Ex-driving instructor, 67, taught students in S'pore without valid licence, gets 5 weeks' jail & S$1,000 fine

A 67-year-old former driving instructor in Singapore was sentenced to five weeks' jail and fined S$1,000 on Feb. 5 after he continued to teach students without having a valid instructor licence.

According to The Straits Times, Tan Teng Hock taught over 100 students between December 2023 and March 2025 despite being caught and charged.

He did not renew his expired licence and had continued teaching to earn extra income.

Friend referred students to him

The Deputy Public Prosecutor said Tan had not renewed his driving instructor's licence, which had expired in March 2001.

However, he continued teaching with the help of his friend and licensed instructor, Fong Chong Fat, 71.

Between December 2023 and April 2024, Fong had referred some of his students to Tan.

The students did not know that he was unlicensed, and were charged up to S$65 per hour.

Tan had allowed them to drive a vehicle registered in his brother's name.

Caught after vehicle did not display "L" plate

Tan was caught in April 2024 after a traffic police officer stopped the vehicle during a lesson for a routine check.

An "L" plate was not attached to the car and it was not fitted with a brake control on the front passenger seat.

Tan was arrested in November 2024, but continued teaching between December 2024 and March 2025 and was charging S$70 per hour.

His second arrest occurred in September 2025.

Pleaded guilty

Tan pleaded guilty to two counts of acting as a driving instructor without a licence, and one charge of permitting a student to use a vehicle without valid insurance.

He was given five weeks' jail and fined S$1,000.

Tan's history of traffic offences, included running a red light, speeding and careless driving.

Additionally, he has been banned from driving for one year, and also disqualified from driving for two years after his prison release.

The DPP said it was "aggravating" that Tan had repeated his offences after being charged.

She noted that his acts put students at risk, and "specific deterrence" should be carried out "in view of his recalcitrance and continuing disregard for the law".

The defence lawyer argued that Tan's fees were much lower than driving schools that charged students S$100 or more, and he was helping to teach those who could not book a lesson at the driving schools.

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