Singapore
The biggest question regarding petrol in Singapore is what free offers are available this month. Price per litre currently @ 2.10-2.20 SGD / litre [May 2008]. There are plenty of service stations with all major companies represented. Leaded and unleaded fuels available as well as High octane (97).
¾ tank rule
The price of petrol in Singapore is approximately double that in Malaysia, consequently it was not long before the authorities in an effort to prevent the entire population going to JB every Saturday for petrol imposed a ¾ tank rule for all Singaporean registered vehicles leaving the republic. Inspections are random and usually consist of a check of the dashboard gauge. Violation can result in a 500 SGD fine. It is also illegal to carry Jerry cans or other containers for fuel. This inspection occurs just after customs. This restriction does not apply to foreign registered vehicles,
Malaysia
The expressway in Malaysia is dotted with petrol stations, rest points as well as foodstalls restaurants. PLUS, the expressway operator has planned 18 petrol stations spread over 50 km stretches. If you still run out of petrol, you may have to turn off into small roads and ask for directions. Off the expressway, signs are not good in pointing to the nearest petrol station from the exit. Ask the toll officer as you exit where the nearest station is. Back on the expressway, all the major Petrol distributors are present as is the National brand Petronas. There is little price difference if any between them. Price is about 1.92 MYR per litre [May 2008]. Watch out - station attendants may be over enthusiastic with their Under Bonnet Check and may prescribe unnecessary top ups of oil etc.
Petrol transactions - Prepayment at peak periods
On public holidays or at the end of a long weekend the lines for NETS and credit card services are quite often choked or simply down. Petrol station operators, especially those near the borders will on these occasions only take cash and often only in deposit form - ie, you must prepurchase your petrol, then fill your car, then go back to retrieve any excess payment you made. I don't know what the solution is but I am always in awe at the remarkable calm in which holidaying Singaporeans conduct themselves in such instances. Expect filling the car on the way home at the end of a long weekend to cost you upto an hour.
Chip? No Chip? - incompatibility of older style credit cards
Malaysia has recently switched its credit cards over to the embedded chip system and as such the conventional magnetic strip type is being phased out.
What this means of course is that some smaller shops may have difficulty accepting foreign based credit cards which are not affiliated with the particular bank that provides their point of sale transaction terminal. You can hedge this problem by choosing larger retailers only and by taking more than one card with you. For travellers the biggest issue is petrol pump terminals - the terminal at the pump will only accept embedded chip cards so go straight to the inside counter to pay first. Not all petrol stations on the NSE will be able to take the old magnetic strip. Happily the two stations just before the Second link Customs Complex toll gate [Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar] still take the magnetic strip type cards.
Recent developments: 25th May, 2008
From Friday the 30th May Malaysia is expected to ban people in foreign-registered vehicles from buying petrol or diesel in border areas of Malaysia.
it will be an offence to provide or receive fuel for a foreign vehicle within 50kms of the borders of Thailand and Singapore.
The purpose of the ban is to prevent leakage of the fuel subsidy that Malaysia provides to its citizens.
Awkward but thems the breaks so top up before you cross non-malaysian folks and remember to top up before you hit the 50km marker on the way back!.
Thailand
Petrol in Thailand is freely available, cheap and of good quality. Price is around 40 THB (baht) per litre [May 2008]. Payment can be made either by credit card or cash depending on the sophistication of your choice of station. Those closer to built up areas and on main roads are more likely to handle credit cards but for the sake of argument I always pay cash . Both Super and Unleaded are available. Unleaded is rated at 91 Octane which while a little low, is acceptable for most modern cars. The Thai word for unleaded is "Lai-Sun" and for Super? ....its Super!
Laos
Outside of the major towns fuel is not easy to come by. We only did day trips out of Vientiane which has more than adequate supply and will even take Thai Baht in payment. Forget about using credit cards though (hotels only) and there are no ATMS in Laos.
Learn the Lao for Unleaded (its the English word Super!). Leaded petrol is the norm and it is likely that the station attendant will not know to make the distinction for you. A tank of leaded is not going to destroy your car but try and avoid it. Unleaded petrol is only available in the large towns. The large foreign worker population in Vientiane ensures a good demand and therefore supply, but small towns do not carry it. The local advice is to fill up at every opportunity. Make sure your tank can handle distances of 400kms without a refill or get a container.
The following are uptodate links on the price of fuel in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Sorry - cant find one for Laos!
