LTA Car Plate Bidding: How to Bid for a VRN in Singapore

Anyone who has bought a car in Singapore knows the feeling: you’ve secured a COE, picked your model, and then you realise you still need a number plate. The LTA’s car plate bidding system lets you choose your own Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) — but the process has a few rules you’ll want to know before you bid. The following steps walk you through the entire workflow, from checking availability to paying for your winning bid, using official OneMotoring tools.

Minimum bid amount: $1,000 (inclusive of GST) ·
Bidding frequency: Weekly ·
Bidding close day/time: Wednesday 12:00 PM (SGT) ·
Result announcement: Same Wednesday at 12:00 PM ·
Payment deadline: Within 7 days of winning ·
VRN validity after winning: 1 year

X key facts about LTA car plate bidding: one pattern — every step is governed by strict deadlines and non-refundable commitments.

When is the next car plate bidding exercise?

Weekly schedule

• Bidding exercises are held weekly. The cycle opens every Monday at 9:00 AM and closes the following Wednesday at 12:00 PM SGT (OneMotoring LTA guidance).
• Results are posted at 12:00 PM on the same Wednesday the exercise closes (LTA).

How to check the exact dates

• Visit the OneMotoring VRN page to see current and upcoming exercise dates.
• If a public holiday falls on a Monday or Wednesday, the schedule may shift — check the official announcement.

The pattern: The weekly cycle is consistent, but always verify the exact dates a few days before you intend to bid — especially around public holidays.

What car plate numbers are available for bidding?

How to view available VRNs

• LTA publishes a searchable list of available VRNs on the OneMotoring portal (OneMotoring VRN listing).
• You can filter by prefix (e.g., SD, SE) or number pattern.

Categories of numbers

• Available numbers include new series (new prefix launches), returned numbers (surrendered by previous owners), and unsold numbers from past exercises.
• Some numbers are classified as “popular” and may attract higher bids.

Why this matters: Checking availability early lets you plan your bid — popular numbers often require a significantly higher offer.

How to check LTA car plate bidding results?

Where to find results

• Results are published on OneMotoring at 12:00 PM on the closing Wednesday — the same time the exercise ends (OneMotoring bid results).
• You can also view results via the VIVR portal (Vehicle Inquiry and Vehicle Registration).

What information is shown

• The results page displays each VRN that received a bid, the winning bid amount, and the status (awarded or unsuccessful).
• Winning bidders are notified by email and can also log in to check their bid status.

What this means: If you placed a bid, you’ll know within seconds of the closure — no waiting for letters or phone calls.

How does car plate bidding work in Singapore?

Step-by-step bidding process

1. Step 1: Log in to OneMotoring or VIVR using your Singpass account.
2. Step 2: Navigate to the Vehicle Registration Number section.
3. Step 3: Search for your desired VRN and check its availability.
4. Step 4: Enter your bid amount (minimum $1,000 inclusive of GST, in multiples of $1).
5. Step 5: Confirm the bid — it cannot be amended or withdrawn after submission (OneMotoring (LTA) irreversibility rule).
6. Step 6: Wait for results on Wednesday 12:00 PM.

Minimum bid and rules

• The minimum bid is $1,000 inclusive of GST. All bids must be in whole dollars.
• If you are an existing vehicle owner, you can also bid to replace your current VRN (OneMotoring (LTA) replacement eligibility).
• Unsuccessful bidders receive a full refund of the bid amount.

The trade-off: The non-refundable, non-amendable nature means you must be certain of your bid before clicking confirm. A mistake can cost you the full bid amount.

How to use One Motoring for car plate bidding?

Creating an account

• You need a Singpass account (Singapore’s national digital identity) to log in to OneMotoring.
• If you don’t have one, register at Singpass (government digital identity portal).

Navigating OneMotoring

• After login, go to Digital Services > Manage Registered Vehicle Numbers.
• Use the search tool to find available VRNs by prefix or number.

Submitting a bid

• Select your VRN, enter the bid amount, and confirm.
• You will receive a confirmation on screen and via email.

The catch: OneMotoring’s interface can be overwhelming if you’re unfamiliar with government portals. We recommend doing a dry run — just browsing the available numbers — a few days before you actually bid.

Timeline: The weekly bidding cycle

1. Monday 9:00 AM — Bidding exercise opens (OneMotoring)
2. Wednesday 12:00 PM — Bidding exercise closes (OneMotoring)
3. Wednesday 12:00 PM (same day) — Results announced (OneMotoring)
4. Within 7 days of winning — Payment deadline (OneMotoring)
5. After payment — VRN assigned to vehicle (OneMotoring)

The implication: You have roughly 2.5 days to place a bid each week. That’s not much time for last-minute research — plan ahead.

What we know — and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Minimum bid amount is $1,000 inclusive of GST. (OneMotoring (LTA))
• Bidding closes every Wednesday at 12:00 PM. (OneMotoring (LTA))
• Results are announced on the same Wednesday at 12:00 PM.
• Bids cannot be amended or withdrawn once submitted. (OneMotoring (LTA))

What’s unclear

• Exact future exercise dates may vary due to public holidays.
• Number of available VRNs per exercise is not fixed — it depends on returned numbers and new series.

The pattern: While the key rules are confirmed, bidders should stay updated on any changes by checking OneMotoring regularly.

Expert perspectives on car plate bidding

“The minimum bid amount is $1,000 (inclusive of GST).”

— LTA – Vehicle Registration Number page

“Results for the weekly bidding exercise are announced on the Wednesday at 12pm the same week the bidding exercise closes.”

— OneMotoring – VRN bidding results

For anyone in Singapore who wants a custom number plate, the LTA system is both straightforward and unforgiving. Plan your bid carefully, and you’ll drive off with a VRN you actually want.

For the Singapore buyer, the choice is clear: check availability early, bid confidently (remember, no changes after submission), and pay within the week — or start the cycle all over again.

For a more detailed walkthrough of the bidding process, you can check the latest LTA car plate bidding guide which covers updates and key deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading:

• 18 Tai Seng Parking Rates & Free Parking Guide (2025) — parking rates and LTA-related vehicle costs.
• Singapore Calendar 2025 with Public Holidays – Free Printable — useful for checking public holiday impacts on bidding schedules.