Troopy in Singapore

[Boags]

Hi all,

planning the trip Melbourne to Brussels with a HZJ75, I keep reading Singapore is an issue when it comes to driving tru. So the plan is to ship from Darwin to Singapore then head to Malaysia. I read guys would rather tow their truck to the Malaysian border rather than drive tru the city, seems you need insurance, registration etc etc.

So, rumours ? Can you actually drive through Singapore on your way from OZ to Malaysia for cheap, or should you indeed tow your car (or even bypass Singapore and ship straight into Malaysia) ?

Txs.
Boags.

[Cassie2]

Have you thought about shipping direct to Klang, Malaysia - bypassing Singapore altogether? Klang is much easier and has many shipping agents transporting to Australia daily so must be available in reverse.

[beddhist]

I don't know what car exactly you have, but if it has cooking and sleeping facilities then it's not allowed on the road in SIN.
As I have posted elsewhere, driving in and out of SIN is a logistical nightmare and will cost you big time. On the other hand, it is possible that all shipping to KL goes thru SIN anyway, which will add to the cost and delay.

Why don't you ship to Dili instead and drive all the way?

[Boags]

Thanks Pete,

so far I gathered what is needed are three points ; Customs, the Automobile Association of Singapore and the Land Transport Authority.

Customs : Valid Carnet de Passage, which (based from an email from the Singapore Customs) is an cheaper option to the TIS (Temporary Import Scheme).

AA : International Circulation Permit, which costs about $53SG ; and local Third Party Insurance. Still waiting for their replies on the costs (AA Singapore Community)

LTA : the Autopass (to pay the tolls) and a few bux to top it up on your way out. Motoring Matters - Guide to Drive in and out of Singapore

Seems pretty straight forward to me, aside the costs...

As to why not Dilli, it was my first plan a year ago but then I don't remember why I chose not to . So you can drive from Dilli to the Asian mainland ? which way ??

Txs.

[beddhist]

Yes, that's pretty much it. Count on about a day's worth of going around the city by taxi. You will also need a toll card for the Malaysian side, I have no idea how you would get that one. When we crossed it was still available at the toll station.

Autopass: you buy it with about 10$ on it, of which you need about 1 or 2, the rest you can't get back. Same story on the Malaysian side.

So you can drive from Dilli to the Asian mainland ? which way ??

Sure you can: get a 2 month Indo visa and drive (with a few ferry trips) to Belawan. There is a shipping agent that gets your car to Butterworth. Search HUBB for Cakra Shipping (that's the name of the co. in Malaysia, I don't know what the name of the agent in Belawan is, we did the trip in reverse.)

[mailking]

Originally Posted by beddhist

Sure you can: get a 2 month Indo visa and drive (with a few ferry trips) to Belawan. There is a shipping agent that gets your car to Butterworth. Search HUBB for Cakra Shipping (that's the name of the co. in Malaysia, I don't know what the name of the agent in Belawan is, we did the trip in reverse.)

When was this?
Adventurous greetings,
Coen

[beddhist]

We did the trip 2 years ago, but there are plenty of others doing it now. See our web page.

[Boags]

Originally Posted by Cassie2

Have you thought about shipping direct to Klang, Malaysia - bypassing Singapore altogether? Klang is much easier and has many shipping agents transporting to Australia daily so must be available in reverse.

Okay, post digging here I know, so Darwin to Kelang/Klang, seems like the best option, any shipping agents you know of ? I recall Perkins did the shipping to Singapore but they don't seem to do Malaysia.

Txs, will keep Googling, if I find anything I'll post it here.

Originally Posted by beddhist

Sure you can: get a 2 month Indo visa and drive (with a few ferry trips) to Belawan. There is a shipping agent that gets your car to Butterworth. Search HUBB for Cakra Shipping (that's the name of the co. in Malaysia, I don't know what the name of the agent in Belawan is, we did the trip in reverse.)

Okay, so you went from Malaysia to OZ right ? How many ferries, I count three : Darwin to Denpasar, then drive up the island pass Jakarta to Merak, a second ferry to Penengahan, up to Belawan then the last ferry to Klang, Malaysia, right ?
So, though Indo sounds superb, how much more expensive than bypass and ferry for ten days Oz to Malaysia ?

Both routes very tempting for different reasons...

[beddhist]

Sorry, Boags, you will need to do a bit more reading and searching here on HUBB. We went from Butterworth to Belawan with Cakra, like just about everybody else. This is not a ferry. There are no ferries between countries in this region, esp. not to Oz.

After that there are a number of ferries along the Indo island chain until we finally reached Timor. We shipped from Dili back to Singapore, as it looked like my wife couldn't get an NZ visa. Finally, we flew from KL to NZ.

There is no ferry from Dili to Darwin, it's shipping, usually in containers. No passengers, you have to fly. Perkins do this route.

[Boags]

Txs Beddhist, I'll keep searching then

Just answer this for me then, is Indo worth the hassle with all the ferries/cargos and all ?

Ta.

Soooo many questions !

[beddhist]

Just answer this for me then, is Indo worth the hassle with all the ferries/cargos and all ?

Definitely. It will prepare you for driving in India! The good thing about it is that it starts off quite gently in Timor Leste, gradually getting worse as you make your way W.

Tips: From Kupang take the ferry to Larantuka and not to any other port on Flores, as it will make the torture last longer otherwise. Choose your hotel rooms carefully, unless you don't mind noise. Watch your stuff and beware of rip-offs, esp. around the ferry terminals. Get a guide book. By and large it's a wonderful country and a 2-month visa is far too short to explore it properly. The Indonesian people largely are wonderful. Consider flying out and getting a 2nd visa on route.

[Boags]

Lol, I like your view on the driving

[m37charlie]

Re Singapore campervans are banned! Completely! If the Troopy has cooking facility and a bed setup I'd really take the advice about Pt Klang.

Charlie

[Boags]

Thanks Charlie,

I came to the same conclusion so I'll go tru Indo direct to KL instead.

Txs.

[Mart456]

Originally Posted by Boags

Txs Beddhist, I'll keep searching then

Just answer this for me then, is Indo worth the hassle with all the ferries/cargos and all ?

Ta.

Soooo many questions !

100% Yes out all of SE Asia, Indonesia was by far our favourite country, not to mention one of the cheapest.....

Not one too be missed...