5 Smart Strategies to Save Money on Your COE

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

COE prices can swing by thousands of dollars between bidding exercises. Bidding at the wrong time or in the wrong category could cost you $10,000 or more. Here are five strategies to help you make a smarter decision.

1. Track Price Trends Before Bidding

Don’t bid based on a single exercise’s price. Look at the trend over the past 3–6 months to understand whether prices are rising, falling, or stable.

What to look for:

• A downward trend may indicate more supply or less demand
• A sudden spike might correct in the next exercise
• Stable prices suggest a balanced market

The COE Price Tracker app shows interactive trend charts filtered by category and date range, making it easy to spot patterns.

2. Compare Categories

If you’re flexible on your vehicle choice, comparing COE categories can reveal significant savings:

• Cat A vs Cat B: If you’re on the border (around 1,600cc), a slightly smaller engine could save you tens of thousands
• Cat E (Open): Sometimes Cat E trades lower than Cat B if demand shifts — worth monitoring
• Cat D (Motorcycles): If two-wheelers suit your needs, COE prices are typically much lower

Use the category comparison feature to overlay price trends side by side.

3. Use the Bid Calculator

Before committing, run the numbers through a bid calculator:

• Monthly payment: What will your loan payment be at current COE prices?
• Total interest: How much extra are you paying over the loan tenure?
• Budget check: Can you afford the COE + car at your current budget?

The bid calculator in COE Price Tracker supports 5, 7, and 10-year loan tenures with adjustable interest rates (1–6%).

4. Set Price Alerts

If you have a target price in mind, don’t check manually every exercise. Set a price alert and the app will notify you when COE drops below your threshold.

This is especially useful if you’re patient and willing to wait for the right price. You can set alerts for specific categories and adjust your target as market conditions change.

5. Check the Statistics Dashboard

The statistics dashboard gives you deeper insights:

• Average and median prices: Understand what “normal” looks like for your category
• Min/max range: Know the best and worst cases over your selected time period
• Volatility indicator: High volatility means prices are swinging — it might be worth waiting for a dip
• Spread analysis: See how far current prices are from historical averages

Timing Your Purchase

There’s no guaranteed “best time” to bid for COE, but informed decisions are better decisions. By combining trend analysis, category comparison, and budget calculations, you can approach your COE bid with confidence.

Download COE Price Tracker to access all these tools — live prices, trend charts, bid calculator, price alerts, and statistics — all in one free app.