COE Categories Explained: A, B, C, D & E
Why COE Categories Exist
Singapore's Certificate of Entitlement system does not treat all vehicles equally. Rather than lumping every motor vehicle into a single auction pool, the system divides the market into five distinct categories. This segmentation serves several important purposes.
First, it prevents commercial vehicles from competing directly with private cars for certificates. Without separate categories, logistics companies might be priced out by wealthy private car buyers, disrupting the commercial transport sector that underpins the economy. Second, it creates a degree of price differentiation between smaller, more affordable cars and larger, more expensive ones, ensuring that the COE system does not exclusively favour high-income buyers. Third, the Open category (E) provides a safety valve that allows demand to overflow across segments when a particular category becomes extremely tight.
Understanding the categories is essential because you must bid in the correct category for your vehicle (unless you opt for the Open category). Getting this wrong can delay your purchase or force you into a more expensive bidding pool.
Category A: Cars up to 1,600 cc and 130 bhp
Definition and Qualifying Vehicles
Category A covers cars with an engine capacity of 1,600 cc or below and a maximum power output of 130 brake horsepower (bhp) or below. Both criteria must be satisfied simultaneously. If a car has a 1,500 cc engine but produces 150 bhp, it falls into Category B because it exceeds the power threshold.
Typical vehicles in Category A include:
- Toyota Corolla Altis (1.6L variants)
- Honda Civic (1.5T base variants within the power limit)
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 (Standard Range, under 130 bhp)
- BYD Atto 3 (standard variant)
- Mazda 3 (1.5L variants)
- Most compact hatchbacks and sedans
The electric vehicle revolution has significantly altered Category A's composition. Many affordable EVs are designed to fall just under the 130 bhp threshold to qualify for Cat A, where historically lower premiums make the total car price more competitive. This influx of EV demand has been a major factor in the sustained rise of Cat A premiums since 2023.
Historical Price Range
Cat A premiums have varied enormously over the decades. During the late 1990s, premiums briefly dropped below $1,000 during the Asian Financial Crisis. In 2013, they peaked at around $92,000 before the government introduced additional supply measures. The current cycle has pushed premiums to record highs, with Cat A clearing above $100,000 since mid-2023. In Q1 2026, Cat A surged from $102,009 in January to $118,000 in April, driven by Budget 2026 policy shocks including the PARF overhaul and EEAI cuts.
Track the full history on our Category A Results page.
Category B: Cars above 1,600 cc or 130 bhp
Definition and Qualifying Vehicles
Category B covers cars that exceed either the 1,600 cc engine capacity threshold or the 130 bhp power threshold. Only one condition needs to be breached for the vehicle to fall into Cat B.
Typical vehicles in Category B include:
- BMW 3 Series, 5 Series, and X series
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class, E-Class, and GLC
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range and Performance
- Toyota Camry (2.5L)
- Audi A4, A6, and Q5
- All sports cars and high-performance vehicles
Category B has traditionally been viewed as the "premium" car category, but this distinction has blurred. Many mainstream EVs with power outputs above 130 bhp now land in Cat B, sitting alongside traditional luxury marques. A BYD Seal Performance, for example, competes in the same COE category as a Porsche Cayenne.
Historical Price Range
Cat B premiums have historically been higher than Cat A, reflecting the greater purchasing power of buyers in this segment. In the current cycle, Cat B premiums have been in the range of $115,000 to $121,000. However, the gap between Cat A and Cat B has narrowed dramatically from the $20,000-plus spreads seen in earlier years to as little as $3,000 in April 2026 ($118,000 vs $121,000), driven by surging EV demand in Cat A, PARF shock, and EEAI panic buying. This convergence was a key factor behind the government's announcement of a COE category review in March 2026.
Track the full history on our Category B Results page.
Category C: Goods Vehicles and Buses
Definition and Qualifying Vehicles
Category C is reserved for goods vehicles (trucks, lorries, vans used primarily for transporting goods) and buses (including private buses and public transport vehicles). This category does not apply to private cars, regardless of their size or configuration.
Typical vehicles in Category C include:
- Light goods vehicles (vans, pick-ups used commercially)
- Medium and heavy trucks
- Private and charter buses
- Specialised commercial vehicles (crane trucks, refrigerated trucks)
Category C benefits from a slightly higher vehicle growth rate of 0.25% compared to 0% for private cars. This reflects the government's policy of supporting commercial transport capacity to keep pace with economic needs. As a result, Cat C supply is somewhat more generous relative to demand, and premiums are substantially lower than car categories.
Historical Price Range
Cat C premiums have historically ranged from $30,000 to $75,000 in the current high-premium environment, significantly below Cat A and B levels. The commercial vehicle market has different demand drivers, including fleet replacement cycles, logistics sector growth, and construction activity. Premiums tend to be more stable and less subject to the speculative behaviour that can influence car categories.
Track the full history on our Category C Results page.
Category D: Motorcycles
Definition and Qualifying Vehicles
Category D covers all motorcycles and scooters, regardless of engine size or power. Whether you are buying a 125 cc commuter scooter or a 1,200 cc touring motorcycle, you need a Cat D COE.
The motorcycle market in Singapore is a distinct ecosystem with its own buyer demographics, predominantly younger riders, delivery workers, and enthusiasts. Two-wheeled vehicles occupy much less road space than cars, and their environmental impact per vehicle is lower, which is reflected in the substantially lower COE premiums.
Historical Price Range
Cat D premiums are the lowest across all categories, typically ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 in the current cycle. Even at these levels, the COE can represent a significant portion of the total motorcycle cost, especially for entry-level machines priced at $5,000 to $10,000 before COE.
Track the full history on our Category D Results page.
Category E: Open (Any Vehicle)
Definition and Flexibility
Category E is the Open category. A Cat E COE can be used to register any type of vehicle, whether it would normally fall under A, B, C, or D. This makes Cat E the most flexible certificate available.
In practice, Cat E is overwhelmingly used for cars (both Cat A and Cat B class vehicles), because the premium difference between Cat E and the specific car categories is typically small enough that buyers value the flexibility. Some buyers bid in Cat E strategically if they believe a particular car category will be unusually competitive in a given exercise.
Why Cat E Is Almost Always the Most Expensive
Because Cat E absorbs demand from multiple categories, it faces broader competitive pressure than any single specific category. A Cat E certificate competes with buyers who would otherwise bid in Cat A, Cat B, and occasionally even Cat C and D. This aggregate demand consistently pushes Cat E premiums to the top of the price range, typically $2,000 to $8,000 above Cat B in recent exercises.
Historical Price Range
Cat E premiums in 2026 have been in the range of $118,000 to $125,000, though the gap above Cat B has narrowed as the A/B convergence reduces the arbitrage value of the Open category. In April 2026, Cat E cleared at $121,001, essentially matching Cat B. Historically, Cat E has tracked above the highest car-specific category in almost every bidding exercise.
Track the full history on our Category E Results page.
How to Choose the Right Category
For most buyers, the category is determined by the vehicle they want to purchase. You do not get to choose freely; the car's specifications dictate whether it falls under Cat A or Cat B. However, you do have the option to bid in Cat E instead of your vehicle's natural category. Here is a decision framework:
- Identify your vehicle's natural category based on engine capacity and power output. Your dealer can confirm this.
- Compare the current premium in your natural category versus Cat E. If Cat E is only marginally more expensive (say, $2,000 to $3,000), some buyers prefer the Open category for its perceived prestige value at resale.
- Consider supply and demand dynamics. If your natural category is expected to be heavily oversubscribed in an upcoming exercise (for example, due to a popular new model launch), bidding in Cat E might actually give you a better chance of success, since Cat E draws from a broader pool.
- Factor in resale value. Cars registered on a Cat E COE can sometimes command a small premium on the used market, because the COE can be renewed in the Open category.
Compare premiums across all categories side by side on our COE Comparison page to make an informed decision.
The Category Review: Potential Changes Ahead
On 4 March 2026, Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow announced a formal review of COE categorisation during a parliamentary debate. The current thresholds (1,600 cc and 130 bhp) were set decades ago when the vehicle landscape was very different. The rise of electric vehicles, which often have high power outputs but low energy consumption, has created anomalies. A compact, efficient EV with 150 bhp is forced into Cat B alongside a 3.0-litre luxury SUV, even though the two vehicles are not comparable in terms of road space usage, environmental impact, or market positioning.
Possible changes under review include adjusting the power threshold upward to accommodate modern EVs, introducing new criteria such as vehicle weight or energy consumption, or restructuring the categories entirely. Any changes would have significant implications for premiums across all categories, as demand would redistribute based on the new rules. We will track developments as they emerge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Category A COE for a Category B vehicle?No. A Category A COE can only be used for vehicles that meet the Cat A criteria (up to 1,600 cc and 130 bhp). If your vehicle falls under Cat B, you need either a Cat B or Cat E COE. The only category that offers cross-compatibility is Cat E (Open), which can be used for any vehicle type.
What happens if my car is modified and exceeds the Category A limits after registration?Vehicle modifications that change the engine capacity or power output to exceed Cat A thresholds could affect your registration status. In practice, any significant powertrain modification must be approved by LTA, and unapproved modifications can result in penalties. If a modification moves the car into Cat B territory, LTA may require you to obtain the appropriate COE category.
Why are Cat A premiums catching up to Cat B?Several factors are driving the convergence. The EV boom has channelled enormous new demand into Cat A, as manufacturers design affordable EVs to fall under the 130 bhp threshold. Simultaneously, Cat A supply has not increased to match because the vehicle growth rate is 0% and deregistration rates have been modest. Meanwhile, Cat B supply benefits from a broader base of deregistrations from the luxury segment. The result is that Cat A demand-to-supply ratio has tightened more aggressively than Cat B.
Is there a Category F or any plan to add more categories?There is no Category F in the current system. The five-category structure (A through E) has been in place since the COE system's inception in 1990. However, the ongoing government review of COE categorisation could potentially result in new categories or a restructuring of existing ones. No specific proposals have been announced as of early 2026.