Personal project, not financial advice. Every figure is an estimate based on my own interpretation of the rules, and may be out of date or wrong. Check with the seller, LTA or a qualified professional before you decide. Use at your own risk. Terms and disclaimer

A decision tool for car ownership in Singapore

Should I keep, repair, or change my car?

Compare your car options and see what actually makes financial sense in Singapore.

  • ✓Built for Singapore car costs (COE, PARF, depreciation)
  • ✓Helps you compare before switching cars
  • ✓Simple comparison — no financial jargon
Cars driving on a Singapore road
Sample comparison
Illustrative

Three options side-by-side, each reduced to a single true monthly cost. Your numbers will differ.

Keep current car$ X,XXX /mo
Buy used$ X,XXX /mo
Buy new$ X,XXX /mo
Calculator shows the cheapest estimate and why
Latest COE premiums

The latest COE results

From data.gov.sg, checked a few times a day for new bidding results.

Tap any tile to start comparing cars with these premiums

How it works

From sticker price to an estimated monthly cost, in three steps

1

Enter the car

Paste the asking price, pick the COE category, and set your loan terms. Pre-filled popular models are a click away.

2

See the real breakdown

We layer in depreciation, PARF rebate at dereg, interest, road tax, insurance, parking and running costs — using the latest LTA rules.

3

Compare options side-by-side

Stack up to four cars, or run a keep-vs-repair-vs-buy scenario against your current car to see which option wins over the years you'll actually keep it.

Make the right decision before committing

Owning a car in Singapore is expensive — but the bigger risk is choosing the wrong option.

Whether you're repairing your current car, buying used, or going new, this tool helps you compare real costs before you commit.

Not just cost — what's worth it

The cheapest option isn't always the best.

A newer car may cost more but offers reliability and fewer unexpected repairs. Keeping your current car may save money — if it remains dependable.

This tool helps you understand both the numbers and the trade-offs.

Sample output

Illustrative — not a real listing

What a calculator result looks like: one headline monthly figure, the numbers that drive it, and a deal-check against paper value.

Example — Toyota Camry 2.5 Hybrid (2022)Cat B COE

True monthly burn

$3,280

COE expiry

Mar 2032

Deregistration value

$41,200

Is this a good deal?

$45,000 – $58,000

🔴 Overpriced by 8%

Asking $56,000 · avg estimate $51,500 · paper value + typical dealer margin.

72

Buy Score — Reasonable hold

COE renewal math works. Consider renewing over selling.

Hold / Renew

All figures shown above are illustrative. Real results depend on the specific car, COE, loan terms and your inputs.

Decision flow: compare your current car with used and new car options to choose the best value

Example breakdowns

See it in action

Estimated costs for representative Singapore used-car listings captured in March 2026, using standard assumptions. Actual figures will vary — use the calculator for your specific car.

Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6New · Cat A
Asking price$185,888
True monthly burn$2,733 / mo
Dereg value at 10yr~$960 (post-PARF cut)
Was $9,596 pre-Feb 2026−$8,636 lost
Annual cost~$32,796 / yr
Total over 10-yr COE~$327,960
BYD Atto 3 (EV)New · Cat A · EV
Asking price$166,888
True monthly burn$2,257 / mo
Cheaper than Corolla by$476 / mo
VES + EEAI (in price)$30,000 rebate
Annual cost~$27,084 / yr
Total over 10-yr COE~$270,840
Honda Civic 1.5T (used)Used 2023 · Cat B
Asking price$145,800
True monthly burn$2,740 / mo
Seller premium vs paper+$60,340 above paper
Grandfathered PARF$13,360 at dereg
Annual cost~$32,880 / yr
Total over ~7yr COE left~$230,160

Estimates based on representative Singapore used-car listings captured in March 2026. Assumes 15,000 km/yr, 60–70% LTV at 2.78% flat rate over 7 years, $200/mo parking, $80/mo ERP. SGCarPrice is not affiliated with any dealer or manufacturer. These figures are for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied on as financial advice.

What you get

Three numbers that actually matter

True monthly burn

Loan repayment, COE amortisation, depreciation, insurance, road tax — every cost, divided over your ownership period. One honest number.

Lifetime cost to COE expiry

The full 10-year picture — every dollar out from day one to deregistration, minus the PARF rebate and scrap value you get back. The viral forum breakdown, computed on your numbers.

Buy score

A rough 0–100 score: my estimate of whether this car at this price is good value, not just affordable.

60-second reality check

How much car can you actually afford?

Slide your take-home pay. We apply a common 15%-of-income rule of thumb and map it to a realistic car segment — a rough sanity check before you walk into a showroom.

$8,000
$3k$8k$13k$20k
Car budget (15% rule)$1,200 / mo
Annual car spend$14,400
% of income15%

You can realistically own

Budget hatchback (Cat A used)

Typical asking-price range: $90k – $120k

  • ✓Keeps total car spend inside the 15% safety zone
  • ✓Leaves room for parking, ERP, fuel, insurance
  • ✓Assumes 7-year loan, 60% LTV, 2.78% flat rate

The 15% rule is just a rule of thumb — not personal financial advice. Use the calculator for an estimate on a specific car.

FAQ

Common questions

How much salary do I need to afford a car in Singapore?+

A common guideline is to keep total transport spending (loan repayment + running costs) below 15–20% of your monthly take-home pay. At that ratio, a $6,000/month take-home salary supports roughly $900–$1,200/month in car costs — which typically corresponds to a budget car with a Cat A COE. For most mid-range cars with a Cat B COE, a take-home of $8,000–$10,000+ is more realistic.

What is the biggest cost of owning a car in Singapore?+

Depreciation — by far. In Singapore, depreciation (the loss in value over the ownership period) typically accounts for 50–65% of the true monthly cost. This is driven by the COE system: you're essentially paying for the right to own a car for 10 years, and that premium depreciates to near-zero. Running costs (fuel, insurance, road tax, maintenance) are secondary.

What changed with the 2026 Budget PARF cuts?+

On Feb 13, 2026, the government cut the PARF rebate schedule sharply: a car under 5 years old now rebates 30% of ARF paid (down from 75%), stepping down to 5% by year 10, with the cap halved from $60,000 to $30,000. PARF is the rebate you receive when you deregister a car before its COE expires. Cars registered after Feb 13 therefore have a significantly lower 'paper value' — and higher true depreciation cost — over their lifetime.

Is a used car cheaper to own than a new one?+

Often yes on monthly cost, but not always. A used car typically has a lower asking price and lower COE premium, which reduces depreciation. However, it may have higher maintenance costs as it ages, less remaining COE life, and a lower PARF rebate at deregistration. The best way to compare is to calculate the true monthly burn for both — which is exactly what SGCarPrice does.

What happens when my COE expires?+

You have two options: renew the COE (for 5 or 10 years at the prevailing premium, forfeiting the PARF rebate) or deregister the car and collect the PARF + COE residual rebate. The right choice depends on the condition of the car, how much COE renewal costs vs buying a new car, and how much of the original ARF is still rebatable. SGCarPrice's Keep vs Buy mode lets you compare keeping your current car against buying, including cars that have already renewed their COE.

Does SGCarPrice store my data?+

The calculator works in your browser, and you don't need an account to use it. If you sign in and save a comparison, it's kept with your account so you can open it again later. The terms of use cover the rest.

Where the numbers come from

Latest COE results

COE results from data.gov.sg, Singapore's official open data portal.

Based on LTA's published rules

PARF and ARF follow my reading of LTA OneMotoring's published rules.

Budget 2026 rules

The PARF rebate changes from 13 February 2026, including the $30,000 cap, are built into the calculations, as I understand them.

Ready to see your estimate?

Enter a Singapore-registered car and get an estimated cost breakdown.

Free guide

Cost of Owning a Car in Singapore

COE explained, PARF changes, depreciation, new vs used, and how to do a proper 10-year total-cost breakdown — everything in one place.

Car cost and depreciation in Singapore

The cost of owning a car in Singapore includes COE, depreciation, insurance, and maintenance.

Car depreciation in Singapore is often the largest cost, especially for newer vehicles. COE prices also significantly affect total ownership cost and resale value.

When comparing used cars vs new cars in Singapore, it's important to look beyond the price and consider total monthly cost and long-term value.

Use this calculator to compare your own situation and make a more informed decision.

SGCarPrice — Singapore car true cost calculator

Independent tool. Not affiliated with LTA, OneMotoring, or any motor dealer. All calculations are estimates based on publicly available 2026 tax structures and should be used as a guide only.

Terms of Use