October 2026 1st COE Bidding Results: COE Continues to Cool — Is the Downtrend Starting?

Singapore's COE market has taken another step down in the October 2026 1st COE bidding exercise, with CAT A, CAT B and CAT C all recording lower premiums, while CAT E remained unchanged.

This follows the September 2nd bidding, where all four categories had already dropped after a broad-based increase in September 1st.

The latest results could be an early sign that COE is cooling after its September peak, but is it enough to call this a sustained downward trend?

Let's take a closer look.

October 2026 1st COE Results

COE Category	September 2026 2nd Bidding	October 2026 1st Bidding	Change
CAT A	$131,890	$130,001	🔻 $1,889
CAT B	$133,000	$130,100	🔻 $2,900
CAT C	$92,144	$91,889	🔻 $255
CAT E	$137,000	$137,000	➖ $0

The latest movement

CAT B saw the biggest drop, falling by $2,900 from $133,000 to $130,100.

CAT A also declined by $1,889, while CAT C edged down by $255.

CAT E, however, remained unchanged at $137,000.

So while the overall market moved lower, it is more accurate to say that three categories dropped while CAT E stayed flat, rather than all four falling.

Two Consecutive COE Results Have Now Moved Lower

The more interesting part is not just the latest result — it is the direction over the last two bidding exercises.

In September 1st bidding, all four categories increased significantly:

• CAT A: +$4,508

• CAT B: +$4,000

• CAT C: +$3,099

• CAT E: +$2,890

Then, in September 2nd bidding, all four categories fell.

Now, in October 1st bidding, CAT A, CAT B and CAT C have fallen again, while CAT E remained unchanged.

This gives us a pattern of:

Sharp rise → correction → further correction

That is more interesting than a single isolated drop.

However, it is still too early to say that COE has entered a long-term downward trend.

What Has Happened to COE in Recent Months?

Looking back at the results you provided, COE has been fairly volatile.

CAT A, for example, moved from $123,890 in August 1st, up to $128,501 in August 2nd, then climbed again to $133,009 in September 1st.

After reaching that September 1st level, it fell to $131,890 in September 2nd and has now dropped further to $130,001.

CAT B shows an even clearer movement:

$129,910 → $131,001 → $135,001 → $133,000 → $130,100

This means CAT B has now given back most of the increase seen between August 1st and September 1st.

The market is therefore showing short-term cooling after a strong rise, rather than a consistent one-directional movement.

Should You Buy a Car Now?

For buyers, the latest results are certainly more encouraging than the September 1st results.

COE has now moved lower for two consecutive bidding exercises in several categories, particularly CAT A and CAT B.

But does that mean you should wait for an even bigger drop?

Not necessarily.

COE can move quickly in either direction, and a couple of lower results do not guarantee that the next bidding will also fall.

If you are looking to buy, consider the overall car price, rather than focusing only on the COE premium.

Look at:

• Car selling price

• COE premium

• Depreciation

• Remaining COE

• Mileage and condition

• Loan interest and monthly instalment

• PARF value

• Your intended ownership period

• Current dealer promotions

A lower COE does not automatically mean that every used or new car will become cheaper by the same amount.

So, should buyers wait?

If you are flexible and not in a hurry, it may be worth watching the next bidding result to see whether the downward movement continues.

But if you have already found a suitable car at a good overall price, waiting purely for COE to fall further could also mean missing out on the car or deal you want.

The key is to compare the actual deal, not just the COE number.

Should You Sell Your Car Now?

For sellers, the situation is slightly different.

Yes, COE has been falling from its September 1st peak.

But current premiums are still relatively high:

• CAT A: $130,001

• CAT B: $130,100

• CAT E: $137,000

So a falling COE does not automatically mean you should wait before selling.

Your car's value depends on much more than the latest COE result.

Factors such as:

• Registration year

• Make and model

• COE balance

• Mileage

• Vehicle condition

• Demand for your particular model

• PARF value

• Current dealer demand

can have a major impact on the offer you receive.

If you're thinking of selling...

This may actually be a good time to get a valuation and understand your current market price.

If COE continues falling, used-car valuations could also face pressure depending on the vehicle and market demand.

Instead of trying to perfectly time the market, get your car valued now and compare the offer with what you could potentially get later.

-> Get a FREE car valuation from SGCARDEALS and find out what your car could be worth today.

What Can We Expect in the Next COE Bidding?

The latest results make the next bidding especially interesting.

There are three possible scenarios.

Scenario 1: COE continues to fall

This is now a possibility worth watching.

CAT A, CAT B and CAT C have moved lower again, following the previous round's declines.

If bidding demand remains softer, we could see another round of declines.

If this happens, buyers may have more room to negotiate, while sellers may want to reassess their car's value sooner rather than later.

Scenario 2: COE stabilises

Another possibility is that the market has already found a short-term support level.

After two consecutive declines, bidders could return more aggressively at the next exercise.

This could result in COE premiums staying around current levels rather than falling sharply.

CAT E remaining at $137,000 in the latest exercise could also be something to watch.

Scenario 3: COE rebounds

We should not completely rule out another increase.

Remember what happened in September: all four categories jumped significantly in the September 1st bidding before falling in the following exercises.

If demand suddenly strengthens, COE could rebound again.

This is why one or two consecutive drops are not enough to guarantee a long-term downtrend.

So, Is COE Really Trending Down?

There are signs of cooling, but it is still too early to confirm a sustained downtrend.

The recent pattern is:

August 1st → August 2nd: 📈August 2nd → September 1st: 📈September 1st → September 2nd: 📉September 2nd → October 1st: 📉

The latest two results are particularly important because the market has now moved lower for two consecutive bidding exercises.

If the next bidding also shows declines, especially in CAT A and CAT B, the case for a more established downward trend becomes stronger.

For now, however, it is better to describe the market as cooling after the September 1st spike rather than assuming COE will continue falling.

How to Stay Updated and Predict the COE Trend

Nobody can accurately predict the exact COE premium before every bidding exercise, but you can make better decisions by watching the right indicators.

1. Don't look at just one result

One COE result can be misleading.

Look at at least 3–4 consecutive bidding exercises to identify whether the market is genuinely trending up or down.

2. Look at the direction of CAT A and CAT B

For most private car buyers, CAT A and CAT B are particularly useful categories to monitor.

If both continue falling across several exercises, it gives a stronger indication that passenger-car COE demand may be cooling.

3. Look at the size of the movement

A $200 drop is very different from a $3,000 drop.

For example, CAT B's latest $2,900 decline is much more significant than CAT C's $255 movement.

Pay attention to whether the drops are becoming larger or smaller.

4. Watch for two-way movements

If COE keeps going:

up → down → up → down

the market is likely volatile rather than clearly trending.

In that situation, trying to time the exact lowest point can be risky.

5. Track bidding dates and results regularly

Keep a simple record of every bidding exercise.

You can compare:

Previous COE → Latest COE → Difference → Direction

Over time, this makes it much easier to spot whether the market is actually moving in one direction.

6. Don't forget the car market itself

COE is only one part of the equation.

If you're selling, monitor your actual car valuation and dealer offers.

If you're buying, compare the total purchase price and depreciation, not just the COE premium.

The October 2026 1st COE bidding results provide another sign of cooling in the market.

After the sharp increase in September 1st, COE fell across the board in September 2nd. Now, in October 1st, CAT A, CAT B and CAT C have fallen again, while CAT E remained unchanged.

The pattern is now:

Rise → Drop → Drop

If this continues in the next bidding exercise, we could have stronger evidence that COE is entering a more sustained cooling period.

For buyers, it may be worth monitoring the next result if you're not in a hurry, but don't assume COE will definitely keep falling.

For sellers, don't wait for the "perfect" COE level. With CAT A and CAT B still around $130k, getting a current car valuation can help you decide whether today's offer is worth taking.

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