How to Check Vehicle Details in Singapore: Registration, COE, and Ownership Records

Whether you are buying a used car, verifying your own vehicle's status, or checking a car's remaining COE before making an offer — all of this is accessible through LTA's OneMotoring portal. Knowing what you can and cannot look up, and where the limitations are, saves time and prevents unpleasant surprises in a used car transaction.

What You Can Check Without Singpass

LTA's public vehicle enquiry function at onemotoring.lta.gov.sg allows anyone to look up basic details for any registered vehicle by plate number:

• COE category — whether the car holds a Cat A, B, C, D, or E COE
• COE expiry date — when the current COE certificate expires
• Vehicle make, model, and year of manufacture
• Engine capacity — in cubic centimetres for ICE; power rating for EVs
• Current status — whether the vehicle is active, deregistered, or suspended

This is useful when evaluating a used car listed for sale. Before viewing the car in person, look up the plate number to confirm the COE expiry matches what the seller has stated. Misrepresentation of COE validity is rare but happens, and a two-minute check eliminates the risk.

The path on OneMotoring: Vehicle → Enquire Vehicle Details → enter plate number.

No Singpass login is required for this basic lookup.

What Requires Singpass Login

More sensitive financial details require you to authenticate with Singpass before the portal displays them:

• PARF rebate value — the current dollar amount you would receive if you deregistered the car today
• ARF paid at registration — the original Additional Registration Fee amount
• Outstanding hire purchase — whether there is an existing loan on the vehicle (important for private sales)
• Transfer history — when ownership last changed

For a buyer considering a private-sale purchase, the outstanding hire purchase check is critical. If the seller has an existing loan on the car, the bank technically holds an interest in the vehicle. The buyer must ensure the loan is discharged before the transfer is completed, or handle it through a licensed dealer who will manage the redemption. Purchasing a car with an undisclosed outstanding loan can leave the buyer in a legally complicated position.

Checking a Car's PARF Value as a Buyer

If you are buying a used car and want to understand its residual government value, you need the owner to perform the PARF lookup and share the result with you — or conduct the check together during the negotiation.

This is an important step because:

1. Pre-2026 vs post-2026 cars have dramatically different PARF values. A car registered in 2022 at the same price as a car registered in March 2026 may have S$10,000–15,000 more in PARF value because the old rebate schedule applies to it. This embedded value is a legitimate part of the asking price.

2. PARF value decreases each year. A car currently at age eight (55% of ARF under old scheme, or 10% under new scheme) will drop to the 9–10 year bracket (50% or 5%) within the year. If you are buying near a bracket threshold, timing the purchase earlier in the year may mean more PARF is available when you eventually deregister.

3. Verifying the COE category matters for renewal planning. A Cat A car has lower renewal costs than a Cat B equivalent. Confirm the category from the LTA record rather than relying on the seller's description — engine modifications or declaration errors can occasionally create discrepancies.

Checking a Car's Accident and Inspection History

The OneMotoring portal does not display accident history. For this, buyers typically use third-party reports:

• CarSurance or myCarForum reports — collate claims data from insurers, though coverage is not 100% complete
• VICOM or SETSCO records — periodic inspection results are not publicly available but can be requested from the owner
• Direct insurer check — some insurers will confirm whether a claim was made on a specific plate number

The most reliable method: request the seller to provide the full inspection history and ask whether the car has ever been in a reportable accident. Cross-reference with visible panel gaps, paint texture differences, and the body shop history if available.

Transfer Fees and the Registration Process

When buying a used car through a private sale:

• Transfer fee: S$28 (standard) or more if there are outstanding fines or requirements
• Transfer must be done via OneMotoring — both buyer and seller authenticate with Singpass, or a licensed dealer can facilitate
• Road tax: Ensure the current road tax is valid through the transfer date; the buyer takes on the existing road tax period

If buying through a licensed dealer, the dealer handles the OneMotoring transfer process. Buying privately means you are responsible for completing the transfer yourself within the stipulated timeframe after signing the sale agreement.

What the Vehicle Details Don't Tell You

The LTA records confirm legal status and government valuations. They do not tell you:

• Whether the engine has been well-maintained
• Whether there are hidden mechanical issues (transmission, suspension, cooling system)
• Whether the car has been repaired with non-original parts after an accident
• The actual odometer reliability — digital odometers can be rolled back, though this is illegal

For a used car purchase, especially a COE car (older than 10 years with a renewed COE), a pre-purchase mechanical inspection by an independent workshop is the only way to surface these issues. Budget S$150–300 for a thorough inspection before committing to a significant purchase.

The Singapore COE Navigator includes a used car evaluation framework covering the specific failure points and estimated repair costs for the most common COE cars in Singapore — so you know what to inspect and how to factor the risk into your offer price.