JPJ identifies over 15 million vehicles with road tax expired for more than five years

 

Transport Ministry Land Division secretary Datuk Mohamed Irwan Mansor said that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has identified over 15 million vehicles nationwide that have not had their road tax renewed for more than five years.

PUTRAJAYA: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has identified over 15 million vehicles nationwide that have not had their road tax renewed for more than five years.

As of December last year, this represents about 37 per cent of the 41 million vehicles currently registered in the JPJ database. A significant portion is believed to be abandoned or "end-of-life" vehicles.

Transport Ministry Land Division secretary Datuk Mohamed Irwan Mansor said motorcycles make up the largest share of the 15 million inactive vehicles, at 9.76 million.

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This is followed by 4.07 million private cars, while the remaining two million comprise buses, taxis, rental cars, and goods vehicles.

Speaking to Berita Harian, Irwan highlighted the urgent need for a formal disposal system to clear abandoned vehicles cluttering residential areas and commercial parking lots.

"Based on these figures, we are concerned that when a vehicle's road tax is not renewed for over five years, it is at high risk of being abandoned. For vehicles that are no longer in use, they should be disposed of through proper channels so they can be officially removed from the JPJ registry," he said.

Data shows there are currently 15.61 million active cars with valid road tax, bringing the total number of cars in the country to 19.69 million, including inactive ones.

For motorcycles, total registration stands at 18.9 million, though 9.2 million are currently inactive on the road.

To address the issue of ageing and abandoned vehicles, specifically those aged 20 years and older, the ministry has introduced the Old Vehicle Replacement Matching Grant Programme.

Under the RM10 million initiative announced in the national budget, the government aims to encourage owners to transition to newer, safer, and more environmentally friendly vehicles.

"Through this matching grant, eligible owners can receive up to RM2,000 from the government, matched by another RM2,000 from local car manufacturers. This allows buyers to enjoy a total discount of up to RM4,000 on a new vehicle," Irwan explained.

Currently, the programme applies to all Proton models, as well as the Perodua Aruz and Ativa. Even if a vehicle is no longer roadworthy, it remains eligible for the grant provided the engine and chassis numbers are intact and the owner is an immediate family member of the applicant.

To date, nearly 3,000 owners of old vehicles have participated in the matching grant programme, with RM4.43 million in grants already disbursed.

In addition to incentives, the ministry is moving towards high-tech enforcement.

JPJ is expected to implement the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system to detect vehicles with expired road tax operating on public roads.

"This is a preliminary step to track down over 2,000 abandoned cars. We hope this programme raises awareness about the importance of proper vehicle disposal," Irwan added.

The ministry is also collaborating with recognised Authorised Automotive Treatment Facilities (AATF) to ensure the disposal process is conducted in an environmentally sustainable manner. - NST