The series around SLM
| Series | First open for bidding |
|---|
| SLJ | October 2016 |
| SLK | November 2016 |
| SLL | January 2017 |
| SLM | February 2017 |
| SLN | March 2017 |
| SLP | April 2017 |
| SLQ | May 2017 |
Also from 2017: SLL, SLN, SLP, SLQ, SLR, SLS, SLT, SLU, SLV, SLW.
From LTA’s list of car prefixes on DataMall: from SDQ (December 2001) on, the month a series first opened for bidding; before that, the month it came out. Every series is on the car plate page, and in one CSV.
Questions
What year is an SLM car plate?
The SLM series first opened for bidding in February 2017. It was the newest series for 1 month, until SLN in March 2017. So a car with an SLM plate was registered in February 2017 or later: a number can be bid for after its series opens, or kept from an older car, so the car can be newer than its plate, never older.
How old is a car with an SLM plate?
No older than 9 years and 9 months (in November 2026), counted from February 2017, when the series first opened for bidding. It can be younger: the plate only says when the number came out.
When does an SLM car’s COE end?
A COE lasts 10 years from registration, so a car registered in February 2017, when the series first opened for bidding, has its first COE running to about February 2027; one registered later, later still. After that it’s deregistered, or its COE renewed for 5 or 10 more years at the Prevailing Quota Premium: see the latest COE prices and PQP, and the PARF and COE rebates for scrapping it.
What comes after SLM?
SLN, which first opened for bidding in March 2017, then SLP in April 2017. Before SLM came SLL (January 2017).
What letter does SLM 1234 end in?
SLM 1234 A. The last letter is a checksum worked out from the prefix and the number: SLM 1 L, SLM 88 L, SLM 8888 S. Check any SLM plate.