A user equipment (UE) explicitly accounts for a coverage enhancement (CE or sometimes called enhanced coverage) feature in a public land mobile network (PLMN) search and/or selection. By explicitly using CE indicators in PLMN search and/or selection, a UE can determine whether to use a PLMN that may only be available in CE mode for voice services or data services, or fail to meet criteria, such as high data rate, that cannot be provided in CE mode. For example a UE can use the PLMN search and/or selection with (1) automatic PLMN selection at switch-on or recovery from lack of coverage, (2) higher priority PLMN selection, (3) manual PLMN selection, and/or (4) limited service capabilities while in CE mode.