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In Singapore, luxury isn’t measured by the roar of a V12. Here, just having a steering wheel in your driveway is enough to set you apart. The reason? The simple right to own a car costs a small fortune.
The COE System: Paying For The Right To Drive
At the heart of Singapore’s approach are Certificates of Entitlement, or COEs, introduced in 1990 to limit congestion and pollution. These ten-year permits are mandatory for registering any car. And they don’t come cheap.
Twice a month, a batch of COEs is released for auction. With demand sky-high, prices now top $75,000 each. And that’s before you’ve even bought the car. Add the cost of the certificate, and an ordinary compact can easily cross the $110,000 mark.
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Take insurance agent Andre Lee, profiled in the New York Times. In 2020, he paid $24,000 for a used 2010 Kia Forte—nearly five times what the same model would cost in the United States. Why the extravagance? For him, owning a car wasn’t about convenience but image. “It’s like wearing a Rolex,” he admitted.
But by 2023, Lee sold the car. Between maintenance, fuel, and parking fees, even his healthy salary couldn’t keep up. Business executive Su-Sanne Ching tells a similar story: she shelled out $150,000 for a Mercedes-Benz, including $60,000 just for the COE. “I pay for convenience,” she said bluntly.
In Singapore, it isn’t Ferraris or Lamborghinis that define status. The real luxury is simply having a car—any car.
A City That Runs On Public Transit
Singapore is a city-state of 5.9 million residents packed onto an island smaller than New York City. A massive fleet of cars would be impossible to sustain. That’s why the COE exists—and by most measures, it works.
The numbers tell the story. Singapore has just 11 cars per 100 residents. The European Union averages about 56. The U.S.? More than 80. Fewer cars mean cleaner air, quieter streets, faster commutes (especially for ambulances and emergency services), and more space for pedestrians.
This is only possible because public transit is reliable, affordable, and deeply integrated into daily life. A long subway ride costs less than $1.50. Ride-hailing services like Grab (Southeast Asia’s Uber equivalent) are widely available and efficient. Over the past decade, Singapore has poured money into the system: new metro lines, 1,000 additional buses, 200 extra trains. Today, 80 percent of households are within a ten-minute walk of a station. For most residents, giving up a car isn’t a hardship—it’s just normal.
An Exportable Model?
Around the world, cities are grappling with gridlock and pollution. Mexico City restricts driving based on license plates. London and Stockholm impose congestion charges. New York launched its own version this year.
But no city has gone as far as Singapore. Perhaps the investment is too steep. Perhaps it’s politically risky to turn car ownership into a luxury for the wealthy. Or perhaps, in societies built around the automobile, it simply isn’t realistic.
Still, Singapore’s bold experiment raises a provocative question: in a crowded, warming world, should the privilege of owning a car be treated not as a right—but as the ultimate luxury?
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David Miller is an entertainment expert with a passion for film, music, and series. With eight years in cultural criticism, he takes you behind the scenes of productions and studios. His energetic style guides you to the next big releases and trending sensations.
Man, I remember when my ol junk car was my ticket to freedom in Singapore. COE prices kept rising, but having any wheels felt like a luxury. Public transits cool and all, but that car was my sanctuary.
Man, owning a car in Singapore is like striking gold, even if its a clunker. The COE systems a wild ride, but public transits pretty slick. Luxurys just cruising in your own wheels, junk or not.
Man, I remember when my old junker was my ticket to freedom in Singapore. The COE systems a headache, but hey, any wheels beat squeezing in public transit any day, am I right?
Man, in Singapore, having any car feels like striking gold. I remember when my old junker broke down in the rain. Luxury isnt just Lambos here, its the freedom to drive, even if its a clunker.
Man, I remember my old beater in Singapore, held together by duct tape. But hey, it got me places! Luxury aint a Lambo; its having wheels, no matter how rusty.
Man, in Singapore, having any ol’ car feels like striking gold. The COE systems like a lottery, but with more stress. Public transits cool, but nothing beats blasting your tunes in your own junky ride.
Man, I remember when COEs were a whole different ball game. Now its like a wild goose chase just to own a car. Luxury is a rusty old car, not some flashy ride. Lets bring back the good ol days!
Man, owning a car in Singapore is like striking gold. Even a beat-up old clunker feels like a fancy ride here. The COE system is a rollercoaster, but the luxury of having your own wheels? Priceless.
Man, I remember when my old junker broke down on every corner in Singapore. Still, having a car felt like hitting the jackpot. Luxury aint all shiny Ferraris, sometimes its just the freedom to drive your own rust bucket.