Category A at $111,890 in March 2026: What Changed for Buyers
Category A reached $111,890 on 18 March 2026. A closer look at the premium, category spread and the costs buyers still need to compare.
Category A reached $111,890 in the second March 2026 exercise, which closed on 18 March. That was $3,670 above the previous round. Calling it approximately $112,000 is reasonable rounding; calling it proof of a permanent six-figure floor is not.
This historical analysis has been updated after its original publication to include the completed second March exercise and subsequent official context.
Start with the recorded result
| Category | Premium | Quota | Bids received |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | S$111,890 | 1,264 | 1,895 |
| B | S$115,568 | 812 | 1,185 |
| C | S$78,000 | 290 | 438 |
| D | S$9,589 | 546 | 726 |
| E | S$118,119 | 246 | 422 |
This table reads the results database. Exercise identity is year, month and round; an estimated historical closing day is not presented as verified.
Category B closed at $115,568, leaving a gap of $3,678. Category E was $118,119. A buyer comparing two cars therefore needed to ask how much of the package difference came from the certificate and how much came from the vehicle, taxes and commercial terms.
Supply was constrained, but the units matter
The February–April allocation contained 7,585 Category A certificates across the three-month period. The second March exercise offered 1,264. Describing 1,264 as a monthly allocation understates supply by roughly half.
The quota formula includes replacements, relevant growth and adjustments. Renewal decisions can affect future deregistrations, but the results do not establish a self-reinforcing price spiral or quantify how many owners renewed because a new car was expensive. PQP is a trailing renewal price, not a fixed cheap alternative: comparing a $50,000–$60,000 renewal assumption with a $110,000 new premium without matching the date is misleading.
How EV eligibility affects the comparison
The Category A threshold for a fully electric car is 110kW. For a non-fully-electric car, both the engine-capacity and 97kW limits apply. Different approved variants of one model can therefore belong to different categories. Buyers should verify the registration specification rather than infer eligibility from a model badge or a quoted horsepower figure.
MOT’s May 2026 explanation linked strong demand plausibly to competitive EV pricing and noted Category A supply had begun declining after its late-2025 peak. This supports examining both sides of the market. It does not support a precise percentage of March bids attributed to EV buyers or a claim that one brand caused the increase.
A narrow COE spread is not a cheap upgrade by itself
Suppose two final quotations differ by $25,000 while their exercise premiums differ by $3,678. Most of the package difference then lies outside that premium gap. Ask for the vehicle specification, OMV, actual ARF, warranty, financing conditions and delivery terms before deciding that Category B is better value.
Also compare recurring costs. An EV does not automatically have lower road tax; the power-based calculation and additional flat component matter. An advertised flat loan rate is not its effective interest rate. Use the total-cost calculator and a lender’s repayment schedule for your own figures.
What could change the decision
A lower final quotation, a different available variant, an approaching COE expiry or a change in charging access can change the best choice for a household. A category review is worth monitoring, but proposals should not be treated as enacted rules or booked into a promised future saving.
The March result establishes what successful bidders paid in that exercise. It cannot guarantee the next round, a permanent floor or a date when prices will fall. For the later record and a worked September comparison, read our September 2026 results analysis.
Sources and review date
Reviewed on 13 September 2026. Historical results retain their exercise dates; worked budgets are assumptions, not quotations.