COE premiums fall in most categories; Cat A ends at $130,000

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 8, 2026

Singapore’s premium for Category A certificates of entitlement (COEs) dropped slightly to $130,001 in the October 7 tender, following a previous record high. The decline reflects weaker demand ahead of the Cars@Expo event, but experts anticipate COE prices to rise afterward as new emissions surcharge policies take effect in 2027.

The premium for Singapore’s Category A certificate of entitlement (COE), which allows the registration of smaller cars and electric vehicles (EVs), decreased slightly to $130,001 in the tender exercise held on October 7. This follows a record high of $133,009 recorded in early September. Other COE categories also saw declines, except for the Open (Category E) category, which remained unchanged.

Category A COE prices fell by 1.4% from $131,890 in the previous tender. The premium for Category B, designated for larger and more powerful vehicles including EVs, dropped by 2.2% to $130,100 from $133,000. The Open category held steady at $137,000, while the commercial vehicle category (Category C) saw a marginal reduction of 0.3%, ending at $91,889 from $92,144. The motorcycle category (Category D) experienced the largest percentage decrease, with premiums declining 9.7% to $11,012 from $12,201.

COEs, which are necessary to register and operate vehicles in Singapore, are transferable. Motor traders often acquire certificates in advance to maintain registration flexibility between tenders.

Authorities are currently reviewing the COE system with the aim of refining vehicle categorisation. The review will incorporate feedback from motorists, dealers, manufacturers, and academics and is expected to conclude by the end of 2026.

Industry experts attribute the recent dip in COE prices to weaker market demand ahead of the upcoming Cars@Expo event scheduled for October 24 to 25. Ng Choon Wee, commercial director of Komoco Motors, Hyundai’s distributor, suggested that some prospective buyers may have delayed purchases in anticipation of better deals at the expo. He added that this trend could contribute to further price declines in the next COE tender closing on October 21.

Conversely, Corinne Chua, managing director of Volvo distributor Wearnes Automotive, expects COE premiums for categories A and B to rise post-expo as increased vehicle orders emerge. She noted that the event is the final major car show before new measures to promote EV adoption take effect from January 1, 2027.

These upcoming changes include higher surcharges targeting vehicles with high emissions under the Vehicular Emissions Scheme. The most polluting vehicles will face a surcharge increase to $45,000 from the current $35,000. Meanwhile, the EV Early Adoption Incentive that currently offers rebates will be discontinued at the start of next year.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.