Motorcycle COE Guide: Category D, Renewal and the Complete Budget
Understand Category D bidding, its short TCOE deadline, motorcycle renewal and the costs to compare before choosing a new or used bike.
Motorcycles use Category D. Category E cannot be used as an alternative motorcycle entitlement. A small bike and a large bike still face the same Category D premium for a given exercise, although their vehicle taxes and running costs differ.
Read the dated result
Category D was $10,000 in April 2026’s first exercise and $9,290 in the second. The first September exercise reached $12,556. These dates matter: the earlier April figure of $11,589 was incorrect.
The September premium was $633 below the $13,189 recorded in November 2022’s first exercise. Being near a historical high does not establish whether the next result will rise or fall.
Bidding and registration timing
The current D bid deposit is $1,500, with applicable fees separate. A newly obtained D Temporary COE is valid for one month. Plan vehicle availability before bidding; an unused expired TCOE forfeits the deposit.
Individuals may submit only one bid per exercise. If a dealer handles it, check the number of attempts, delivery commitment, top-ups and refund terms. The deposit is part of settling the COE cost, not another premium to add twice.
Renewing an existing motorcycle
Renewal uses the applicable Category D PQP rather than a new auction bid. A five-year renewal is half the applicable ten-year PQP and is final; the motorcycle cannot be renewed again after that five-year term. Ten-year renewal is a different commitment and remains subject to applicable rules.
Motorcycles first registered before 1 July 2003 require special attention to LTA’s 30 June 2028 lifespan limit; the listed Vintage (Restricted), Revised Vintage and Classic Vehicle schemes are exceptions. Check the vehicle’s registration and scheme before applying a repeat-renewal statement or paying for a term.
Compare the complete ownership cost
Include the final bike price, interest, insurance, road tax, servicing, tyres, safety equipment, parking and realistic repair needs. Obtain quotes for the exact rider and bike. There is no universal cost advantage for a particular capacity or brand.
Motorcycles do not receive a car PARF rebate. Eligible unused COE can have a rebate, while body value is a separate commercial assumption. For a used bike, verify whether its COE is original, renewed for ten years or a final five-year renewal, and use the remaining term in the comparison.
Sources and review date
Reviewed on 13 September 2026. Historical results retain their exercise dates; worked budgets are assumptions, not quotations.