How to Calculate Additional Registration Fee (ARF) in Singapore: A Step-by-Step Guide

Updated 5 Oct 2026 in Loans & Finance

Calculates the tiered ARF for cars registered in Singapore.

Interest rates, instalments and returns compound over years, so a small difference in rate or tenure turns into thousands of dollars. Working the numbers out yourself makes it easier to compare bank offers, avoid expensive debt and plan savings goals.

What you need

• Open Market Value (OMV) (S$)

Step by step

1. Enter the open market value (OMV).
2. The results update as you type, or press Calculate.
3. Read the arf payable first, then the supporting figures below it.

The formula

100% on the first S$20,000 of OMV, 140% on the next S$20,000, 190% on the next S$20,000 and 250% above S$60,000.

Worked example

For example, with these inputs:

• Open Market Value (OMV) (S$): 35,000

the calculator returns:

• ARF payable: S$41,000.00
• ARF as % of OMV: 117.14%

A second example

Now change the inputs to:

• Open Market Value (OMV) (S$): 43,750

the calculator returns:

• ARF payable: S$55,125.00
• ARF as % of OMV: 126.00%

Practical tips

• Keep three to six months of expenses in an easy-access account before investing aggressively.
• Paying credit card bills in full avoids interest charges of around 27% a year or more.
• Check for early repayment penalties and processing fees before taking any loan.
• Even small monthly contributions grow meaningfully over 20 years because of compounding.

Background

Interest in Singapore is quoted in several ways. Mortgages and savings accounts use effective annual rates, while car loans and many personal loans are advertised at flat rates that look much lower than their true cost. Banks must disclose the effective interest rate, and comparing on that basis gives a fair picture.

Inflation erodes buying power, so a savings goal set in today's dollars needs to be adjusted upwards for the years it will take to reach it. Singapore's core inflation has varied widely over the past decade, so it is worth testing a range of rates.

An emergency fund of three to six months of essential expenses protects you from having to borrow at high rates when something unexpected happens. Once that buffer is in place, extra savings can go towards longer-term goals and investments.

Related calculations

• Break-Even Calculator: Finds how many units you must sell to cover costs.
• Profit Margin Calculator: Calculates profit, margin and markup from cost and price.
• Markup Calculator: Finds the selling price from cost and markup.
• Discount Calculator: Works out sale prices during Great Singapore Sale, 11.11 and other promotions.

Want to skip the arithmetic? The free Additional Registration Fee (ARF) Calculator does all of this instantly and updates as you type.

Run your own numbers: Additional Registration Fee (ARF) Calculator