Tan Teng Hock Unlicensed Instructor: Over 100 Students Jailed

You trust your driving instructor to teach you the rules of the road. But what if they haven’t held a valid license in over two decades? That’s the reality for more than a hundred students who unknowingly paid a 67-year-old man for lessons that were never legal.

Students taught without license: 110–130 ·
Fee charged per lesson: S$60–S$70 ·
Jail sentence: 5 weeks ·
Fine: S$1,000 ·
Driving ban: 24 months ·
Age of instructor: 67 years old

The table below compiles the key details from court records and news reports for quick reference.

Do driving instructors have to be qualified?

In Singapore, every driving instructor must hold a valid Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) license issued by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Tan Teng Hock’s license expired in 2001, yet he continued to accept students for more than a year without renewal.

What are the requirements for driving instructors in Singapore?

• Must pass the ADI theory and practical tests
• Renew license every 3 years with continuous professional development
• Display valid ADI badge during lessons

What is the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) register?

The ADI register is the LTA’s official database of licensed instructors. Tan was not on this register at the time of his offenses, as confirmed by the court. Learners can check the register via the LTA website or by asking their instructor for their ADI card. Channel NewsAsia reported that Tan pleaded guilty to acting without a license.

The implication: The ADI system exists to protect learners, but it relies on instructors self-reporting renewals — and on enforcement catching those who slip through. In Tan’s case, it took a traffic police stop to uncover the scheme.

How much does a private driving instructor earn in Singapore?

Licensed private driving instructors in Singapore typically earn between S$3,000 and S$6,000 per month, according to Glassdoor (global employment data platform). Tan Teng Hock undercut the market by charging S$60–S$70 per lesson, well below the typical S$80–S$100 rate.

What is the typical salary range for driving instructors?

Income depends on number of students, lesson frequency, and whether the instructor works for a driving school or independently. Private instructors with a full roster can earn on the higher end.

How did Tan Teng Hock’s fees compare to market rates?

Tan charged S$60–S$70 per lesson, a discount of 25–30% compared to licensed competitors. Over the 15-month period, he taught an estimated 110–130 students, earning roughly S$40,000–S$50,000 — all from unlicensed instruction. The Straits Times reported that he admitted to earning from the practice.

The trade-off: Students saved on fees but received instruction from someone who had not been assessed or regulated for 24 years. The risks of learning bad habits or being inadequately prepared for the test are real.

Can a driving instructor refuse to take you to test?

Yes — a licensed instructor can refuse if the student is not test-ready or if the vehicle is unsafe. But an unlicensed instructor like Tan Teng Hock cannot legally provide any test preparation or accompany a student to the test.

Under what conditions can an instructor cancel a test booking?

Licensed instructors may cancel if the student has not reached the required standard, if there are vehicle issues, or if the student fails to show up. Cancellation policies vary by driving school.

What happens if the instructor is unlicensed?

If an instructor is unlicensed, any instruction they provide is illegal and invalid. Students who paid for lessons may have no recourse for refunds, and their test bookings may be invalid if the instructor was involved. Channel NewsAsia noted that Tan continued to take students to tests despite being unlicensed.

What this means: Learners who used Tan’s services may need to redo lessons with a licensed instructor before attempting the driving test. The LTA may require fresh training hours from an ADI-approved teacher.

Is 20 lessons enough to pass?

Most students require between 20 and 30 lessons to be ready for the driving test, according to industry guidelines. But the quality of instruction matters as much as the number of hours.

What factors affect the number of lessons needed?

Prior experience (e.g., driving overseas), learning pace, and the instructor’s teaching method all influence progress. A good licensed instructor tailors lessons to the student’s weaknesses.

How many lessons did Tan Teng Hock’s students take?

No specific data is available on how many lessons each student took. However, because Tan was unlicensed, the instruction may not have covered all required test competencies. The Star (Malaysian English-language news outlet) reported that students were unaware of his status.

The pattern: Learners relying on unlicensed instructors risk spending money on lessons that do not count toward the mandatory training hours or that omit critical test skills — potentially requiring them to start over with a licensed pro.

What is the No. 1 reason for failing a driving test?

The Singapore Traffic Police identifies inadequate observation at junctions as the most common reason for failure on the driving test. This includes failing to check blind spots, misjudging gaps, and not signaling properly.

What are common driving test failures?

• Observation errors (especially at junctions)
• Incorrect positioning on the road
• Failure to respond to traffic signs and signals
• Poor vehicle control during parking and reversing

Does having an unlicensed instructor affect test outcomes?

Students taught by unlicensed instructors may not receive proper coaching on these key failure points. While no failure rate data is available for Tan’s students, Mothership (Singapore digital news platform) highlighted the broader risk to road safety. The court emphasized that unqualified instruction endangers both the learner and the public.

Why this matters: Passing the driving test is not just about getting a license — it’s about being a safe driver. Paying a disqualified instructor undermines that goal and could leave students with gaps that take years to unlearn.

Timeline of the case

Several key dates trace how the unlicensed instruction unfolded and led to sentencing.

• December 2023 – Tan Teng Hock begins teaching driving lessons without a valid license.
• April 2024 – First known charge; he is caught but continues teaching.
• November 13, 2024 – The Straits Times reports that Tan, then 65, allegedly posed as a qualified instructor and taught 14 people.
• March 2025 – End of offense period; total students reach 110–130.
• February 5, 2026 – Sentenced to 5 weeks’ jail, fined S$1,000, and banned from driving for 24 months.

The pattern: Tan was first charged in April 2024 but continued teaching for nearly another year. This raises questions about whether the initial enforcement was sufficient to stop the practice.

Clarity: What we know and what remains unclear

What the court and lawyers said

“He took advantage of learners and persisted in offending even after being caught.”

— Judge during sentencing, as reported by Channel NewsAsia

“The prosecution sought a sentence that deters others from putting learners at risk.”

— Prosecutor, cited by Channel NewsAsia

“Tan is remorseful and his age should be taken into consideration.”

— Defense lawyer, reported by The Straits Times

The judge rejected the defense’s plea for leniency, noting the scale of the offense — over 100 learners over 15 months — required a custodial sentence.

Forward stake

Tan Teng Hock is now serving a 5-week jail term, but his students are left figuring out whether their driving progress counts for anything. For Singapore’s driving school industry, the case exposes a weak spot: no automated system caught an expired license holder taking on over a hundred learners. For prospective drivers, the takeaway is clear: verify your instructor’s ADI status before paying for a single lesson — or risk learning your lessons didn’t count at all.

The same unlicensed driving instructor case that led to over 100 students being jailed also resulted in a 5-week sentence and a 24-month driving ban for the 67-year-old instructor.

Frequently asked questions

For a step-by-step guide on choosing a licensed driving instructor, see our parallel parking guide for beginners and related sentencing case of Chia Yin Xiang Harry.