How Much is My Car Worth? Comprehensive Guide to Used Car Valuation in Singapore (2026)

The Foundation: Understanding "Paper Value"

Before looking at the condition of your leather seats or the fresh coat of wax on your exterior, every car in Singapore has a foundational "floor" price known as its paper value. This is the absolute minimum guaranteed amount you would receive from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) if you were to scrap or deregister your car today.

Your paper value is made up of two main components:

COE Rebate: If you deregister your car before its 10-year COE expires, you are entitled to a pro-rated refund of the unused portion. For example, if you scrap a car with exactly five years left on its 10-year COE, you will get exactly half of the original quota premium back.

PARF Rebate: The Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) rebate is a refund of a percentage of the taxes you paid when the car was first registered. The amount drops as the car ages, typically starting at 75% for cars under five years old and scaling down to 50% by the tenth year. It is crucial to note that recent 2026 budget changes introduced new caps on PARF rebates, making accurate, up-to-date calculations more important than ever.

Key Takeaway: Your Paper Value (Unused COE + PARF Rebate) plus the scrap body value of the metal is the absolute minimum your car is worth.

Market Premium: Condition, Mileage, and Demand

If paper value is the floor, the open market dictates the ceiling. The difference between a car's paper value and its final selling price ultimately comes down to desirability.

Here is what buyers and dealers are looking closely at:

Mechanical Integrity and Maintenance: A complete, documented service history from an authorized dealer or a reputable specialist workshop is worth its weight in gold. Buyers will gladly pay a premium for a car that has proof of proactive maintenance rather than inheriting someone else's neglected wear-and-tear issues.

Mileage Context: While low mileage is always preferred, context matters. A slightly higher mileage car with a flawless maintenance record is often valued much more favorably than a low mileage car with missing service history and existing mechanical faults.

Cosmetic Condition: The "showroom shine" is a very real psychological factor. A well-groomed exterior with no dents and a clean, odor-free interior suggests to buyers that the car was loved and cared for, immediately reducing their urge to haggle.

Brand and Model Demand: Certain segments, like fuel-efficient Japanese hybrids, continental luxury sedans, or popular family SUVs, move quickly on the secondary market. If you are selling a highly sought-after model, you possess much more leverage in setting the price.