A small car's COE now costs more than a big car's, and at a price Singapore has never seen. Category A closed at S$139,001 on 4 November 2026, a jump of S$6,997 in a single round. That beats the old record of S$133,009 from 9 September. Category B barely moved, so the certificate for mass-market cars is now S$6,667 dearer than the one for larger, more powerful cars. If you are shopping for a car or weighing a COE renewal, this is the number to know, though it may not hold: the next result lands on 18 November.
> Quick view: Cat A S$139,001 (record) · Cat B S$132,334 · Cat C S$92,000 · Cat D S$10,689 · Cat E S$135,998 · next bidding 16 Nov noon to 18 Nov 4pm · LTA's COE review is still undecided
All five results
| Category | Covers | 4 Nov result | Previous (21 Oct) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Cars up to 1,600cc and 130bhp, EVs up to 147bhp | S$139,001 | S$132,004 | +S$6,997 (5.3%) |
| B | Larger or more powerful cars and EVs | S$132,334 | S$131,901 | +S$433 (0.3%) |
| C | Goods vehicles and buses | S$92,000 | S$92,200 | -S$200 (0.2%) |
| D | Motorcycles | S$10,689 | S$10,778 | -S$89 (0.8%) |
| E | Open, any vehicle except motorcycles | S$135,998 | S$135,790 | +S$208 (0.2%) |
The Straits Times reports that this is the first time Category A has closed above Category E. Cat E can be used to register a car in either A or B.
Where the pressure came from
LTA publishes the numbers and gives no reason for them, so treat any single explanation with caution. The bid counts do show how lopsided this round was.
| Category | Quota | Bids received | Unsuccessful | Bids per certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1,189 | 2,018 | 829 | about 1.7 |
| B | 959 | 1,163 | 204 | about 1.2 |
| C | 315 | 451 | 141 | about 1.4 |
| D | 509 | 584 | 84 | about 1.1 |
| E | 287 | 506 | 224 | about 1.8 |
What it means if you are buying a car
- Ask how your quote treats the COE. Before you sign, ask the dealer whether the price is tied to a specific bidding result, how many tries are included, and what happens if the premium moves. Get the answer in writing.
- Do not assume a smaller car is the cheaper COE. Your car's engine and power decide the category, not you, and the comparison has flipped this round. Compare the full on-the-road price rather than the badge size.
- One result is not a trend. Category A was S$130,001 on 7 October, S$132,004 on 21 October and S$139,001 now. The next exercise closes in two weeks.
- Motorcycle and goods-vehicle buyers got a small break. Cat C and Cat D both slipped this round.
What it means if your COE is expiring
Renewal does not go through bidding. You pay the Prevailing Quota Premium (PQP), which LTA describes as the moving average of COE prices in the last three months, so a one-off spike is averaged in. A 10-year renewal costs the full PQP. A 5-year renewal costs half, but it can only be done once for a car and the vehicle must be deregistered when those five years end.
For reference, the September 2026 PQP was S$126,208 for Category A and S$128,697 for Category B. Today's result should lift the Category A figure as it enters the average, so check the current number on LTA's OneMotoring site rather than relying on an old one.
The review is not a reason to count on lower prices yet
LTA's public consultation on merging Categories A and B, with a rebate or surcharge based on car value, closed on 2 November. Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow told Parliament on 3 November that most respondents backed the idea, but no outcome has been decided, and the findings are due in the first half of 2027. We explained the proposal here. Nothing in it changes today's prices or tells you what a future certificate will cost.
Next dates
- November 2026, 2nd exercise: Monday 16 November at noon to Wednesday 18 November at 4pm
- December 2026, 1st exercise: Monday 7 December at noon to Wednesday 9 December at 4pm
- December 2026, 2nd exercise: Monday 21 December at noon to Wednesday 23 December at 4pm
The fine print
Results and bid counts are from LTA's OneMotoring COE Open Bidding page and dates from LTA's 2026 bidding schedule. The previous-round figures and the record comparison are from The Straits Times. This is general information, not financial advice. Confirm current figures with LTA before you buy or renew.
Cover: MissLobang graphic using LTA's published results.
