By The Big Buy desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
A Certificate of Entitlement (COE) is the right to register and use a vehicle in Singapore for 10 years. LTA sets a limited quota and sells it through open bidding twice a month, so the price, called the quota premium, rises and falls with demand. At the second September exercise, which closed on Wednesday 23 September 2026, the premiums were $131,890 for Category A (smaller cars), $133,000 for Category B (larger cars), $92,144 for Category C (goods vehicles and buses), $12,201 for Category D (motorcycles) and $137,000 for Category E (open). Every category dipped slightly from the previous round.
The COE is the single biggest number on a Singapore car’s price tag. Understand how it is set and the headlines suddenly make sense.
Quick facts
- What it is: a 10-year right to own a vehicle, bought before the vehicle is registered.
- How often: two bidding exercises a month, each closing on a Wednesday afternoon.
- Who pays what: all successful bidders in a category pay the same price, the lowest successful bid.
- Quota: set by LTA for each three-month period, largely from the number of vehicles deregistered.
- Most buyers bid through their car dealer, which builds the COE into the package price.
- After 10 years: renew for 5 or 10 years by paying the Prevailing Quota Premium, or deregister.
The five categories, and the latest prices
| Category | Covers | 9 Sep 2026 | 23 Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Cars up to 1,600cc and 97kW (for fully electric cars, up to 110kW) | $133,009 | $131,890 |
| B | Cars above 1,600cc or 97kW (electric cars above 110kW) | $135,001 | $133,000 |
| C | Goods vehicles and buses | $93,101 | $92,144 |
| D | Motorcycles | $12,556 | $12,201 |
| E | Open: any vehicle except motorcycles | $137,890 | $137,000 |
In the 23 September exercise, Category A had a quota of 1,193 COEs and drew 1,507 bids; Category B had 927 COEs and 1,135 bids. The first October exercise follows in early October; check LTA’s OneMotoring site for the newest figures.
How the bidding works
- Bidding opens at the start of the exercise week and closes on Wednesday afternoon.
- You (or your dealer) place a bid with a deposit, stating the most you will pay. Bids can be revised upward while bidding is open.
- At the close, bids are ranked from highest to lowest until the quota is filled.
- Everyone who wins pays the lowest successful bid, not their own bid. That is the quota premium you see in the news.
- Unsuccessful bidders get their deposit back and can try again in the next round.
Category E is the safety valve: it can be used for any vehicle except a motorcycle, so its price tends to sit at or just above the highest of A, B and C.
Why COE prices move
- Supply: the quota is largely recycled from vehicles taken off the road. When fewer old cars are deregistered, fewer COEs come up.
- Demand: new model launches, electric-car incentives, economic mood and household confidence all shift the number of bidders.
- Dealer behaviour: dealers bid on behalf of customers with guaranteed packages, which can push prices up in busy periods.
- Policy: changes to vehicle growth rates, taxes or the category definitions alter who competes where.
Ten years after you buy, you can renew the COE by paying the Prevailing Quota Premium, a moving average of recent premiums, or deregister and collect any PARF and COE rebates.
The WahLiao Verdict
Do not try to time the COE market to the week; small dips like September’s rarely change the decision. Decide whether you need a car, set a total budget, and if you buy, choose a dealer package that guarantees the COE within a set number of bidding rounds so the risk sits with them, not you. If you only need wheels occasionally, run the numbers on car-sharing first.
Questions people ask
Can I bid for a COE myself?
Yes, individuals can bid, but most new-car buyers let the dealer bid as part of the package.
Why does Category E cost more?
Because it can be used for cars, goods vehicles or buses, bidders from several groups compete for it.
Can I transfer my COE to another car?
A COE won in the bidding is used to register a vehicle. Once that vehicle is registered, the COE stays with it until it expires or the vehicle is deregistered.
What is road tax, then?
A separate, recurring charge based on engine capacity or power. See our guide to how road tax is calculated.
Sources: LTA, COE open bidding and results; Motorist, bidding exercise results for August and September 2026. Premiums change every exercise; LTA’s published results govern. The Big Buy explains; it does not advise.
Read next: PARF and COE Rebates: What You Get Back When You Deregister a Car · Road Tax in Singapore · Back to The Big Buy
For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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