CDC Driving - Part 1

Hi guys! I have officially "graduated" from CDC Driving School (Ubi) on the 9th of December, meaning that I've passed my final practical driving test on that day !! HAHAA ⌣ For those who are going to start learning driving & have no idea where to start from, here are some rough guidelines for you guys, hope it helps! 

Firstly, if you want to learn driving from school (CDC Driving Centre), you can go into CDC website-courses to choose which type of courses you will wish to enrol in (for example; Class 3 (manual) or Class 3A (auto). You can first enrol online by filling in all the details and make the payment for the membership fee. However, you will still have to make your way down to CDC Customer Service Counter to: 

• Submit 1 passport size photograph - for Motorcycle enrolment only.
• Collect your student booklet and training kit.
• Have your eyesight tested before your first practical training. 

Above information adapted from here. 

Remember to bring your Original Identity Card (IC) / Passport & bring your mode of payment too (eg nets card; I think they do not accept cash at all). 

Do note that by clicking the link directly above; you're enrolling into CDC as a school learner and this course includes both basic and final theory test (BTT & FTT), together with the practical driving lessons. 

For those who have already passed your BTT &/or FTT before you sign up for school enrolment, you will still have to sign up for the exact same thing, paying the same expenses as those who have not started their BTT &/or FTT. There will be no deduction in the money or whatsoever just because you've cleared your BTT &/or FTT. I've cleared by BTT & FTT (before I decided to sign up for school), but I still have to pay the same amount for the course :/ - since the entire course includes everything. However, I can skip the theory part and just proceed to the practical part. 

Once you're at the counter and settling all the necessary admin matters, they will ask you to register for the induction & whether you want 'one team'. 

So what is induction ? and what is 'one team' ?

For those who have read the course outline (for 3/3A): 

School learners have to first attend the induction programme before they can to attend their practical driving lessons. Induction programme is a 50 mins lesson (normally done around 30 mins), whereby about 3 students including yourself, will be in the same car, together with an instructor. He/she will teach you like the components of the car eg, like how to adjust the side mirror, rear mirror, seat, how to start the engine all those.. The instructor will then bring you guys to the Self-Service Kiosk (located outside of the Customer Service Centre- for the school learners (in Ubi), and teach you guys how to look for the car and where your car is located. It is basically like an orientation programme that is compulsory to attend. 

On the day of induction, you just have to bring your student card (made on that day of registration) + your blue booklet + PDL (to be safe). Induction will normally be at the end of the main car park (where an umbrella is located - you can just wait there) - or ask any instructor as to where to go for your induction once you've reached CDC. 

School learners can also choose whether they want 'one team' = fixed instructors or not.

For students that choose to enrol into 'one team', they will be coached by a group of fixed instructors, so you basically learn driving from only these few people (<5 instructors, if I'm not wrong). I believe it will be generally better to choose 'one team' instead of randomise instructors as you will tend to get more standardise teaching. 

However, by enrolling into 'one team', you will have to pay slightly more for each lesson, as compared to those that pick the randomise instructors. As for me, because I have to pay the lessons by myself, I picked the cheaper option of having randomise instructors for each round. After attending like around 21 lessons (lesser than average student - because I learnt driving from a private instructor before), I would say different instructors may teach you different stuff.. it may get confusing at times (as to which one to follow), but you just got to find out which one works for you the best and just stick with it! 

Following which, they will help you to book your induction date (or you can go home and book it yourself). 

Induction and practical training fee (per lesson): 

The lessons are cheaper if you book your slot from 8.30 am to 4.15 pm; from Monday to Friday. 

On the other hand, the lessons are more expensive if you book your slot from 4.25 pm to 10.20 pm; from Monday to Friday and from 8.30 am to 6.05 pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

They will also help you to create a school account and pass you a blue booklet (you have to bring that booklet + a valid PDL together with you for each driving lesson). Inside the blue booklet will have information of your account user and password for you to login when you're at home. You have to use that school account to book for your driving lessons and you have to top up the value inside the account before you can book for your lessons. 

A course manual (as shown below) will also be given to you. 

Course manual 

Course manual contains both theory book for BTT & FTT. 

There are also leaflets provided inside the course manual. These leaflets contain instructions (like step-by-step procedures as to how to manage your driving lesson bookings through the internet and the self-service kiosk) and many other information. 

You can create your PDL (right after you register at the counter), which costs $50 SGD. You have to have a valid PDL and key in the expiry date of your PDL into your student account and book your induction date before you can start booking for your driving lessons. There are different dates where the driving lesson slots are open for students learning manual/auto. You guys have to take note of the date and time and ensure that you've sufficient money inside your account before the slots are open! 

Information for CDC (Ubi & Kovan): click here 

Part 2 of CDC Driving, will be coming up soon! 

Abbreviations: 

CDC: ComfortDelGro Driving Centre

PDL: Provisional Driving Licence (valid for 6 months, following which, you will have to renew your PDL - either at CDC Level 2 - for Ubi (go one level up the stairs outside the area for the admin service centre for private learners, and walk straight all the way (till the end; is where the traffic police department is located at). The traffic police department is where you make your PDL.