The Category A certificate of entitlement (COE) premium rose to S$132,004 in the bidding exercise that closed on Wednesday (21 October), edging past Category B for bigger cars at S$131,901.
It is the second-highest Category A premium on record. The record is S$133,009, set on 9 September. Premiums went up in three of the five categories in the second October 2026 exercise, while motorcycle and Open category premiums came down.
COE prices remain elevated across most categories, according to the Land Transport Authority (LTA). In its statement on the results, LTA wrote: “We note that there is an upcoming car exhibition which may lead to elevated demand and COE prices during this period. We urge car buyers and dealers to be prudent in bidding for COEs.”
Results by category
| Category | 21 Oct premium | 7 Oct premium | Quota | Bids received | Successful bids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (cars up to 1,600cc and 97kW; EVs up to 110kW) | S$132,004 | S$130,001 | 1,191 | 1,574 | 1,187 |
| B (cars above 1,600cc or 97kW; EVs above 110kW) | S$131,901 | S$130,100 | 923 | 1,149 | 923 |
| C (goods vehicles and buses) | S$92,200 | S$91,889 | 308 | 481 | 307 |
| D (motorcycles) | S$10,778 | S$11,012 | 539 | 611 | 535 |
| E (open, all except motorcycles) | S$135,790 | S$137,000 | 270 | 411 | 267 |
Category A drew 1,574 bids for 1,191 COEs. The Open category was again the most contested, with 411 bids for 270 certificates.
Small cars back above big cars
The two car categories had been closing in on each other for weeks, and in the 7 October exercise Category B was still ahead. Category A moved ahead this round.
Category A covers non-fully electric cars with engines up to 1,600cc and power up to 97kW (130bhp), and fully electric cars up to 110kW (147bhp). Category A premiums topped Category B three times between February and June this year.
LTA is now consulting the public on merging Categories A and B into a single car category, with rebates for lower-value cars and surcharges for higher-value ones, based on each model’s open market value. The consultation closes at 11.59pm on 2 November, and LTA expects to share its findings and recommendations in the first half of 2027.
The prevailing quota premiums listed with the latest results, which owners pay to renew a COE, are S$129,883 for Category A and S$131,819 for Category B. The Car Expo runs at Singapore EXPO on 24 and 25 October.
Next bidding exercise
The first November exercise opens at 12 noon on Monday, 2 November and closes at 4pm on Wednesday, 4 November.
