A Certificate of Entitlement gives its holder the right to register and use a vehicle in Singapore for ten years. It is not the car itself, and it is only one part of the purchase price.
The five COE categories
| Category | Vehicles covered |
|---|---|
| A | Non-fully electric cars up to 1,600cc and 97kW; fully electric cars up to 110kW. |
| B | Non-fully electric cars above 1,600cc or 97kW; fully electric cars above 110kW. |
| C | Goods vehicles and buses. |
| D | Motorcycles. |
| E | Open category, usable for any vehicle except a motorcycle. |
Those Category A and B definitions apply to COEs obtained from the first May 2022 bidding exercise onward. A Category E vehicle is renewed later under its corresponding Category A to D rather than under Category E.
Where the supply comes from
Singapore’s Vehicle Quota System limits new registrations. LTA updates the quota every three months using factors such as vehicle deregistrations, the permitted growth in the vehicle population and adjustments for expired COEs, taxis and commercial-vehicle replacement schemes.
There are normally two bidding exercises each month. They usually begin at noon on the first and third Monday and close at 4pm on Wednesday, but public holidays can change the timetable. Check LTA’s published schedule and category quota for the actual exercise.
How open bidding sets the price
A bidder enters a reserve price: the maximum they are prepared to pay. The system raises active bids in S$1 increments. The Current COE Price is generally the highest unsuccessful bid plus S$1, and a bid remains in the running while its reserve price is at least that high.
At closing, the final Current COE Price becomes the Quota Premium for the category. Every successful bidder in that category pays that premium, not their individual maximum.
If three COEs are available and four reserve prices are S$120,000, S$112,000, S$105,000 and S$90,000, the first three bids win. The illustrative clearing price is S$90,001 — one dollar above the highest unsuccessful bid — so all three winners pay S$90,001.
The reserve price is a ceiling, not a prediction. It should be the most the bidder is genuinely willing and able to pay.
Who can bid and what is deposited
An individual must be at least 18 and may submit one bid in their own name in an exercise. Identity matters because a successful Temporary COE is issued against the bidder’s ID and the vehicle normally must be registered under it.
At the review date, the bid deposit is S$10,000 for Categories A, B, C and E, and S$1,500 for Category D. Bank administration fees are separate. Once the system accepts a bid, it cannot be withdrawn; its reserve price can be raised before closing but not lowered.
What happens after bidding closes
A successful bidder receives a Temporary COE. Current validity periods are six months for Categories A and B, three months for C and E, and one month for D. At registration, the bidder pays the difference between the premium and the deposit. If the deposit exceeds the premium, the balance is applied to registration charges.
An unsuccessful bidder normally receives the deposit back, less applicable administration fees, through the originating bank account after the results.
Transfer rules are narrow: Temporary COEs in A, B and D cannot be transferred. Those in C and E obtained by an individual may be transferred once, while those obtained by a company or organisation cannot be transferred.
Common questions
Do I pay the reserve price?
No. A successful bidder pays the category’s final Quota Premium. The reserve price is only a maximum.
Can I cancel an accepted bid?
No. Once accepted, it cannot be withdrawn.
Can a dealer bid for me?
Motor dealers can use corporate bidding channels. Confirm whose ID is used and whether the advertised price promises a guaranteed COE, a non-guaranteed COE or a separate arrangement.
Does the latest premium predict the next one?
No. Each exercise has its own quota and bids. Historical results give context, not a reliable next price.
Related guides
Primary sources
- LTA OneMotoring — Certificate of Entitlement
- LTA OneMotoring — COE open bidding
- data.gov.sg — COE bidding results and prices
Last fact-checked: 3 September 2026. Rules, fees and official pages can change; check the linked source before acting.