The short answer: To transfer a number plate in Malaysia, JPJ moves the registration number onto your vehicle using Forms K1 and K1E. You attend JPJ once for your thumbprint, a PUSPAKOM inspection may be needed for the original vehicle, and it usually completes in one to three working days. There are two costs: the plate price, and a separate fixed JPJ transfer fee. PlateMaster prepares and submits all the paperwork for you.
What does a transfer cost?
It helps to separate the two costs, because they are often confused:
1. The plate price
What you pay for the number itself. Fixed and agreed up front, no bidding.
2. The JPJ interchange fee
A separate, fixed government fee for moving the number. It is set by region, not by the value of your plate.
The government fee is the part buyers most often ask about, so here it is plainly. JPJ charges a statutory fee to interchange a registration number (pertukaran nombor pendaftaran):
| Where the transfer is processed | JPJ interchange fee |
|---|---|
| Peninsular Malaysia | RM200 |
| Sabah | RM60 |
| Sarawak | RM50 |
Note that this fee does not scale with the plate. A RM2,000 number and a RM200,000 number carry the same government charge.
The costs people forget to budget for
The interchange fee is rarely the only line item. Depending on your situation, some of the following also apply:
| Item | When it applies | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| PUSPAKOM inspection | On the vehicle giving up the number (B2, or B5 if it is also being sold) | RM30 to RM56.50 |
| Vehicle Ownership Certificate / road tax amendment | To reissue the grant against the new number | RM20 to RM50 |
| New vehicle registration fee | Only if the number goes onto a brand-new vehicle | RM150 to RM300 |
| New physical plates | Both vehicles need plates made up | Varies by maker |
What our handling costs
If you do not have a second vehicle to hold the number, the interchange has to run through a proxy vehicle. That means sourcing and insuring the vehicle, booking and attending the right PUSPAKOM inspection, preparing Forms K1 and K1E, attending the JPJ counter on your behalf, then the reissued grant and the insurance endorsement afterwards. Our handling for all of that is RM2,000.
We would rather tell you the figure now than after you have grown attached to a number.
What it buys is a transfer handled the same way every time. We check the donor vehicle before it goes anywhere near your application. We tell you which inspection applies before you book, because the wrong one costs a day. And if something in your record looks likely to stop the transfer, you will hear it from us early and plainly, even when it is not what you were hoping to hear.
The government fees above are separate and are paid to JPJ and PUSPAKOM, not to us.
Want that worked out against your own plate and vehicle? Send us the number on WhatsApp and we will come back with the figures for your case, in writing.No obligation, and we will not chase you afterwards.
Work out your own transfer cost
The figures above are the statutory ones. Which of them apply depends on your situation. Answer three questions and you will get an itemised range for your case, using exactly the rates published on this page.
| Item | Why it applies | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated total |
This covers government and inspection costs only. The price of the plate itself is separate, and new physical plates are charged by the plate maker.
Send this to us and get it confirmedWhen a PUSPAKOM inspection is required
An inspection is not always needed, and when it is, the type depends on the reason rather than on the plate. These are the common triggers:
| Situation | Inspection | Fee (private car) |
|---|---|---|
| Moving a number between vehicles, ownership unchanged | B2 | RM30 to RM50 |
| Transfer of ownership, donor car also changing hands | B5 | RM30 |
| Buyer taking a hire purchase loan on a used car | B7 | RM60 |
| Road tax lapsed more than three years | B2 | RM30 |
| Engine or chassis change, or an imported vehicle | Special | RM30 to RM150 |
| Voluntary pre-purchase check | Voluntary | RM50 |
Which one do you book? The simple test is whether the donor car is changing owner. If you are only moving the registration number and the car stays with the same owner, book a B2 Special Inspection and select "interchange or exchange registration number" as the reason. If you are selling the donor car to a new owner at the same time, book a B5, also written as M.V.15. B5 verifies identity, engine and chassis numbers, so JPJ accepts a valid B5 report as an alternative for the donor vehicle under the Form K1E rules. Booking the wrong one is the commonest way people lose a day, so PlateMaster confirms which inspection applies to your case before you book.
- Motorcycles are generally exempt from the standard B5 ownership-transfer inspection.
- Mobile inspection at your location adds a convenience charge, usually from RM60 to RM100 on top of the base fee.
- A B5 report is valid for 60 days. If it lapses before the transfer completes, it has to be done again.
Documents you need
- Your MyKad (identity card)
- Your vehicle registration grant (geran)
- Valid motor insurance on the vehicle
- The JPJ registration forms (K1 and K1E), which we prepare for you
The transfer, step by step
Confirm the plate & price
We confirm the number and fixed price over WhatsApp, then prepare the paperwork.
We prepare the JPJ forms
We complete Form K1 and K1E and gather your documents.
PUSPAKOM if required
A PUSPAKOM inspection may be needed for the original vehicle before transfer.
One visit to JPJ
You attend JPJ once to give your thumbprint. JPJ transfers the number onto your vehicle.
Done in 1–3 days
The number is now yours, with a receipt and invoice. Usually complete within one to three working days.
What happens to your old number
This is the question most people forget to ask until the day of the transfer, and the answer surprises them.
A vehicle cannot exist in the JPJ system without an active registration number. So when your chosen number moves onto a vehicle, the vehicle that gave it up is immediately assigned a fresh one. JPJ issues the next available number from the current running series of the state where the application is processed. You do not get to leave it blank.
Three things follow from that, and all three are practical rather than theoretical:
- New physical plates, straight away. The old vehicle needs plates showing its replacement number before it goes back on the road.
- Insurance has to be endorsed. The existing policy on that vehicle must be updated by the insurer to the new registration number.
- A new grant is issued. JPJ produces an updated Vehicle Ownership Certificate showing the replacement number.
If you would rather not accept a random running number on the old vehicle, you can buy or bid for a specific number and instruct JPJ to assign that one as the replacement instead.
The motorcycle workaround: if you want to secure a number now but are not buying the car until later, there is a well-used route. Buy an inexpensive new motorcycle, move the number onto that, and let the old car take the replacement running number. The motorcycle then holds your number safely until you are ready, at which point it transfers onto the car you actually wanted. Ask PlateMaster before you do this, because whether it is worth the extra step depends on the number and your timing.
Why transfers get delayed
A transfer is not slow because of paperwork volume. It is slow because JPJ's system verifies against other agencies automatically, and any single discrepancy halts the transaction outright. These are the three that cause most delays:
1. An active hire purchase loan
If the seller's loan on the vehicle has not been fully settled and cleared by the bank, the system blocks the transfer. Note that paying the loan off is not the end of it: the bank still has to release the financial claim in the JPJ record, and that release typically takes two to five working days after settlement.
2. Outstanding summonses or a blacklist
Unpaid summonses, AWAS camera fines or a police blacklist against either the vehicle or either person will stop the authorisation. Paying usually clears the flag on its own, but the systems need 24 to 72 hours to synchronise. Settle these before the appointment, not on the day.
3. Name and identity mismatches
The vehicle record, the identity card and the inspection paperwork all have to agree. Common causes of failure are spelling variations in a name, a military or police identity card that has since converted to a civil one, and companies whose registration number has moved from the old format to the current 12-digit one. When automatic validation fails, it becomes an over-the-counter visit with supporting documents.
Two more that catch people out: a PUSPAKOM report expires after 60 days, and in the online transfer process the buyer has exactly seven days to complete biometric verification and payment once the seller initiates it. Miss that window and the transaction cancels itself and has to be restarted from the beginning.
Settle these yourself, before you come to us. Outstanding summonses, AWAS fines and a JPJ or police blacklist can only be cleared by the person or the vehicle they are recorded against. No runner and no agent can pay them down or lift them on your behalf, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you something that does not exist. What we can do is tell you early that a flag is likely, so you settle it in your own time rather than discovering it at the counter with the day already lost.
Check yourself before you start
Five minutes on your phone will save you a wasted appointment. These are free, they are official, and you do not need us to run them for you.
| Where to look | What it shows you |
|---|---|
| MyJPJ app | Your JPJ summonses, your road tax status and the vehicles registered to you |
| MySIKAP (JPJ online portal) | Your licence record and your blacklist status against your MyKad |
| MyBayar PDRM | Police summonses, which sit in a separate system from JPJ's |
One point worth knowing. A blacklist can be raised by JPJ, by the police, by AES or by a court, and each of those shows in a different place. A clean screen in one app is not proof of a clean record everywhere. If anything is outstanding, settle it and allow 24 to 72 hours for the systems to synchronise before your JPJ appointment.
Transferring a plate from another state
Malaysian registration numbers transfer nationwide. A number from any state prefix can be moved onto your vehicle, and you do not need to travel to that state, we handle the interstate paperwork end to end.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to transfer a number plate?
There are two separate costs. First, the price of the plate itself. Second, the JPJ interchange fee, which is RM200 in Peninsular Malaysia, RM60 in Sabah and RM50 in Sarawak. That fee is fixed and does not change with the value of the plate. Depending on your case you may also need a PUSPAKOM inspection (from RM30) and a grant or road tax amendment (RM20 to RM50).
How much does PlateMaster charge to handle an interchange?
PlateMaster's handling for a proxy-vehicle interchange is RM2,000. That covers sourcing and insuring the donor vehicle, booking and attending the PUSPAKOM inspection, preparing Forms K1 and K1E, attending JPJ on your behalf, and the reissued grant and insurance endorsement afterwards. Government fees are separate and are paid to JPJ and PUSPAKOM directly. We confirm the plate price and every applicable fee in writing before you commit to anything.
How do I check whether I am blacklisted before transferring a plate?
Check the MyJPJ app for your JPJ summonses and road tax, MySIKAP for your licence and blacklist status against your MyKad, and MyBayar PDRM for police summonses, which sit in a separate system. A blacklist can be raised by JPJ, the police, AES or a court, so a clean screen in one place is not proof of a clean record everywhere. Outstanding amounts can only be settled by the person or vehicle they are recorded against, not by a runner or agent, and the systems need 24 to 72 hours to synchronise once paid.
What happens to my old number plate?
The vehicle giving up the number is automatically assigned a fresh registration number by JPJ, taken from the current running series of the state where the application is processed. A vehicle cannot exist in the JPJ system without an active number. You will need new physical plates for that vehicle, an insurance endorsement to the new number, and JPJ will issue an updated grant. If you prefer not to accept a random running number, you can buy or bid for a specific replacement instead.
Why do number plate transfers get delayed?
Almost always because JPJ's system verifies automatically against other agencies, and one discrepancy stops everything. The three common causes are an unsettled hire purchase loan (the bank's release takes two to five working days even after settlement), outstanding summonses or a blacklist against either party (24 to 72 hours to clear once paid), and name or identity mismatches between the vehicle record, identity card and inspection paperwork.
Do I need a PUSPAKOM inspection to transfer a number?
Usually yes, on the vehicle giving up the number, and the type depends on whether that car is also changing owner. If you are only moving the registration number and ownership stays the same, book a B2 Special Inspection, around RM30 to RM50, selecting interchange or exchange of registration number as the reason. If the donor car is being sold at the same time, book a B5, also written as M.V.15, at around RM30. A B7 at around RM60 applies where the buyer is taking a hire purchase loan. Motorcycles are generally exempt from the standard B5, and a report is valid for 60 days.
Can I keep a number if I have not bought the car yet?
Yes, and it is a common approach. Buy an inexpensive new motorcycle and transfer the number onto that, which lets the old vehicle take a replacement running number. The motorcycle holds your number until you buy the vehicle you actually want, at which point the number moves across. Whether it is worth the extra step depends on the number and your timing, so ask us first.
What documents do I need?
Your MyKad, your vehicle registration grant (geran), and valid motor insurance. PlateMaster prepares the JPJ registration forms (Form K1 and K1E) on your behalf.
What is the JPJ process?
PlateMaster prepares Forms K1 and K1E. You attend JPJ once for your thumbprint. JPJ then transfers the registration number onto your vehicle and updates the record. A PUSPAKOM inspection may be required for the original vehicle. It usually takes one to three working days once documents are in order.
How long does it take?
Typically one to three working days once all documents are in order. PlateMaster manages the process end to end and keeps you updated.
Can I transfer a plate registered in another state?
Yes. A registration number from any state prefix can be transferred onto your vehicle, wherever you are in Malaysia, and you do not need to travel to that state. PlateMaster handles the interstate paperwork end to end.
Do I have to go to JPJ myself?
You attend JPJ only once, to give your thumbprint. PlateMaster prepares and submits all the paperwork, so you do not manage the process yourself.
Please note. The fees, inspection categories and processing times on this page are set by JPJ and PUSPAKOM, not by PlateMaster, and are stated as at 23 August 2026. Government charges, forms and requirements can change at any time and without notice, and the exact amounts and steps that apply can differ from case to case. This page is general guidance only and is not legal or official advice. Always confirm current requirements with JPJ or PUSPAKOM directly. We will confirm the figures that apply to your own transfer before you commit to anything.
Let us handle your transfer
Tell us the plate, and we take care of the JPJ paperwork from start to finish.