Road Tax in Malaysia (2026): The Complete Guide to Cukai Jalan

How road tax is calculated

For combustion (petrol/diesel) cars, JPJ uses engine displacement (cc) on a progressive scale — small-engine cars pay a low flat rate, and above 1,600cc the rate rises for each additional cc. Three things change the figure: the region of registration (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah & Sarawak, or the duty-free islands of Pangkor, Langkawi and Labuan), the body type (saloon vs non-saloon), and ownership (individual vs company).

For electric vehicles, from 2026 the charge is based on total electric motor power output in kW. Use the free Road Tax Calculator for an exact amount.

Private cars — saloon (sedan, hatchback, coupé, wagon)

"Saloon" covers sedans, hatchbacks, coupés, station wagons and convertibles. These are the standard Peninsular Malaysia rates for individually-owned saloons:

Worked examples

• A 1.5-litre car (1,499cc) pays RM90.
• A 1.8-litre car (1,798cc) pays RM200 + RM0.40 × 198 = RM279.20.
• A 2.0-litre car (2,000cc) pays RM380.

Note how the cost jumps sharply once you pass 1,600cc — this is why engine size matters so much at renewal.

Non-saloon and company-owned vehicles

Non-saloon vehicles — MPVs, SUVs, pick-up trucks and similar — follow a gentler progressive scale above 1,600cc. Peninsular Malaysia, individually-owned:

Company-owned vehicles

Company-owned saloons are charged at a higher rate than individually-owned ones — for example, a 2.0-litre (1,998cc) saloon registered to a company costs about RM758 a year, roughly double the RM379 an individual would pay for the same car. Non-saloon rates are the same for individuals and companies.

Sabah, Sarawak and the duty-free islands

Road tax is noticeably cheaper in East Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak run their own lower schedule — a 2.0-litre private saloon costs about RM274 there, versus RM380 in Peninsular Malaysia. The duty-free islands get a 50% discount: Pangkor and Langkawi charge half the applicable Peninsular rate, and Labuan charges half the Sabah/Sarawak rate (subject to a RM20 minimum).

We cover East Malaysia and EV specifics in more depth in a dedicated guide; for now, the calculator handles all regions automatically.

Electric vehicles — the new 2026 rates

The EV road tax exemption ended on 31 December 2025. From 1 January 2026, electric vehicles pay road tax based on their total electric motor power output in kilowatts (kW) — not engine cc — on a progressive band structure. Low-power EVs pay very little; high-performance EVs pay more. The schedule below applies nationwide (as with combustion cars, Sabah, Sarawak and the duty-free islands may apply reductions):

Real-world examples

• A BYD Atto 3 (150 kW) pays RM160 a year.
• A Tesla Model Y RWD (around 220 kW) pays RM305.
• A high-performance EV around 385 kW pays about RM965.

Even at the top end, EV road tax is far lower than the old displacement-equivalent formula. Use the calculator's EV tab for your exact kW figure.

Motorcycles

Motorcycle road tax is a flat national rate by engine capacity:

How to renew your road tax

Road tax is renewed annually (six-month renewals are available for some vehicles). You can renew through the MyJPJ app, at JPJ counters, at Pos Malaysia branches, or through a licensed insurance agent or takaful operator — most drivers renew insurance and road tax together in one visit.

With digital road tax under MyJPJ, displaying a physical disc on the windscreen is no longer mandatory, though you should keep proof of a valid licence. You cannot renew road tax unless your vehicle has active motor insurance or takaful cover in place first.

Road tax and insurance go together

Because road tax can only be renewed on top of a valid motor policy, the two deadlines move as a pair — and for an insurance agent managing hundreds of clients, keeping both in sync is where renewals quietly slip.

Frequently asked questions