The short verdict on cost: the BMW X1 sDrive16 pays road tax in line with many small-engined family cars. Its insurance starts higher than most cars on its price page's comparison list, and the spread between insurers is very wide. The rest of this page explains those points with dated figures.
The insurance prices are examples for one stated driver, read on 20 October 2026. They help you compare. They are not a quote for you.
The X1 range and its prices
The new-car list read on 2026-10-10 has three X1 versions, all petrol SUVs made in Germany. Prices are as listed on 2026-10-10, including COE as listed that day:
- X1 sDrive16i Inspiring: 1,499cc, 121bhp, S$295,888
- X1 sDrive16i M Sport: 1,499cc, 121bhp, S$300,888
- X1 M35i 2.0 xDrive: 1,998cc, 296bhp, S$389,888
The quote form lists six versions in all, including older sDrive and xDrive cars of 1,995cc and 1,998cc. The insurance prices below are for the X1 sDrive16 (1,499cc), the version most insurers quote.
COE: what the price page says
With a 1,499cc engine, the X1 sDrive16 needs a Category A COE if its power is 97kW (130bhp) or less. It needs a Category B COE if it is more.
In the October 2026 1st round, Category A closed at S$130,001 and Category B at S$130,100. These change every round; the COE page shows the latest.
The M35i is a different car with a bigger engine. The price page's COE rule is for the sDrive16 only.
Road tax
For the 1,499cc engine, LTA's formula gives S$683.66 a year before any age surcharge. The 2.0-litre versions pay more. The road tax page works out any engine size.
Cars over 10 years old pay a surcharge:
- Over 10 years: +10%
- Over 11 years: +20%
- Over 12 years: +30%
- Over 13 years: +40%
- Over 14 years: +50%
Insurance for a family's main driver
The BMW X1 price page prices a typical main driver:
- Car: X1 sDrive16, registered 3 years ago, private use, comprehensive cover
- Driver: aged 40, married, office job, driving 10 to 19 years
- Record: 50% no-claim discount (NCD), no claims
- Repairs: authorised workshop, no options
15 insurers price it. Only one on our panel gives no online price. The lowest premium is S$811.71. The insurer whose lowest plan is dearest asks at least S$2,636.48: S$1,824.77 more, or 225% on top. All prices include 9% GST.
That is one of the widest gaps you will see for a single car. Shopping around matters more here than for many models.
Excesses run from S$0 to S$3,000, with most plans at S$600. The dearest plan on the page also carries a S$2,500 excess. So a high premium does not always mean a low excess.
Who pays more
The price page shows the lowest price when one detail changes:
- A young driver, aged 27 with 3 years' driving and 30% NCD: S$1,194.51, S$382.80 more
- No NCD (0%): S$1,194.51, S$382.80 more
- 20% NCD: S$1,194.51, S$382.80 more
- An older driver, aged 65 with 20 or more years' driving: S$811.71, the same, 14 insurers pricing
- A new car, registered this year: S$836.07, S$24.36 more, 14 insurers pricing
- A car 8 years old: S$742.90, S$68.81 less
Young drivers are the group that pays more. Their lowest price matches the no-NCD price, which is 47% above the standard driver.
Older drivers pay the same lowest price as the standard driver on these details.
Buyers of an older X1 see a lower lowest price, by S$68.81 for an 8-year-old car.
These are lowest prices. Other plans may move by different amounts.
Who it suits on cost
- An experienced driver with a full NCD: the starting premium is at its lowest, and road tax is in line with smaller-engined cars.
- An older main driver: the lowest price does not rise at age 65 on these details.
- Someone buying a few years used: the insurance price eases a little as the car ages.
Who may pay more
- A household with a young main driver: the lowest price rises by S$382.80.
- Anyone without an NCD: the same rise applies.
- Anyone comparing it with mass-market cars: most of the cars on its comparison list cost less to insure.
Against the cars on its price page
The price page compares six similar cars for the 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 X1 costs 13% more than that. 5 of the six are cheaper to insure; only the Mazda 3 costs more. Other BMW models are on the BMW car insurance page.
Questions to ask yourself
- Which version? The sDrive16i and the M35i differ in engine size, so road tax and insurance differ too.
- Who drives? Naming a young driver changes the premium more than the car's age does.
- Can you carry a higher excess? Some lower premiums come with a bigger excess.
- Where will you park? Season parking at your HDB block or condo is a cost you can check in advance.
- What will servicing cost? Ask what the warranty and any service package include.
Petrol, ERP and depreciation also depend on how you use the car and what it fetches later, so no single figure fits.
Summary of yearly costs we can show
For the BMW X1 sDrive16 (1,499cc), 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$811.71 a year (20 October 2026)
- Insurance, young driver or no NCD: from S$1,194.51
- Insurance, a car 8 years old: from S$742.90
One-off costs, for reference: list prices from S$295,888 as listed on 2026-10-10. The October 2026 1st round COE closed at S$130,001 for Category A and S$130,100 for Category B.
Before you buy: car insurance for the BMW X1
Before you drive off, get your car insurance through Shenton Brokers. Compare car insurance for the BMW X1 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.