Vehicle registration plates of Malaysia

Malaysian registration plates are displayed at the front and rear of all private and commercial motorised vehicles in Malaysia, as required by law. The issuing of the number plates is regulated and administered by the Malaysian Road Transport Department () or JPJ.
Latest number plate being issued can be checked through JPJ website.
The following are examples of the formats currently used;
Design.
The current standard for Malaysian number plates were originally derivatives of pre-1932 number plate formats in the United Kingdom, first issued after the introduction of motorised vehicles in the 1900s during British rule. Number plates are typically issued and are formatted similarly for any motorised vehicle that runs on rubber tyres, including most road-legal private, commercial and industrial vehicles, motorcycles, emergency vehicles, and selected heavy equipment (such as agricultural tractors, truck-mounted cranes and backhoe loaders). With the exception of those issued for taxis, vehicle dealers and diplomats, all vehicle number plates in Malaysia have white characters on black background for both front and rear plates, regardless of the vehicle type.
Standards for number plate designs have been defined by the Road Transport Department but are only practiced to an extent. Character size, layouts, and colour use are more strictly enforced for accurate identification and optimum visibility. However, the dimensions of the plates displaying the license number are more loosely enforced. While many vehicles display plates in regulation dimensions or are housed in dealer plate frames with standardised dimensions, some license plates are outlined to precisely fit into vastly larger recessed spaces holding the rear license plates, or appear with reduced or custom dimensions where no proper alcoves exist, as commonly practiced on the front fenders and fairings of most motorcycles and the front of sports cars.
A compact version of Arial Bold is currently the typeface preferred by the Road Transport Department and is thus the most commonly used, but other easy-to-read typefaces are generally acceptable. Common alternative choices include Charles Wright, which has been used on Singaporean, Hong Kongese, and British plates, and FE-Schrift, which is used on German plates and is thus popular among Malaysian owners of cars with European marques, especially German brands and models. More obscure custom typefaces have also been known to be used primarily on grey import vehicles and aftermarket licence plates. 
Early Malaysian number plates were made of pressed metal, but were largely superseded by plastic plates since the 1970s, with characters either printed on or molded in plastic pieces. The reasons for the popularity of plastics plates in Malaysia were related to cost and metal theft. That said, the disadvantages of using plastic plates include; its fragility; the ease of reproduction which advantages criminals like car cloning syndicates; the yellowing of the letters due to age and exposure to extreme environmental conditions; the letters dropping off due to the reduction in adhesiveness of the glue used to stick the white plastic letters onto the black plastic plate; and the reduction of letter spacing (kerning) in between the individual letters to evade speed cameras and easy identification. This results in an inability of enforcement agencies to identified the correct registration. Standardised number plates were discussed by the JPJ in 2016, these were to include RFID chips and pressed metal plates. In view of this Vinod J. Nair, a Senior Lecturer from The Design School at Taylor's University, had attempted to propose a standardised typeface. He is currently working on another number plate typeface called JPJ1 which loosely resembles the existing typeface used by a majority of vehicles in Malaysia but with better legibility and construction.
Peninsular Malaysia.
Current format.
With the exception of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Langkawi plates, and taxis, vehicle dealers and diplomats, all Peninsular Malaysian number plates for private and commercial type motor vehicles with the exceptions of those used by taxis, vehicle dealers and diplomats follow a Sxx #### algorithm.
The exceptions in the algorithm are as follows:
The algorithm started with a state prefix and a number sequence which ranged from 1 to 9999. For example, "P 1" would be the first registration plate of Penang. Once "P 9999" was achieved, an alphabetical sequence was added to the right of the state prefix; "PA 1" was the result. When "PA 9999" was reached, the number sequence was reset and the alphabetical sequence progressed; "PB 1" being the outcome. After "PY 9999" was achieved, a second alphabetical sequence was added to the right of the first alphabetical sequence; "PAA 1" being the outcome. When "PAY 9999" was reached, the second alphabetical sequence was reset and the first alphabetical sequence progressed; resuming at "PBA 1".
Variants.
Extended Kuala Lumpur series and Langkawi series.
As the most registered number plate series in the country, the W series' traditional 7-character format became the first in Peninsular Malaysia to be exhausted when "WYY 9999" was reached on 26 September 2013. To allow further W plates, the algorithm was altered to feature an alphabetical suffix behind the number sequence, resetting at "W 1 A". When "W 9999 Y" was achieved, the second alphabetical sequence emerged between the state prefix and number sequence, leading to "WA 1 A". When "WA 9999 Y" is met, the first alphabetical sequence will reset and the second alphabetical sequence will advance, giving "WB 1 A". When "WY 9999 Y" is reached, a third new alphabetical sequence will be spliced into the algorithm, between the second alphabetical sequence and number sequence, resulting in "WAA 1 A". The series will end when "WYY 9999 Y" is reached. The new format would theoretically allow a vastly larger number of registered plates, better addressing the risk of exhaustion of numbers. 
On 18 May 2016, less than three years into the implementation of the extended W series, the Transport Ministry, on the request of the Road Transport Department, announced the tentative retirement of the W series in place of a new V series that would revert to the regular Sxx #### format. The decision was made in response to massive declines in bidding for extended W series plates as the public was gauged to favour a Sxx #### format over Kuala Lumpur's Sxx #### x format. The V series has launched on 1 October 2016 after completion of "WD 9999 F" and the extended W series was decommissioned.
Vehicles in Langkawi, a Kedahan resort archipelago, are issued "KV" series plates after the islands achieved duty-free status. The algorithm for Langkawi is "KV #### x", where "KV" is the territory prefix with "#" and "x" denoting the number and alphabetical sequences respectively. Prior to the "KV" series, Langkawi-registered vehicles were issued with "K" series plates as is with the rest of Kedah.
Putrajaya series.
Following the founding of Putrajaya in 1995, vehicle license numbers registered in the territory, in a fashion similar to commemorative vanity plates, originally had their territorial prefix incorporating the name of the territory stylised in oblique Calisto followed by a number sequence of up to four digits ("Putrajaya xxxx"). The "Putrajaya" format did not incorporate additional identifiers beyond the four-digit number, limiting the number of available plates for the original "Putrajaya" series to 9,999 vehicles.
In response to the restrictive format the Road Transport Department began to issue F prefix plates (denoting "Federal") for new Putrajaya-registered plates effective 1 June 2016. 
Both FA and FB were already started issued on 22 July 2017 and 16 May 2018 respectively; and exhausted on 28 August 2017 and 25 June 2018 respectively. FC was started issued since 2 May 2019.
History of Peninsular Malaysian registration numbers.
Pre-1948.
The registration plate system in Malaysia traces back to the introduction of motor vehicles in the early-1900s in colonial British Malaya, with the introduction by respectable state governments of a basic "S ####" format, where "S" prefix is the state identifier. Because the "S ####" format were not expected to be exhausted for a considerable time, state identifiers were allowed to be represented by one or two letters.
Straits Settlements.
Number plates for the Straits Settlements began to be issued in the early-1900s. With the exception of several format changes in intermediate periods, most of the Straits Settlements state identifiers continue to be used by the territories they were originally assigned to.
The Straits Settlement of Malacca was assigned with the "M" state identifier, which has continuously been issued on vehicles registered in the state since its introduction over a century ago. The Straits Settlement of Penang originally had two plate series, "P" and "W", which were assigned respectively to Penang island and the mainland territory of Province Wellesley. The Province Wellesley "W" series was discontinued in 1957 as "P" plates would be issued for both territories henceforth.
The "S" series was assigned to the Straits Settlement of Singapore, which continuously used the basic "S ####" format for several decades until the format was nearly exhausted and subsequently expanded to "Sx ####" after rationalisation in 1948. Following Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia in 1965, the "S" series is no longer administered by the Malaysian Road Transport Department, and fell under the responsibility of the State of Singapore Registry of Vehicles and its successor, the Land Transport Authority; vehicles with Singaporean "S" plates that were under Malaysian ownership were reissued with corresponding Malaysian number plates. In the years following expulsion, the Singaporean number plate system evolved independently with changing prefix systems since 1972, culminating to the reintroduction of the "S" series for private cars in 1984, the inclusion of a fourth checksum letter, and varied colour schemes for different classes of vehicles.
The "L" series began to be issued to Labuan in 1906, a then-independent island outpost off the coast of British North Borneo under the British North Borneo Company that would later become part of the Straits Settlement in the following year. The "L" plate was discontinued in 1963 after the island (now part of North Borneo/Sabah) was reformatted in accordance to North Bornean/Sabahan conventions, and would remain unused until after Labuan's status as a Federal Territory in 1984, when the "L" series was reinstated for the island.
Federated and Unfederated Malay States.
Due to the initial simplicity of the "S ####" format, plates in the Federated Malay States (FMS) (Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang) and Unfederated Malay States (UMS) (Johore, Trengganu, Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis) originally follow distinct series of state identifiers which may use one or two letters (i.e. "SL" and "KN" for early plates in Selangor and Kelantan, respectively).
In conjunction with the formation of the Federation of Malaya, rationalisation of Malayan state identifiers was conducted in 1948 to simplify all FMS and two-letter UMS prefixes into single letters. In addition, the Pahang plate, which originally assumed the "P" prefix and was allowed to conflict with the Penang plates for decades, was finally reassigned with a unique letter, "C". Like the pre-1932 number plate designs in the United Kingdom, the order of the new prefixes also denoted the order of population size of the FMS states at the time, with Perak's "A" series representative of its then larger population ahead of Selangor ("B") and Pahang ("C"). To prevent future conflicts with plates with the "Sx ####" format, pre-1948 plates with two-letter state identifiers were subsequently required to be replaced with plates using replacement one-letter identifiers (i.e. "PK 1234" to "A 1234" and "JB 1234" to "J 1234"), leading to the extinction of the use of double-letter state identifiers in Malaya; a similar change was imposed on pre-1948 Pahang plates. Remaining single-lettered UMS and Straits Settlement identifiers were not subjected to the 1948 change.
Post-1948.
Following the rationalisation of prefixes in 1948, new plates registered in Malaya (and then Peninsular Malaysia) bear a "Sx ####" format, which was sufficient for use through the 1950s and 1960s. By the 1970s and 1980s, the "Sx ####" format began to reach its limit in states with higher numbers of new vehicle registrations, leading to an inclusion of a third identifying letter, creating a new "Sxx ####" format. Selangor becomes the first state in Peninsular Malaysia to adopt the new format in 1971, followed by Perak in 1977, Johore in 1978, Penang in 1979, Kuala Lumpur in 1981, Pahang in 1986, Negeri Sembilan in 1987, Kedah in 1991, Malacca in 1993, Kelantan in 1995, Terengganu in 2000 and finally Perlis in 2018.
The "V" series plate of Kuala Lumpur, which replaces its predecessor "W" plates in October 2016, have been reached the "Sxx ####" format on 12 April 2017, which its become the latest registration plates to reach "Sxx ####" format after 17 years.
Until 2018, Perlis serial plates becomes only the Peninsular state that have yet exhausted its original "Sx ####" plate series but finally it have been exhausted on 18 August 2018 and "Sxx ####" plate series began issued.
In 1974, "W" series plates began to be reissued for cars registered in the newly ceded Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. To prevent conflicts with pre-1957 Province Wellesley plates, the Kuala Lumpur series started at "WA 1" as the Province Wellesley series never exhausted the "W 1"-to-"W 9999" range. As Kuala Lumpur was previously the capital of Selangor, vehicles registered there before 1974 are permitted to continue carrying the "B" series plates.
Being in the economic heart of post-war Malaya and early Malaysia, Selangor's "B" series was historically the most commonly registered series in the country for decades before it was surpassed by Kuala Lumpur's "W" series in 1996 (caused by the majority of motor vehicle dealers registering new vehicles at Wangsa Maju RTD/JPJ) and the Johor's "J" series in 2005 (caused by massive numbers of Malaysians finding employment in Singapore and commuting between Malaysia and Singapore by motorcycles mostly registered in Johor and most Singaporeans who resides in Johor buying vehicle in this state to avoid an expensive COE for vehicles.)
The vast majority of vehicles sold in Malaysia are now registered in the Peninsular. At the end of 2012, a total of 22,702,221 vehicles, including motorcycles, have been registered with the Malaysian Road Transport Department. Of that figure, 5,320,562 vehicles have been registered in Kuala Lumpur alone, with 3,332,767 units being privately registered, four-wheeled vehicles such as MPVs, SUVs, pick-ups and passenger cars. Additionally, a further 1,312,016, 1,226,223 and 1,052,353 four-wheeled vehicles have been privately registered in Johor, Penang and Selangor respectively. Collectively, the four states account for 8,911,154 privately registered, four-wheeled vehicles in Malaysia by the end of 2012. In comparison, 1,465,078 and 1,026,867 vehicles, including non-privately registered and non-four-wheeled vehicles, have been registered in Sarawak and Sabah respectively. Recent data released by Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) on 30 June 2017, vehicles registered in Malaysia hit 28.2 million vehicles which Federal Territories (Majority of the registered vehicle were issued by Kuala Lumpur) registered most of the cars reaching 4 million cars. The data shows rest of states except Sabah, Sarawak and Federal Territories, motorcycles outnumbered cars on vehicle registration being issued.
Starting 1 May 2014, the border-less registration are now implemented nationwide. This system allows vehicle owners to register the vehicle from desired states and allows slow registered number plates to be registered anywhere regardless according to geographical location. Example of the success of implementation are 
Border-less registration creating vehicles no longer registered according to states and divisions and they were often registered based onto similarity to more developed neighboring country format. Example are Sabah and Sarawak number plates are very popular in Johor due to similarity to Singaporean number plates also Selangor and Kedah number plates are very popular in Miri due to similarity to Bruneian number plates.
Sarawak.
Current format.
All registration plates of Sarawak for private and commercial motorised vehicles with the exceptions of those used by taxis, vehicle dealers and diplomats follow a QDx #### x algorithm.
The letters "I", "O" and "Z" are not used and there are no leading zeroes, as in the case of the Peninsular Malaysian number plates. The current algorithm for the majority of Sarawak's divisions start with the constant "Q" prefix, followed by the division prefix and the number sequence. An example would be "QA 1" of Kuching Division, which was issued in 2004. Once "QA 9999" was reached, an alphabetical sequence was added to the right of the division prefix; "QAA 1" was the result. When "QAY 9999" was achieved in late 2011, a second alphabetical sequence was incorporated and served as the suffix; the result was "QAA 1 A". When "QAA 9999 Y" was achieved on 18 June 2020, the second alphabetical sequence was reset and the first alphabetical sequence was advance; "QAB 1 A" was the result.
Since 2011, several more divisions have exhausted their respective "QDx ####" formats. In July 2013, Sibu and Mukah Divisions began issuing "QS #### x" plates after "QSY 9999" was reached. This is followed by Miri Division, which began using the "QM #### x" format since 20 August 2015, after "QMY 9999" was reached. Since 19 May 2016, Deputy Minister of Transport introduced "V" for Kuala Lumpur, There is a possibility that 
Kuching, Sibu and Miri divisions' current algorithm number plates may be supplemented by introducing previously-unused letters to ensure suffix-less registrations become the norm.
The government of Sarawak equip their vehicles with the unique "QSG" prefix.
History of Sarawakian registration numbers.
Pre-1991.
Before the formation of the Malaysia in 1963, the Sarawak's vehicle number plates were originally distinguished only by "NDx" (N = Number, D = Division, x = Alphabet) prefixes which represented the then five Administrative Divisions in Sarawak, followed by a number sequence which ranged from 1 to 9999; an example would be "1Dx ####" for the 1st Division, present-day Kuching Division.
During the 1970s, Sarikei Division and Kapit Division were formed and split from the 3rd Division to become the 6th and 7th Divisions, and were therefore assigned the "6D" and "7D" prefixes respectively. By the 1980s, the original "1D" and "5D" prefixes had been gradually exhausted with the passing of time and were eventually replaced by single-lettered prefixes similar to that of Peninsular Malaysia. The "6D" and "7D" prefixes continued to be used well into 1991.
Post-1991.
In 1991, a new format was adopted in which the suffix "Q" was moved to the front of the sequence in all Sarawakian number plates. The result is "QK 1" which extended to "QKY 9999". When the change took place, the "SG" prefix for Sarawakian government vehicles had been exhausted and an "x" was later placed in front of the "Q" suffix, resulting in a format that read "SG #### xQ". Kuching Division registration plates were the most numerous in Sarawak and the "KT #### Q" series was issued halfway when the new "QK" prefix was enforced. The "QA" prefix later replaced the "QK" prefix for Kuching Division.
Restriction of the usage of Q or S suffix.
A quirk of the "KV" series, present Sarawakian plate format and present Sabahan plate format is the restriction of the use of "Q" or "S" as the suffix, justified by possible conflicts with specific older East Malaysian number plates ending with "Q" or "S", specifically the Sarawakian "xx #### Q" format used between 1988 and 1991, and Sabah's early post-independence "x #### S" format; measures, however, have been taken to restrict the use of the old Sabahan format to accommodate the W series' use of disused Sabah "x #### S" numbers. Similar restrictions may be applied for future extended plates for the Johor, Selangor, Kedah and Malacca series due to overlaps with plate formats for Kota Kinabalu ("J #### S"), Betong/Sri Aman ("B #### Q"), Kuching ("K #### Q"), Miri ("M #### Q") and Beaufort ("B #### S"). However, finally present Kuching plates follow extended W series format ("QAA #### Q" and "QAA #### S") instead of the restriction.
Sabah.
Current format.
All registration plates of Sabah (except Labuan) for private and commercial motorised vehicles with the exceptions of those used by taxis, vehicle dealers and diplomats follow a SDx #### x algorithm.
Letters "I", "O", and "Z" are not used and there are no leading zeroes, as in the case of the Peninsular Malaysian number plates. "Q" and "S" are restricted from being used in the suffix to minimise confusion with the Sarawak's 1988–1991 Sibu "Sx#### Q" series, and Sabah's early post-independence "x#### S" format.
The current algorithm for the majority of Sabah's divisions start with the constant "S" prefix, followed by the division prefix and the number sequence. An example would be "SA 1" of West Coast Division. Once "SA 9999" was reached, an alphabetical sequence was added and served as the suffix; "SA 1 A" was the result. When "SA 9999 Y" was achieved, a second alphabetical sequence was placed to the right of the division prefix and the first alphabetical sequence was reset; the result was "SAA" "1" "A".When "SAA" "9999" "Y" was met, the second alphabetical sequences, "SAB" "1" "A" was the outcome. However, "SY" series was started issued on 23 May 2018 after "SAC 9999 F" exhausted, instead of "SAC #### G" as a response to introduction of suffix-less "V" series in Kuala Lumpur. Historically Sabah used "E" series which the "E" series bears no suffix, which is similar to number plate algorithm in Peninsular Malaysia. The West Coast Division encompasses the densely populated cities of Kota Kinabalu and Penampang. The "SA" series has thus become the most numerous number plate prefix in the state of Sabah.
Labuan, a Federal Territory based on a former Sabahan territory, uses a standard "L" series based on the Peninsular Malaysian algorithm, unlike the other Sabahan divisions.
History of Sabahan registration numbers.
Pre-1980s.
Historically, number plate formats for Sabah, then known as North Borneo prior to the formation of the Malaysian federation in 1963, were similarly revised multiple instances. During Chartered Company rule North Borneo number plates followed a similar format to that of Malaya, but were defined by its own set of regional prefixes based on capitals of the state's then current divisions. However, the old algorithm was quickly exhausted as only combinations such as "D ####" were possible. Following World War II and declaration of North Borneo as a British Crown Colony, an "E" was added into the registration number prefix, with new registration numbers issued as "ED ####".
After North Borneo's independence from British rule and entry into the Malaysian federation, the "E" prefix was replaced by an "S" suffix, altering the format to "D #### S", likely as a response to avoid conflicts with the Singaporean "E" to "EZ" series used between 1972 and 1984; the "S" suffix was also added to avoid further conflicts with Peninsular Malaysian formats. The Jesselton ("J") division prefix was dropped in favour of an "A" prefix representing the West Coast Division following Jesselton's renaming to Kota Kinabalu in 1967.
Labuan, which was part of the Straits Settlements and had its own "L" series plates, fell under the jurisdiction of North Borneo and its vehicle plate reformatted after 1946 in line with the state's number plate formats ("EL ####" and "L #### S").
Despite their obsolescence, delisted "ED ####" and "D #### S" numbers, including those using the "J" division prefix, may still be registered for new vehicles, as it does not conflict with current number plate formats in the rest of Malaysia or Singapore.
Post-1980s.
From the early 1980s, new Sabahan vehicle number plates were issued in the current "SDx #### S" format.
Following the format change, Labuan plates were issued with the "SLx #### S" format until a format similar to its original Straits Settlements format, "Lx ####", was reinstated in the mid-1990s following Labuan's separation from the state in 1984 as an independent Federal Territory.
In 2017, both Sandakan and Tawau Divisions already exhausted "SS 9999 Y" and "ST 9999 Y" respectively; then issued "SSA 1 A" and "STA 1 A" series on 20 October 2017 and 19 December 2017 respectively. Sandakan and Tawau are the second and third Divisions of Sabah those have completed two letter format.
In 2018, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan retired the suffix format by changing to "SY" for Kota Kinabalu after "SAC 9999 F" and "SM" for Sandakan after "SSA 9999 A". In 2019, "SW" for Tawau were issued after "STA 9999 A" officially retired on February 15, 2019.
Specialised plates.
Taxi.
Malaysian taxicab number plates follow a codice_1 algorithm. While based on the Peninsular Malaysian registration plates, taxi plates usually incorporate a constant "H" (Hire) prefix and have non reflective plates with black characters on white background for distinction purposes.
The Kuala Lumpur codice_2 is thus far the most widely issued of all the taxi prefixes, followed by Selangor's codice_3 and Johor's codice_4 prefixes respectively. Previously taxis in Shah Alam use the codice_5 format number plate.
The codice_6 format was introduced for Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) limousines following the opening of the airport in 1998. The codice_7 prefix is a constant and is followed by the number and state prefixes, such as codice_8 and codice_9. The service of the KLIA airport limousines largely cater to demand in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Thus, only the B or W state prefixes are used.
History of Malaysian taxi registration numbers.
Pre-1980s taxi number plates shared the format used for private vehicles based on the state of origin, but with the inversion of colours (black characters on white background). The number plate was also complemented by a "Kereta Sewa" (English: "Rental Car") tag on the roof of taxis.
This old format is widely used on rural taxis in less developed states such as Kelantan and Pahang, but has been widely replaced by the new codice_1 format in the highly developed states, namely Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang. However, taxi owners may still choose to opt for either the pre-1980s or post-1980s number plates as both are considered legal and valid. By the end of 2012, there were 39,384 taxis registered in Kuala Lumpur. A further 12,392 and 11,581 taxis were registered in Johor and Selangor respectively.
Foreign missions.
Diplomatic Corps.
The registration plates of diplomatic corps in Malaysia are very distinct from other number plate formats in the country. They follow a codice_11 format and have either white characters on a red background or white characters on a black background. Furthermore, leading zeroes are used in addition to hyphens between the characters.
Maybe this is the reason why DC series (DC ####) was restricted, which DD was issued directly after DB was exhausted.
Consular Corps.
The registration plates of consular corps in Malaysia complement the number plates of the diplomatic corps. They follow a codice_12 format and have white characters on a black background. Leading zeroes and hyphens are also used.
Maybe this is the reason why CC series (CC ####) was also restricted as DC series, which CD was issued directly after CB was exhausted.
United Nations.
Registration plates for vehicles registered under the United Nations (UN) in Malaysia use a codice_13 format. These plates are issued with white characters on a black background or white characters on a red background.
Other international organisations.
A codice_14 suffix is used for vehicles registered under other international organisations in Malaysia. They follow a similar format to that used for the diplomatic corps.
Military.
For all motorised Malaysian Armed Forces vehicles (including tracked vehicles and various armoured vehicles), number plates numbers with the Z prefix are utillised. Issued in a codice_15 format with white characters on a black background, there are no leading zeroes, and the letters I and O are not used.
History of Malayan military registration numbers.
The codice_16 format is preceded by a codice_17 format introduced during large-scale procurement of road vehicles and armored cars for Commonwealth armed forces at the height of the Malayan Emergency, a derivative of the registration plate format for British armed forces vehicles circa the late-1940s and 1950s.
Similar to its British counterpart, the codice_17 format was entirely incremental, except the Z designation indigenous to the region. For example, the series began from codice_19 to codice_20 before resuming at codice_21; when codice_22 was reached, the secondary letter incrementally progressed to codice_23 (skipping codice_24), restarting the cycle of numbers. The format may also be bisected in the middle to read as codice_25, as commonly depicted on Emergency-era Daimler Scout Cars; it may also be arranged vertically in parts of two where there is little horizontal space, such as on early Land Rovers. Some vehicles used during the Emergency were also registered under the British codice_26 convention without a Z designation (most commonly the codice_27 range) as the vehicles were originally under Britain ownership.
By 1957, the codice_17 and codice_26 formats are rendered obsolete following the introduction of the codice_16 format under a new round of rationalisation. The old formats lingered well into the 1960s on a fraction of Emergency-era vehicles handed down to Malaya.
Royalty.
The Sultans of Malaysia, Rulers of States and their immediate royalty use unique registration plates. Most of these official number plates have a yellow background and bear the official title or crest of the owners, such as "Tengku Mahkota Johor" of the Regent of Johore.
Trade plates.
Malaysian trade plates, or temporary number plates, are carried by unregistered vehicles or vehicles without proper documents, such as road tax and insurance, and are largely used by authorised vehicle dealers in the country. Although most Peninsular Malaysian trade plates consistently follow a codice_31 format and a white-on-blue colour scheme with leading zeroes for below 100th digits, trade plates in Sarawak similar to normal number plate with white character and red background, whereas those of Sabah follow a codice_32 prefix and feature red characters on a white background, similar to UK trader's plate. Until September 2013, Kuala Lumpur trade plates followed the usual codice_33 format; with the launch of the extended W series that is completely identical in character format, the trade plate format was altered to codice_34 and codice_35 for motorcycles. Motorcycles bears trade plate with S suffix, other type of vehicles than motorcycles bears an A suffix for the codice_31 format. Although currently Kuala Lumpur issuing V, trade plates are remain unchanged and maintaining W/TP format.
The majority of trade plates are made from pressed alloy, but plastic ones are also commonly used to prevent scratches (usually in black background, technically it is illegal to use plastic trade plate).
Trailer plates.
Articulated lorries or semi-trailers feature two number plates placed at the rear of the trailer. One is designated for the tractor unit, and another for the trailer it pulls. The tractor unit's license number follows standard conventions for motorised vehicles, while the trailer's own number plate uses a codice_37 format, with the codice_38 prefix is a constant for all Malaysian trailers. Both plates have white characters on a black background.
Both states of Sarawak and Sabah didn't issued trailer plates for trailers ("T/Q ####" and "T/S ####") instead trailers in both states were issued standard registration plates like other vehicles.
Commemorative plates.
A limited number of commemorative vanity plates, or plates with distinctive prefixes are made available by the Malaysian Road Transport Department at a higher cost. These special plates may be used to denote the manufacturer of the car, such as the codice_39 prefix for Proton cars or special events, such as the codice_40 prefix for the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
It was noted that codice_41 number plates were often abused on luxury vehicles to evade motor vehicle import, excise and sales duty in mainland because codice_41 series could be registered in Langkawi and Labuan, both islands having duty-free status (motor vehicles registered in both islands are exempted from mainland motor vehicle duties). As a result, numbers under the codice_43 series are not allowed to be registered in Langkawi and Labuan.
Booked prefixes/Highest-bidding plates/Meaningful plate prefixes.
Unique prefixes of plates such as repeated letter (XXX) become the most bidded issued plates, started with AAA issued in 1977, BBB in 1978, JJJ in 2005, CCC in 2007, WWW in 2012, and RR in July 2017 to August 2017; DDD starts issued on 13 September 2017; PPP starts biding from 5 to 9 November 2020 and starts issued on 26 to 28 November 2020. The most expensive plates as of 2016 is "F 1" which bid at RM836,660, "W 1 N" (similar to "Win") at RM748,000 in 2014 and "WWW 1" at RM520,000 in 2012, both owned by Sultan of Johor which is previously bid the "JJJ 1" plate at RM165,000. "DDD 2" was won by Yang Dipertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V at RM385,000 shortly after being issued.
In November 2014, plate prefix "BMW" series issued and open for bidding which very popular among BMW owners. "BMW 1" and "BMW 2" were reserved for Selangor Royal Family. "BMW 6" owned by national badminton player Lee Chong Wei.
In February 2015, plate prefix "RM" issued in Perlis open for bid, which is similar to Malaysian ringgit currency symbol. "RM 1" plate was reserved to Raja Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin when "RM 2" to "RM 7" except "RM 5", which belongs to Tengku Amir Shah, Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Selangor, was reserved to Perlis state EXCO's. "RM" becomes highest-bidding serial plate at more than RM7 million.
In July 2016, plate prefix "F 1" issued in Putrajaya was bid at RM836,660, again by Sultan of Johor.The "F 1" plates, are similar to Formula One acronyms.
Plate prefix AKU which means "me" or "I am" in Malay,were issued in August 2017, with "AKU 1" bidded at RM207,898.90 when "AKU 8055" which means "I'm boss" in Malay, at RM74,000.
Plate prefix SYG (Sayang) which means "Dear" or "Honey" in Malay,were issued in June 2020, with "SYG 1" bidded at RM115,000 when "SYG 8055" which means "Dear Boss" in Malay, at RM19,000.
Plate prefix PPP were issued in November 2020, with "PPP 1" bidded at RM260,000 when "PPP 9" at RM160,000. "PPP 6" at RM140,000. "PPP 8999" at RM12,888. "PPP 1" and "PPP 6" owned by Lee Chong Hoon, national badminton player Lee Chong Wei's brother. PPP serial numbers for vehicle registration which was opened for five days managed to collect the highest revenue at RM7.3 million, surpassing the SYG serial numbers before this at RM3.6 million.
In February 2021, plate prefix "KFC" issued in Kedah open for bid, which is similar to Kentucky Fried Chicken. "KFC 7" bidded at RM52,000, "KFC 8" and "KFC 9" bidded at RM48,000, "KFC 3" bidded at RM45,000
Among other sought-after prefixes are plates which are similar to Malaysia's political party acronyms, such as MCA, PAP, DAP, PAS, PKR and PKM. Vanity issue "MM 1" belongs to a former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. MCM prefix are popular on Malaccan government vehicles due to MCM possibly denoting Malacca Chief Minister - and acronyms of states' official names such as JDT can stand for Johor Darul Takzim and KDA might stand for Kedah Darul Aman. The JPJ plates which stands for Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan, a Road Transport Department's acronym in Malay, were wholly reserved for brand-new Malaysian Road Transport Department's fleet vehicles.
Border crossing.
To and from Brunei.
Older Brunei number plates bear similarity to the Malaysian state of Selangor and Kedah number plates which also begin with "B" and "K". The newer Brunei number plates have font shape and size that can easily differentiate them from Malaysian registered vehicles. Although the similarities, Malaysia registered vehicle with number plates "B" and "K" usually allowed to enter Brunei, and vice versa.
To and from Thailand.
Due to the language barrier that arises from the use of Thai and Romanised scripts for vehicle plates registered in Thailand and Malaysia, respectively, road vehicles crossing the Malaysia–Thailand border are typically required to bear stickers in the front and back that translate the characters of the plates into those understandable in the country of entry.
Although this is not a mandatory requirement under the ASEAN Accord for vehicles having Romanised plates, some Malaysian vehicles traveling beyond 50 kilometres of the Malaysia–Thailand border may bear permanent stickers that translate Romanised letters of the Malaysian number plates into Thai, but are otherwise identical in both the use of numerical characters and colour schemes; however, a note to indicate codice_44 under the vehicle registration is obligatory. The stickers do not have to be removed upon re-entry into Malaysia. Entering heavy goods vehicles from Malaysia are also required to bear a separate Thai Trade Registration Number with yellow plates denoted by the codice_45 or codice_46 series.
Entering Thai-registered vehicles, which use the Thai script for series letters and the province of registration on their number plates, are required to bear strips on the front and back that translate the plate information into a row of Romanised script (including the corresponding series prefix and 4-digit number, and the province in its official 3-letter abbreviation), resulting in a format that reads as codice_47 or codice_48. Although the general practice is to use white characters on black, stickers with colour schemes that resemble their original plate colours may also be acceptable; stickers that emulate the layout and colour of the Thai plates have also been known to be used.
To and from Singapore.
Some Malaysian number plate had notably conflicted with the Singapore's W series for engineering plant vehicles and British-sourced 4×4s, Q series for government vehicles, S series for Singapore private vehicles. However Malaysian vehicles registered in this W, Q and S series are not required to be further identified because the Singapore's Land Transport Authority already required every Malaysian registered vehicle entering Singapore to apply for Autopass Card which should include all detail of the vehicle, vehicle's owner, and the person who driving the vehicle in their system.
Singapore registered vehicles travelling to Malaysia are required to register the vehicles for the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) through the Road Transport Department Malaysia website and VEP registered vehicles will be issued non-transferable VEP-RFID tags which contain pertinent information that uniquely identifies the vehicles. This can only done at Malaysia land checkpoints. Those who have different set of plates, having difficulties to read or using the illegal font (FE-Schrift) will not be allowed through.
Both the tractor and trailer of Malaysian registered semi-trucks are fitted with the "Hazardous Cargo" registrations plates upon entry into Singapore. The same characters of the Malaysian number plates are used, with the only visible changes being the standardised fonts which reflect that of Singapore's and the colour code, which features black characters on an orange background. The "Hazardous Cargo" number plates subject Malaysian semi-trailers to the same laws followed by Singaporean ones.
Buses belonging to Singapore operators that run the cross-border services exclusively have additional brake lights installed and stickers displaying the tax scheme, vehicle specifications, company address, speed limits and SPAD/LPKP hotlines so as to meet the Malaysian regulations.
Examples of overlapping with Singapore series:
'A' (Perak) - SG old motorcycles prefix
'C' (Pahang) - SG company buses (CB) and City Shuttle Service buses (CSS) prefixes
MY 'E' series prefix - SG old private cars prefix
'F' (Putrajaya) - SG motorcycles prefix
MY 'G' series prefix - SG Light Goods vehicles prefix
'M' (Malacca) - SG Military Police motorcycles (MP) prefix
'P' (Penang) - SG private buses (PA-PZ) and Pulau Ubin vehicles prefixes
'Q' (Sarawak) - SG old company cars (Q), Private ambulances (QXX) and Government vehicles (QX/QY) prefixes
MY 'R' series prefix - SG Restricted Use (RU) & Research and Development vehicles (RD) prefixes
'S' (Sabah) - SG older cars (SB, SK, SQ, SS, ST) prefixes
Sabah 'SMA-SMZ' - SG 'SMA-SMZ' & SMRT buses (SMB) prefixes
MY 'SMS' - SG 'SMS' prefix
'T' (Terengganu) - SG Traffic Police motorcycles (TP) & SMRT buses (TIB) prefixes
'W' (Kuala Lumpur) - SG Rover/Jeep & Engineering Plant vehicles prefix
MY 'X' series - SG Very Heavy Goods vehicles prefix
MY 'Y' series - SG Heavy Goods vehicles prefix
International "oval" number plate.
Vehicles with Malaysian registration plates intended to be driven in countries beyond neighbouring countries are often required to carry an oval international number plate or sticker denoting the vehicle's country of registration on the rear of the vehicle. The current code for Malaysian international plates, introduced in 1967, is MAL.
Historically, a considerable number of codes were needed to represent the separate Malayan states that would later form Malaysia, undergoing various code changes since the first issue in 1932.