driving journey, but for context i was funemployed from June onwards so I could do classes during working hours. I was also travelling a lot, so there were some gaps in my learning (I was overseas for a month in Sep which unfortunately really disrupted my learning)
Jan 2025: open BBDC account
Jan to Feb 2025: Zoom theory lessons
Mar 2025: basic theory practice and basic theory evaluation
Apr 2025: basic theory test
May 2025: final theory practice and evaluation
Jun 2025: final theory test
Jul 2025: practical lessons
Aug 2025: practical lessons, driving simulator, traffic police simulator, risk forecast training
Sep 2025: break because I went on holiday
Oct 2025: practical lessons
Nov 2025: first and second TP test attempts
Dec 2025: third TP test
🖊️ CONCLUSION 🖊️
Driving is so hard fr. I cried so many times during this whole process but staying the course and not giving up does pay off! After a whole year and almost $4,000 I finally have my license 🪪. If you're looking to get your driver's license, all the best and don't get too disheartened if your progress is slower than what you expected / hoped for!
If you're looking into Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC) for your driving journey, understanding their detailed flowchart of the licensing process can be a real advantage. The process starts with enrolling for the Class 3/3A license, which includes key stages such as the Basic and Final Theory tests, practical lessons, and various simulator trainings. In my experience, knowing the order and requirements of these steps helped me plan my timeline better and avoid unnecessary delays. For example, you must first pass the Basic Theory Evaluation before booking the Basic Theory Test, and that leads to applying for the Provisional Driving License. Simulator trainings, like the driving simulator and traffic police simulator, are scheduled after a few practical lessons, preparing you for real conditions. Financially, BBDC’s fee structure is quite detailed with GST included. Core expenses include an enrolment fee, eyesight test, theory and practical lesson fees at varying rates depending on peak or off-peak times, and non-refundable test fees. Renting a vehicle for the practical test is a significant cost to keep in mind. By following the flowchart steps carefully and maximizing your booked slots early, you can better manage your learning curve—even if you’re a slower learner like me. Don’t hesitate to contact BBDC directly for assistance with bookings or understanding upcoming stages; proactive communication was key in securing last-minute practical lesson slots beyond my initial 20 bookings. Overall, familiarizing yourself with the BBDC process flowchart gives you a clear roadmap through this often challenging but rewarding journey toward earning your driving license.
This is a validation much needed for a slow learner 🥺✨ also almost breakdown from taking driving lessons