On: Volvo’s first self-driving cars now being tested live on public roads in Sweden

[jareds]

Do you need a car in Singapore? I thought they had decent public transit?

[koenigdavidmj → jareds]

They do, and generally it's a difficult place to have a car:

* Severe congestion pricing

* Expensive due to severe taxes (generally over 100k USD)

* Licensing for a car is time-limited. I think this is about 10 years or so.

The last point in particular makes it feasible to cycle out the entire country's cars in a relatively short time.

EDIT: Add more newlines between bullets

[mandeepj → koenigdavidmj]

>* Licensing for a car is time-limited. I think this is about 10 years or so.

In US it is 4 years. I was surprised to see that low time frame as in India it is at least 20 years. And, in US, you are also required to renew your registration plates every year

[koenigdavidmj → mandeepj]

What I mean is "you're not allowed to register a car again after that point". Most people sell it across the Strait in Malaysia. This distinguishes them from the US and India, where you can drive a car until it doesn't work anymore.

Also, your US numbers of course vary by state.

[_0nac → koenigdavidmj]

No, Singapore does allow you to register the car again -- problem is, this requires paying for a new "Certificate of Entitlement", which are sold at auction for >US$70k each. So most people switch to a new car instead.

[AaronIG → koenigdavidmj]

> Also, your US numbers of course vary by state.

For example, Arizona driver's licenses don't expire until the person's 65th birthday (and every five years thereafter).

[mandeepj → koenigdavidmj]

Thanks for clarifying. Registering and licensing are not same.