Motorcycle COE Price Singapore: Category D Explained

Motorcycle COE prices sit in a completely different league from car COE. In February 2026, Category D (motorcycles) was trading at S$7,989 — compared to S$106,501 for Cat A cars. If you are buying a new motorcycle or evaluating a second-hand one with remaining COE, here is what drives Category D and what the numbers mean in practice.

What Is Category D COE?

Category D covers all motorcycles. Unlike the car categories which are split by engine displacement and power output, Cat D is a single pool covering everything from 125cc scooters to large-displacement touring bikes.

The same bidding mechanics apply: twice-monthly open bidding, uniform-price auction, COE premium paid on top of the motorcycle's open market value. The difference is scale. The quota is smaller, demand is more price-sensitive, and the absolute numbers are dramatically lower than the car categories.

Current Category D Price Trend

February 2026 saw Category D at S$7,989 — a drop of S$300 from the previous exercise. This mild softening reflects subdued demand compared to earlier in the decade. For context:

• Cat D peaked above S$10,000 in some exercises during 2022-2023 as post-pandemic demand spiked across all vehicle categories.
• Prices have trended gradually lower since then, with occasional short-term rebounds.

A Cat D COE at around S$8,000 means that even a modest 125cc motorcycle — whose on-the-road price from a dealer might be S$2,500 for the bike itself — arrives at a total landed cost closer to S$10,500 to S$12,000 after COE, ARF, registration fees, and road tax. The COE premium is often larger than the vehicle's OMV for entry-level motorcycles.

How Motorcycle COE Is Structured in a Purchase

When you buy a new motorcycle from a dealer, the COE premium is rolled into the on-the-road price. Dealers typically quote the total, but it is worth separating the components:

• OMV (Open Market Value): The value of the motorcycle as declared at import. For a standard scooter this might be S$1,500–$2,500.
• ARF (Additional Registration Fee): 15% of OMV for motorcycles (different from the tiered car ARF structure). Much lower than for cars.
• COE Premium: The current Category D Quota Premium at the time of registration.
• Road Tax: Based on engine displacement for ICE motorcycles.

The COE premium is the dominant cost component for mid- and upper-segment motorcycles. A S$8,000 COE on a bike with S$5,000 OMV means COE alone is 62% of the pre-fee cost.

Five-Year vs. Ten-Year Renewal for Motorcycles

The same 5-year vs. 10-year renewal decision applies to motorcycles as it does to cars, using the Prevailing Quota Premium (PQP) calculated from the rolling three-month average of Category D prices.

• 5-year renewal: Pay 50% of PQP. The motorcycle cannot be renewed again; it must be scrapped or deregistered at year 15.
• 10-year renewal: Pay 100% of PQP. Can be renewed indefinitely at subsequent 10-year marks.

With Cat D PQP in the S$7,000–$8,500 range recently, a 5-year renewal costs around S$3,500–$4,250. For older motorcycles that are mechanically sound and have low maintenance costs — a well-maintained Honda or Yamaha workhorse in particular — this can be a very economical choice compared to the full replacement cost of a new unit.

The PARF rebate for motorcycles is structured the same way as for cars: a partial return of the ARF paid on registration, based on how old the motorcycle is when deregistered. Since ARF for motorcycles is 15% of OMV (compared to much higher rates for cars), the PARF values are modest — typically a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.

Buying a Used Motorcycle with Remaining COE

Used motorcycle prices in Singapore are set by: 1. The motorcycle's condition and mileage 2. How many years of COE remain (a motorcycle with 8 years left trades higher than one with 2 years) 3. The current PQP (which sets the benchmark for renewal cost) 4. Brand and model desirability (Japanese brands command strong resale)

When evaluating a used motorcycle, check the remaining COE years on OneMotoring. A motorcycle with 3 years left is essentially a depreciating consumable — you will either pay PQP for renewal or scrap it. Price accordingly.

Practical Difference from Car COE

The Category D market is less liquid and less data-rich than Cat A/B. Fewer buyers, smaller absolute amounts, and less institutional participation (PHV fleet operators have no interest in motorcycles) mean Cat D prices are more purely driven by individual buyer demand.

Seasonal patterns still apply: Cat D can soften during Lunar New Year periods and spike when the school semester begins (students buying used bikes for commuting). But the moves are generally less dramatic than in the car categories.

If you own a car and are navigating the broader COE/PARF/depreciation landscape, the Singapore COE Navigator covers the car COE framework in depth — the same analytical approach applies whether you are doing the maths on a Cat A renewal or comparing a used purchase against buying new.

Get the Singapore COE Navigator

The Bottom Line

Category D motorcycle COE is currently around S$7,989 — substantially lower than car categories and showing a mild softening trend. For buyers, the COE premium often exceeds the motorcycle's OMV, making it the dominant cost component in new purchases. For owners approaching the 10-year mark, a 5-year renewal at roughly S$3,500–4,000 is typically the lowest-cost path for a reliable bike, with the trade-off of a hard termination at year 15.