The first August 2026 COE bidding exercise opens on Monday, 3 August and closes at 4pm on Wednesday, 5 August. Individuals bid through DBS or POSB ATMs; companies use the supported internet-banking channels. Submit the correct category and maximum bid, because an accepted bid cannot be withdrawn. The August–October quota is 19,085, only 0.2% above the previous quarter. LTA OneMotoring COE guide. LTA August–October 2026 COE quota.
Choose the branch that matches the case
| Situation | Next step |
|---|---|
| Individual bidding for own vehicle | Use DBS or POSB ATM and submit only one bid |
| Company submitting the bid | Use the supported DBS, UOB or Maybank corporate channel |
| Category A, B, C or E | Prepare the current S$10,000 deposit |
| Category D motorcycle | Prepare the current S$1,500 deposit |
What the official record establishes
- LTA OneMotoring COE guide: LTA controls bidding channels, deposits, bid revision, reserve-price mechanics and TCOE validity.
- LTA August–October 2026 COE quota: The quota is 19,085 and the first exercise starts on 3 August 2026.
Choose the category before the price
Category A and B separate cars using LTA’s current engine-capacity and power thresholds; C covers goods vehicles and buses, D motorcycles and E the open category except motorcycles. LTA OneMotoring COE guide.
Check the vehicle specification and LTA classification. A wrong category cannot be repaired by bidding more.
Understand the two prices
The bid amount is the maximum the bidder is willing to pay. The Current COE Price is the lowest successful bid while demand exceeds the available quota, and it can move as bids enter or are revised. LTA OneMotoring COE guide.
A successful bidder pays the final quota premium, not necessarily the maximum bid, subject to the official mechanics.
Revise instead of duplicating
Open bidding allows a bidder to raise the reserve bid while the exercise is live, with a revision fee. It does not allow an accepted bid to be withdrawn. LTA OneMotoring COE guide.
Do not submit multiple individual bids as a way to test the market; individuals are restricted to one bid per exercise.
Know what happens to the deposit
The deposit is applied according to the successful-bid process. For an unsuccessful bid, LTA states that the deposit is refunded by the next working day after fees. LTA OneMotoring COE guide.
Keep the transaction receipt and verify the account used for the refund rather than reacting to a message asking for fresh bank details.
Calendar the TCOE
A successful bid produces a Temporary COE with a validity period that varies by category: six months for A and B, three months for C and E, and one month for D under the current rules. LTA OneMotoring COE guide.
Match vehicle registration and delivery timing to that validity; expiry can turn a successful bid into a costly failed plan.
Write a bidding instruction that can be checked
Before an agent or dealer acts, record the category, maximum amount, who may revise the bid, the cut-off for contacting you and what happens if the exercise is unsuccessful. Keep the OneMotoring acknowledgement and compare the final instruction with the submitted amount.
A maximum is a personal affordability control, not a prediction of the premium. The open-bidding display changes during the exercise, and the final quota premium is determined only after bidding closes. Avoid treating a mid-session figure as the result.
Add COE to the full vehicle budget
Place the maximum bid beside the vehicle price, registration fee, Additional Registration Fee, applicable taxes, insurance and financing. The bid ceiling should come from the total amount the buyer can carry, not from a prediction that the Current COE Price will stop at a particular level.
Run the budget again at the maximum bid. If the purchase only works at a lower clearing price, the maximum is not a real affordability limit.
Keep an auditable bidding instruction
For a bid submitted through a dealer or employee, record the bidder identity, category, deposit, maximum amount, revision authority and final contact time. Save the acknowledgement and every authorised revision.
After closing, compare the final quota premium and bid status with the record. Do not respond to a refund message by supplying new banking details; use the original channel and LTA process.
Stop revisions before the operational cut-off
Choose a personal final-review time before LTA’s close so authentication or channel problems do not turn into a last-minute guess.
After that point, act only under the written maximum and category instruction.
Work the example before the real decision
A Category A buyer submits a maximum bid of S$108,000 with the S$10,000 deposit. If the final quota premium is S$104,500 and the bid remains successful, the clearing mechanism uses the final premium rather than automatically charging S$108,000. This is an illustration of the rule, not a forecast of the August result.
Checklist
- Confirm the vehicle’s COE category
- Use the correct individual or company channel
- Prepare the category deposit
- Set a maximum based on total vehicle cost
- Monitor before the 4pm close
- Calendar TCOE registration validity
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing category by model name alone
- Treating the bid as withdrawable
- Bidding to match a rumour
- Ignoring TCOE expiry
- Responding to a refund phishing message
Related next reads
After submit one correct bid, understand reserve-price movement and avoid an irreversible mistake, a reader can plan a vehicle compliance deadline, or read a recent COE bidding result.
Questions readers ask
When does the exercise close?
At 4pm on Wednesday, 5 August 2026.
Can an accepted bid be withdrawn?
No. LTA states accepted bids cannot be withdrawn.
How often are exercises held?
Generally twice each month.
