How to buy a used car in Singapore, step by step

Short answer: set a budget by what the car costs per year, not its price; check how much COE it has left; arrange the loan and insurance; have the car inspected; then the seller transfers it to you on LTA's OneMotoring and you confirm. Buying from a dealer, most of the paperwork is done for you. Here is each step.

1. Set a budget the Singapore way

In Singapore, every car's life is set by its Certificate of Entitlement (COE), so price on its own tells you very little. Two cars at $50,000 can cost very different amounts to own if one has eight years of COE left and the other three.

The number to compare is depreciation per year: roughly the price, less whatever you get back when the COE ends, divided by the years of COE left. It is shown on every car we sell. Work out what you are comfortable spending a year, then add fuel, insurance, road tax and servicing.

See every car we have ranked by cost per year.

2. Decide: younger car or COE car

• A PARF car is still on its first 10-year COE. It costs more but holds more of its value, and returns a PARF rebate if it is deregistered early.
• A COE car has had its COE renewed for 5 or 10 years. It costs less per year and lets you drive more car for the money, but it is older.

Both can be good buys. Our guide on whether to buy a COE car goes through the trade-off.

3. Work out the loan before you shop

MAS caps car loans at 70% of the price when the car's Open Market Value (OMV) is $20,000 or less, and 60% when it is more. For a used car the OMV is first reduced for the car's age, so most older cars qualify for 70%. Loans run up to seven years, but never past the car's COE.

So a car with three years of COE left can have at most a three-year loan, and the monthly payment rises to match. More in how much downpayment you need, or work out a monthly payment for any of our cars.

4. Check the car

Before you agree a price:

• COE expiry date, and for a COE car, whether it was renewed for 5 or 10 years;
• Service history, which matters more than the mileage;
• Mileage that makes sense for the car's age and history;
• Tyres, brakes and warning lights, on a test drive;
• An independent inspection. Evaluation centres such as STA and VICOM offer used-car checks, and a good dealer will let you bring your own mechanic.

5. Agree the deal in writing

Get the price and what it includes in writing: the deposit, the balance, any loan, whether a trade-in is part of it, and the handover date. If you are trading in your own car, agree its value at the same time.

6. Insure the car in your name

The car must be insured in your name before it can be transferred to you, with cover in place from the transfer date. Get quotes early. Your dealer can usually help.

7. Transfer of ownership

Transfers are done online on LTA's OneMotoring:

1. The seller, or the dealer for you, starts the transfer and settles anything outstanding on the car, such as road tax or fines.
2. You get an SMS and have 5 days to log in with Singpass, confirm and pay a small transfer fee. If you don't confirm in time, the transfer is cancelled.
3. Once it is confirmed, the car is yours.

Buying from a dealer, the transfer, the loan papers and the insurance are usually arranged together, so on the day you sign, pay and collect.

Buying from Kaze Motors

Every car we sell shows its price, depreciation per year, COE left and the longest loan it can have. View any of them by appointment, bring your own mechanic, and we will handle the paperwork. Here are our cheapest cars to own right now:

See all our stock, or WhatsApp us what you are looking for.

Sources

Checked on 9 October 2026 against the official sources. Rules change, so check them again for any decision that depends on them.

• LTA OneMotoring: Transfer of ownership, Certificate of Entitlement, PARF and COE rebates
• MAS: Motor vehicle loans