Collect the following:

1. A Touch ‘n’ Go card – available from garages. Load it with RM100 -500. This is needed when you re-enter Malaysia. You swipe it at Immigration. It is also used for toll roads generally.

2. Your passports.

3. Your car insurance. Ensure you have insurance to drive in Singapore. Many leasing firms will not include it.

4. Up-to-date tax disc.

5. If at all possible prior to leaving JB, get hold of and fill in the white forms the Singapore immigration will need to allow you entry; one per traveller. We were given a handful of extra forms by the immigration officer, to save us (and him) time when we next visit. Don’t forget to put something in the box which asks where you are heading in Singapore, even if it is just “Orchard Road”.

For your first visit across, you show your passport exiting Malaysia. At the Singapore immigration, (aka Woodlands), fill/hand in the white form. The Customs guy will ask you to lower your car windows so he can see everyone. Driving along a little further, you will have to stop your car, get out and open the boot for inspection by Customs officers. Proceed to the Autopass Office, which is accessed by staying in the Red (Goods to Declare) lane on the right and parking in front of the office. A lady will verify your tax disc. You need to take all your paperwork around the side of the office and join a queue, where you can buy an Autopass card and put a few Singaporean dollars on. They will warn you to top it up at the nearest 7-ll store. Allow a good half-hour. The next time you enter Singapore, you will use the Autopass at Singapore Immigration: a machine on the side of the booth will prompt you. You will not need to visit the Autopass Office.

Weekends and public holidays, the Autopass is not debited, but I am not sure if you would still need to enter swipe it.

Exiting Singapore is more straightforward: Malaysian Customs officers leave their booth to ascertain who is in every car. You swipe your Touch’n’Go, and then drive on as normal. Beware crossing into Singapore on Monday mornings and leaving Singapore Sunday evenings: the traffic is horrendous over the causeway.

Good luck!