New year, new car.

Or at least that's what most buyers eyeing the more powerful options available on our island seem to have been thinking as we head into the first month of 2026. This first COE bidding session of 2026 saw premiums for Cat B and E making gains, while those for Cat A slipped.

The latter shouldn't come as a surprise, as consumers looking to purchase their Cat A COE-friendly electric cars would have likely secured their cars before the adjustment to available EEAI and VES rebates that kicked in on 1 January 2026.

But don't imagine that the downward trend for Cat A will continue for you to snag a bargain deal ahead of the Lunar New Year. The Singapore Motor Show is just around the corner, and you can expect dealers to be ready with plenty of attractive offers, all eager to stir up interest in new car purchases. The expected launch of a whole lineup of new models from the brands is sure to only further fan the flames of excitement. And as with every year before, we are expecting premiums to jump and stay high in the weeks after.

Get data on past COE bidding exercises at our COE bidding results page.

Cat A COE -  Dropping after the excitement of December

Premiums for Cat A, for cars up to 1,600cc in engine capacity and with an output of no more than 130bhp, or electric vehicles with a power output of up to 110kW, slipped this session. Premiums fell this session by $7,492 (6.8%) to reach $102,009.

The current premium now stands at 0.9% below the 12-month trailing average. The total number of bids submitted exceeded the number of successful bids this round by 29%, still lower than the 12-month average of 55% for the category.

Cat B COE - Seeing gains

Premiums for Cat B, for larger cars with more than 130bhp or engine displacements larger than 1,600cc, or electric vehicles with a power output of more than 110kW, climbed this session by $3,998 (3.5%) to reach $119,100.

This climb means the current premium for the category is now 1.4% below the 12-month trailing average. The total number of unsuccessful bids this round exceeded the quota available by 37%. This is lower than the 12-month average figure for the category of 48%.

Cat C COE - Slipping downwards

Premiums for Cat C, for goods vehicles and buses, slipped this session by $1,500 (2.0%) to close at $75,503. The number of unsuccessful bids this round exceeded the available quota by 37%, lower than the 12-month average for this category of 50%.

Cat E COE - Climbing up

Premiums for Cat E, the open category, also climbed this session. This session saw premiums for the category rise by $3,000 (2.5%), bringing the final premium for the category to $122,000. 

The current premium for the category is now 0.7% above the 12-month trailing average. The total number of unsuccessful bids this round exceeded the quota available by 90%, higher than the 12-month average figure for the category of 85%.

Prevailing Quota Premium

The Prevailing Quota Premium is the amount to be paid for COE renewal, and is computed from the moving average of the previous three months of COE prices. Those looking to renew the COE on their vehicles will thus have to pay the following prices for the respective categories.

If you're looking for a fuss-free option to renew your car's COE, Sgcarmart Connect provides free COE renewal advice, which includes loan sourcing and all paperwork.

✅ Advice and tips on COE renewal 
✅ Complimentary Pre-COE Car Inspection 
✅ COE renewal loan quote comparisons 
✅ Interest Rate typically starts from 2.88% 
✅ 100% PQP Financing 
✅ Settlement of entire COE renewal paperwork