Deals11 min read

Cheapest Car Rental Singapore: How to Get the Best Deals 2025

Finance Expert Linda Ng

Consumer Savings Specialist

CheapDealsMoney SavingBudgetSingapore

Cheapest Car Rental Singapore: How to Get the Best Deals 2025

Want to rent a car in Singapore without breaking the bank? Here's how to find the best deals and save money.

Current Cheapest Rates (2025)

Economy Cars

  • Absolute cheapest: $45/day (ClearPath Rentals)
  • Average market rate: $60-75/day
  • Weekend promos: From $55/day

When Booked Right:

  • 2-3 weeks advance
  • Weekday pickup
  • 7+ day rental
  • Monthly: As low as $40/day equivalent

Money-Saving Strategies

1. Book in Advance (Save 20-30%)

  • 3+ weeks ahead: Best rates locked in
  • Last minute: Pay 30-50% premium
  • Public holidays: Book 1 month+ ahead

2. Rent for Longer Periods

  • Daily: $45-50
  • Weekly: $38-43/day (15% off)
  • Monthly: $30-40/day (35% off)

3. Avoid Peak Seasons

Expensive periods:

  • Chinese New Year
  • Christmas/New Year
  • School holidays (Jun, Dec)
  • F1 Weekend

Cheap periods:

  • Jan-Feb (after CNY)
  • May-Jul (non-holiday)
  • Mid-September

4. Compare Local vs International

TypeDaily RateBest For
Local companies$45-65Budget travelers
International chains$75-95Brand loyalty, airports

Verdict: Local saves $200+ per week

Where to Find Best Deals

Direct Booking (Cheapest)

  • ClearPath Rentals: $45/day
  • Goldbell: Best monthly rates
  • Hawk: Weekend specials

Avoid Aggregators

  • Hidden fees common
  • Poor customer service
  • Modification difficulties
  • Often same or higher price

Hidden Costs to Watch

Common Extras That Add Up

ItemTypical CostAvoidable?
Young driver (<25)$10-15/dayNo
Additional driver$10-15/dayYes (some free)
GPS device$5-10/dayYes (use phone)
Child seat$5/dayYes (bring own)
Airport delivery$30-50Sometimes
Insurance upgrade$15-25/dayDepends

How to Minimize Extras

  1. Use Google Maps instead of GPS rental
  2. Bring your own child seat
  3. Skip young driver fee by booking under older driver
  4. Decline unnecessary insurance if you have coverage
  5. Pick up from office instead of airport

Best Value Companies 2025

1. ClearPath Rentals

  • Why: Genuinely cheapest base rates
  • From: $45/day
  • Sweet spot: 7-30 day rentals
  • Bonus: Free delivery to many areas

2. Hawk Rent A Car (Weekends)

  • Why: Weekend promotions
  • From: $55/day weekends
  • Sweet spot: Friday-Monday rentals
  • Watch: Weekday rates higher

3. Goldbell (Monthly)

  • Why: Best long-term rates
  • From: $1,200/month ($40/day)
  • Sweet spot: 1-6 month rentals
  • Bonus: Maintenance included

Discount Codes & Promos (2025)

Where to Find Codes

  1. Company newsletters: 10-15% off codes
  2. Facebook pages: Flash sales
  3. Credit card promos: Bank partnerships
  4. First-time user codes: Usually 10% off

Current Promotions

  • Early bird: 10% off for 1+ month advance
  • Long-term: 30% off monthly rates
  • Referral discounts: $20-50 off
  • Weekend specials: Rotating deals

Insider Tips from Industry

1. Call After Booking Online

  • Online price = starting point
  • Call to negotiate monthly rates
  • Ask about unadvertised deals
  • Price match competitors

2. Book Tuesday-Thursday

  • Quieter booking days
  • Staff more willing to negotiate
  • Better service availability

3. Off-Peak Pickup Times

  • Avoid Friday evening
  • Midweek mornings cheapest
  • Late night = fewer customers = deals

4. Return Early Morning

  • Avoid late fees
  • Better next customer = grateful owner
  • Builds relationship for future discounts

Sample Cost Breakdown

Budget 1-Week Trip

  • Car: $270 (ClearPath, weekly rate)
  • Insurance: Included
  • Fuel: $80 (200km = 3 tanks)
  • Parking: $50 (HDB rates)
  • ERP: $20 (avoid peak)
  • Total: ~$420

Premium 1-Week Trip

  • Car: $510 (Hertz, daily rate)
  • Insurance: Included
  • Fuel: $80
  • Parking: $100 (mall/CBD)
  • ERP: $50 (peak hours)
  • Total: ~$740

Savings with budget approach: $320 (43%!)

Common Mistakes That Cost Money

1. Last-Minute Bookings

  • Cost: 30-50% premium
  • Solution: Book 2-3 weeks ahead

2. Airport Pickup

  • Cost: $30-50 extra
  • Solution: MRT to office pickup

3. Daily Instead of Weekly

  • Cost: Miss out on 15% discount
  • Solution: Commit to weekly rate

4. Not Filling Tank

  • Cost: $2.50/liter + $30 fee
  • Solution: Fill up before return

5. International Chain Assumption

  • Cost: $200+ extra per week
  • Solution: Try reputable locals first

Negotiation Scripts That Work

For Monthly Rates:

"I'm looking to rent for 2 months. Your website shows $1,400/month. Can you do $1,200 if I book today?"

For Long Weekends:

"I see weekend rate is $55. I'm renting Friday to Monday (4 days). Can you give me 3-day pricing?"

For Repeat Business:

"I rent every quarter for work. What loyalty discount can you offer?"

Free Upgrades Strategy

When You Might Get Upgraded:

  1. Booking smallest economy car
  2. When your car type unavailable
  3. Polite repeat customers
  4. Off-peak periods with excess inventory

How to Increase Chances:

  • Be friendly and polite
  • Book economy but arrive early
  • Dress professionally
  • Mention it's special occasion

Alternative Options

Peer-to-Peer (Tribecar, GetGo)

  • Pros: Hourly rates from $3/hr
  • Cons: Limited availability, older cars
  • Best for: Very short trips (1-3 hours)

Car Sharing Services

  • Pros: Pay-per-use
  • Cons: Expensive for full days
  • Best for: Occasional quick errands

Traditional Rental

  • Pros: Guaranteed availability, newer cars
  • Cons: Daily minimum
  • Best for: Full days, multi-day trips

Annual Cost Comparison

Weekend Driver (2 days/month, 24 days/year)

  • Daily rates: $45 × 24 = $1,080
  • Weekend promos: $55 × 24 = $1,320 (if no advance booking)
  • Best strategy: Book advance, use ClearPath

Monthly Expat (365 days)

  • Daily rates: $45 × 365 = $16,425 (ridiculous!)
  • Monthly package: $1,250 × 12 = $15,000
  • Savings: $1,425/year

Bottom Line: How to Get Cheapest

  1. Book with ClearPath Rentals ($45/day base)
  2. 2-3 weeks in advance (avoid premium)
  3. Weekly or monthly rates (15-35% off)
  4. Avoid peak seasons (save 20-30%)
  5. Skip unnecessary extras (save $10-20/day)
  6. Pick up from office (save $30-50)
  7. Use own GPS/child seat (save $5-15/day)
  8. Fill tank before return (save $50+)

Result: Economy car for $35-45/day all-in!

Ready to save money? Contact ClearPath Rentals for Singapore's best car rental rates!