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COE Bidding

Singapore Certificate of Entitlement (COE) Car Bidding Guide 2026

Complete guide to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system in Singapore. Explains Cat A, Cat B, & Cat E bidding, 10-year COE lifespan, ARF taxes, & LTA quota rules.

Statutory Overview & Driving Framework

The Certificate of Entitlement (COE) is a quota system administered by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to regulate Singapore's vehicle population under the Road Traffic Act. Anyone wishing to register and drive a motor vehicle in Singapore must first bid for and secure a COE in the appropriate category. COEs are valid for 10 years, after which the vehicle must be deregistered and scrapped, exported, or renewed for an additional 5 or 10 years by paying the Prevailing Quota Premium (PQP). COE bidding occurs twice monthly via LTA OneMotoring portal. Total car ownership cost in Singapore includes the vehicle OMV, COE price, Additional Registration Fee (ARF), and 9% GST. Use this guide to navigate COE car bidding in Singapore.

Singapore Traffic Police Enforcement Notice

Singapore strictly enforces left-hand driving rules, digital speed cameras, ERP 2.0 satellite toll gantries, and zero-tolerance drink driving limits (35mcg/100ml breath limit under RTA Sec 67).

Key Road Regulations & Legal Mandates

COE Categories (Cat A, Cat B, Cat C, Cat D, Cat E)COE Categories

Cat A (Cars ≤1600cc & ≤130bhp / EV ≤110kW), Cat B (Cars >1600cc or >130bhp / EV >110kW), Cat C (Goods/Buses), Cat D (Motorcycles), Cat E (Open).

Twice-Monthly Open Bidding SystemCOE Bidding

Bidding held 1st and 3rd Monday of each month; reserve price deposit of S$10,000 required.

10-Year Expiry & Prevailing Quota Premium (PQP)10-Yr Expiry

After 10 years, renew COE for 5 or 10 years at 3-month moving average PQP or scrap vehicle.

Additional Registration Fee (ARF) & OMV Tax StructureARF Tax Tier

Tiered ARF tax ranges from 100% to 320% of Open Market Value (OMV) of the imported motorcar.

Qualification & Compliance Requirements

Applies to individuals (Singaporeans, PRs, EP holders) and corporations registering cars in Singapore.

Must have valid Singpass or corporate entity account to bid on LTA OneMotoring portal.

Bidding deposit of S$10,000 per bid is deducted via ATM or internet banking.

Successful COE must be registered to a vehicle within 3 months (Cat A/B) or 6 months (Cat E).

Statutory Document & Driving Checklist

Road Traffic (Vehicle Registration and Licensing) Rules

LTA OneMotoring Account & Singpass Access

Bank Account Balance for S$10,000 COE Bidding Deposit

LTA Temporary COE (TCOE) Approval Notice

PARF / LTA Deregistration Certificate for COE Rebate

Step-by-Step Driving & Licensing Process

Select Vehicle & Determine COE Category

Identify car engine capacity (cc) and power output (bhp) to choose Cat A or Cat B.

Submit Bid on LTA OneMotoring During Bidding Exercise

Log into OneMotoring portal during bidding window and submit bid with S$10,000 deposit.

Monitor Bidding Reserve Price & Top Up Bid

Track real-time COE quota premium and increase bid amount if current price exceeds your bid.

Secure TCOE & Pay Final Quota Premium

If successful, LTA issues Temporary COE (TCOE) valid for 3 to 6 months.

Register Vehicle & Pay ARF Tax / 9% GST

Dealer registers car with LTA, installs In-Vehicle Unit (IU/OBU), and issues license plates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A COE (Certificate of Entitlement) is a legal permit required to register and drive a motor vehicle on Singapore roads for a period of 10 years.

Cat A is for smaller passenger cars with engine capacity up to 1,600cc and maximum power output up to 130bhp (or electric cars up to 110kW). Cat B is for larger, more powerful cars above these limits.

COE bidding exercises take place twice every month, starting on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 12:00 PM and closing on the following Wednesday at 4:00 PM.

When a 10-year COE expires, you must either deregister and scrap/export the vehicle (receiving a PARF rebate) or renew the COE for 5 or 10 years by paying the Prevailing Quota Premium (PQP).

PQP (Prevailing Quota Premium) is the moving average price of COE premiums over the preceding 3 months, paid to renew an existing vehicle's COE.

Yes. Foreigners holding an Employment Pass (EP) or PR can bid for a COE and purchase/own a car in Singapore.

Statutory Benchmark Metrics

Quota Admin Body

LTA (OneMotoring)

COE Lifespan

10 Years (Renewable PQP)

Bidding Frequency

Twice Monthly Bidding

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⭐ LTA & TP VERIFIED🔒 Official Portal

Singapore Traffic & Driving Security

Verify official foreign driving license conversion rules, BTT exam booking, DIPS demerit point status, and OneMotoring COE bidding on official Singapore portals.

Access LTA OneMotoring Portal

✔ Official LTA & Traffic Police Service