The series around SME
| Series | First open for bidding |
|---|
| SMA | April 2018 |
| SMC | May 2018 |
| SMD | June 2018 |
| SME | July 2018 |
| SMF | August 2018 |
| SMG | October 2018 |
| SMH | November 2018 |
Also from 2018: SLX, SLZ, SMA, SMC, SMD, SMF, SMG, SMH.
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 SME car plate?
The SME series first opened for bidding in July 2018. It was the newest series for 1 month, until SMF in August 2018. So a car with an SME plate was registered in July 2018 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 SME plate?
No older than 8 years and 4 months (in November 2026), counted from July 2018, when the series first opened for bidding. It can be younger: the plate only says when the number came out.
When does an SME car’s COE end?
A COE lasts 10 years from registration, so a car registered in July 2018, when the series first opened for bidding, has its first COE running to about July 2028; 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 SME?
SMF, which first opened for bidding in August 2018, then SMG in October 2018. Before SME came SMD (June 2018).
What letter does SME 1234 end in?
SME 1234 E. The last letter is a checksum worked out from the prefix and the number: SME 1 S, SME 88 S, SME 8888 Y. Check any SME plate.