Owning a car in Singapore is expensive. Surcharges levied on buyers to discourage peak-hour congestion cost more than the car itself . They include a 45% import duty and a 150% " additional registration fee." Annual road tax is also steep : $390 for a 1000-cc car. Add on a $565 registration fee and a few thousand for a certificate under the republic's quota scheme--and by the time a buyer gets behind the wheel of a $10000 vehicle , he will have paid much more than $30000.
As of this month , however , Singaporeans have a cheaper alternative : the weekend car. " We prefer to refer to it as the off-peak car," says Gerard Ee of the Automobile Association of Singapore ." It's not just a weekend car. You can use it on weekdays from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. " The quid pro quo for restricted use is a rebate of up to $8500 on the purchase surcharges and a 70% reduction on road tax. And vehicles already in use can be converted to weekend cars, in which case the road tax is cut 95% The off-peak vehicle can be used on public holidays as well .
The scheme is expected to appeal to leisure drivers who can't afford a peak-hour vehicle and to the well-heeled who want a second , perhaps more expensive , car for recreation. The weekend car could be useful in an emergency as well. Each year it may be driven during peak hours on five days of the owner's choosing. Permits for additional days can be bought for $11.30 a day. The penalty for venturing out in peak hours without a permit: half the full annual road tax for first - time offenders . Weekend cars are distinguished by their red and white number plates. Tampering with the sealed plate invites a fine of twice the annual road tax.