The BMW 1 Series is the smallest BMW, and in Singapore it is often the way into the brand. Its 1.5-litre engine keeps road tax modest, but insurance quotes vary a great deal. This guide walks through the costs we can show, then the ones that depend on how you use the car.
All insurance prices here are examples for one stated driver, read on 20 October 2026. They help you compare. They are not what you will be quoted.
The 1 Series range
The new-car list read on 2026-10-10 has one version on sale: the 1 Series Hatchback 116 M Sport. It is a petrol hatchback made in Germany, with a 1,499cc engine and 121bhp.
Our quote form lists ten versions for cars already on the road. They run from the 116i 1.5 (1,499cc) through the 118i and 120i (1,995cc) to the 130i (2,996cc), with diesel 116d and 118d versions too. The insurance figures are for the BMW 116i 1.5, the version most of our insurers quote.
The list price
As listed on 2026-10-10, the 116 M Sport was S$260,888, COE included as listed that day.
That figure moves with every COE round. When you get a price from a dealer, ask what it covers so you compare like with like.
The COE question
The price page's COE section sets the rule for the 116i 1.5. With a 1,499cc engine, it needs a Category A COE if its power is 97kW (130bhp) or less. If its power is higher, it needs a Category B COE.
In the October 2026 1st round, Category A closed at S$130,001 and Category B at S$130,100. These move every round. The COE page shows the latest.
Road tax
For the 116i's 1,499cc engine, LTA's formula gives road tax of S$683.66 a year, before any surcharge.
That rises on an older car:
- Over 10 years: +10%
- Over 11 years: +20%
- Over 12 years: +30%
- Over 13 years: +40%
- Over 14 years: +50%
The larger 118i, 120i and 130i engines pay more road tax. Look them up on the road tax page.
Insurance for one standard driver
The BMW 1 Series price page prices this case:
- Car: BMW 116i 1.5, registered 3 years ago, private use, comprehensive cover
- Driver: aged 40, married, office job, 10 to 19 years of driving
- Record: 50% no-claim discount (NCD), no claims
- Repairs: authorised workshop, no options
15 insurers price it. The lowest premium is S$742.90 a year. The insurer whose lowest plan is dearest asks at least S$2,501.33. That is S$1,758.43 more, or 237% on top. All prices include 9% GST.
That is one of the widest gaps on our pages. The dearest lowest plan costs more than three times the lowest, for the same small car and the same driver.
The excess on offer
Each plan has an excess, the part of a claim you pay yourself. Ten plans here carry S$600. Others carry S$500, S$750 or S$800. Three ask S$2,500, one asks S$3,000 and one asks nothing. Set the excess beside each premium before you compare.
How the premium moves
The price page shows the lowest price when one detail changes:
- No NCD (0%): S$1,208.59, S$465.69 more
- 20% NCD: S$1,208.59, S$465.69 more
- Driver aged 27, 3 years' driving, 30% NCD: S$1,208.59, S$465.69 more
- Driver aged 65, 20 or more years' driving: S$742.90, the same
- New car, registered this year: S$764.82, S$21.92 more
- Car 8 years old: S$666.79, S$76.11 less
Losing the NCD lifts the lowest price by 63%, the biggest change here. The 20% NCD case and the younger driver share that figure.
An older driver pays the same as the standard one. The car's age moves the price only a little. These are lowest prices; plans higher up may move by other amounts.
First car, young driver
The 1 Series is often bought by younger drivers. If that is you, note the young driver's figure and price your own details, since they can shift the result a long way.
Against similar cars
The price page lines up six cars of a similar size, same driver and car age:
- Mazda 3: S$927.36
- Mercedes-Benz GLB: S$787.96
- Hyundai Kona: S$721.59
- Toyota Corolla Altis: S$642.42
- Honda Freed: S$642.42
- Toyota Sienta: S$604.07
Their average lowest price is S$720.97. The 1 Series is 3% above it, and 4 of the six are cheaper to insure. Other BMW models are on the BMW car insurance page.
Costs that depend on you
These vary by owner, so no figure fits all:
- Parking: season parking at your HDB block or condo, plus office and mall charges.
- Petrol: depends on how far you drive and the pump price.
- ERP: depends on your routes and the times you travel.
- Servicing and repairs: the maker's schedule, plus tyres, brakes and a battery over time. Ask what the warranty and any service package cover.
- Depreciation: what the car loses over its COE life depends on what you pay and what it fetches later.
Summary of yearly costs we can show
For the BMW 116i 1.5, figures dated as shown:
- Road tax: S$683.66 a year, before any age surcharge (LTA's formula, checked 2026-10-19)
- Insurance, standard driver: from S$742.90 a year (20 October 2026)
- Insurance, no NCD: from S$1,208.59
- Insurance, a new car: from S$764.82
- Insurance, a car 8 years old: from S$666.79
One-off costs for reference: S$260,888 as listed on 2026-10-10 for the 116 M Sport, and a COE in the October 2026 1st round of S$130,001 (Category A) or S$130,100 (Category B).
Before you buy: car insurance for the BMW 1 Series
Before you drive off, get your car insurance through Shenton Brokers. Compare car insurance for the BMW 1 Series to see today's prices from every insurer we compare and how they change with the driver and the car's age. Or get a quote with your own details.