What Is COE in Singapore? A Complete Guide for Car Buyers
What Is a COE?
A Certificate of Entitlement (COE) is a licence that grants you the right to register, own, and use a vehicle in Singapore for 10 years. Singapore uses the COE system to manage the total number of vehicles on the road, keeping traffic congestion and pollution in check.
Every vehicle registered in Singapore needs a COE. When you buy a new car, the COE price is added on top of the vehicle’s Open Market Value (OMV), making it one of the largest costs of car ownership in Singapore.
The 5 COE Categories
COEs are divided into five categories based on vehicle type:
| Category | Vehicle Type |
|---|---|
| Cat A | Cars up to 1,600cc and 97kW |
| Cat B | Cars above 1,600cc or 97kW |
| Cat C | Goods vehicles and buses |
| Cat D | Motorcycles |
| Cat E | Open category (any vehicle type) |
Category E is unique — it can be used for any vehicle type, which means it often trades at a premium since it competes across all categories.
How COE Bidding Works
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) conducts two bidding exercises per month, typically on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday. Each exercise runs for 3 days and closes at 4:00 PM SGT on Wednesday.
The bidding uses a uniform price auction system:
- Bidders submit their maximum bid amount
- At the close of bidding, all successful bidders pay the same price — the lowest successful bid (also called the Quota Premium or QP)
- If there are more bids than available COEs, the lowest bids are unsuccessful
What Determines COE Prices?
COE prices are driven by supply and demand:
- Supply: The number of COEs available is determined by the Vehicle Quota System (VQS), which factors in vehicle deregistrations and a target vehicle growth rate
- Demand: The number of people wanting to buy vehicles in each category
When demand is high and supply is limited, COE prices can spike significantly. Prices have ranged from under $30,000 to over $150,000 in recent years.
COE Price Trends
Understanding COE price trends is crucial for timing your purchase. Prices can vary significantly between bidding exercises, and seasonal patterns sometimes emerge.
The COE Price Tracker app lets you:
- View live prices for all 5 categories
- Track price trends over months and years
- Compare categories side by side
- Set price alerts for your target price
Tips for COE Bidders
- Monitor trends: Watch price movements over several exercises before bidding
- Set a budget: Use a bid calculator to understand your total cost including loan interest
- Consider timing: Prices can fluctuate — patience may save you thousands
- Compare categories: If you’re flexible on vehicle specs, comparing Cat A vs Cat B prices could reveal savings
- Set alerts: Use price alerts to get notified when prices drop to your target range
Track COE Prices with Our App
Download COE Price Tracker to stay on top of COE prices with live updates, trend charts, a built-in bid calculator, and price alerts. Available free on iOS and Android.
Track COE Prices
Download our free app for live COE prices, trend charts, and bid calculator.