# JPJ (Road Transport Department): Malaysia's Vehicle and Driver Licensing Authority

> The Road Transport Department (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan, JPJ) is the Ministry of Transport agency that registers vehicles, licenses drivers, collects road tax and enforces the Road Transport Act 1987 across Malaysia.

- Category: transport
- Language: en
- Status: published
- Updated: 2026-08-14
- Canonical: https://negaraku.md/en/transport/road-transport-department-jpj

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Every road tax paid, number plate issued, and driving licence carried in Malaysia passes through one agency: the **Road Transport Department** — *Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan*, known everywhere by its initials **JPJ**. It operates under the Land Division of the **Ministry of Transport** and is the department responsible for registering vehicles, issuing driving licences and vehicle number plates, and enforcing the Road Transport Act 1987 to ensure prudent drivers and safe vehicles.

## What does JPJ actually do?

JPJ's work runs across a handful of core functions, organised internally into divisions:

| Function / division | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Vehicle licensing | Registering motor vehicles and issuing number plates |
| Driver licensing | Issuing and renewing driving licences via counter services |
| Automotive engineering | Vehicle standards and inspection matters |
| Revenue management | Collecting the motor-vehicle licence (road tax / LKM) |
| Enforcement & road safety | Acting against offenders under road transport law |

The through-line is the department's mandate: register the vehicle, license the driver, collect the licence fee, and enforce the rules of the road.

## Which law gives JPJ its powers?

JPJ is governed by the **Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333)**, the statute under which it registers vehicles and issues driving licences and number plates. The department's roots run deeper than the Act, however.

| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1937 | Established under the Traffic Enactment 1937 during British administration |
| 1 April 1946 | Reorganised and re-established, consolidating vehicle and driver registration and inspection powers |
| 1953 | The 1937 Traffic Enactment replaced by the Road Traffic Ordinance |
| 1987 | Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333) enacted as the governing statute |

## How does road tax renewal work?

The **Motor Vehicle Licence** — the road tax, or *cukai jalan* — is issued by JPJ to allow a vehicle to operate on public roads, and it can be renewed by the registered owner or their representative. Before a renewal goes through, a few conditions must be met:

- Active vehicle insurance covering a minimum of one year.
- A passed **PUSPAKOM/PPKM inspection** for certain vehicles, such as commercial vehicles or those more than 10 years old.
- The vehicle and owner must not be blacklisted by JPJ or the police (PDRM).

Starting in **2023**, JPJ introduced **e-LKM**, the digital Motor Vehicle Licence that replaces the physical road-tax sticker. It is accessed through the **MyJPJ** app or the **MySIKAP** portal.

## What are the digital services?

Beyond the counter, JPJ runs several digital platforms:

- **MyJPJ app** — the mobile gateway to digital documents such as e-LKM.
- **JPJeBid** — the online system for bidding on special number plates.
- **RCVEP** — vehicle emission testing.

## How is JPJ different from PUSPAKOM and PDRM?

Three bodies are easy to confuse because they all touch the same vehicle:

- **JPJ** is the regulator — it registers the vehicle, licenses the driver, collects road tax, and enforces the Road Transport Act 1987.
- **PUSPAKOM** carries out the physical vehicle inspection that certain vehicles must pass before road tax is renewed; JPJ acts on the result.
- **PDRM** (the police) is one of the authorities whose blacklist can block a renewal.

JPJ also administers the **KEJARA** demerit-points system to act against traffic offenders and reduce road accidents.

## Where is JPJ located?

The headquarters is in Putrajaya, at No. 26 Jalan Tun Hussein, Presint 4, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, 62100 WP Putrajaya, with offices listed across every Malaysian state and federal territory.

## What's next

For step-by-step tasks — renewing a driving licence, paying road tax, checking summonses, or bidding for a plate — start from the MyJPJ app or a JPJ office in your state. Related NegaraKu.md guides on driver licensing, road tax, and vehicle inspection go into each process in detail.

## Sources

- History of the Road Transport Department Malaysia — https://www.jpj.gov.my/en/jpj-history/ (Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ))
- Home - Portal Rasmi JPJ — https://www.jpj.gov.my/en/home/ (Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ))
- Renewing Motor Vehicle Licenses (Road Tax) — https://www.malaysia.gov.my/en/categories/transportation/vehicle-license/renewing-motor-vehicle-licenses-road-tax (MyGovernment (malaysia.gov.my))
- Road Transport Department (Malaysia) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_Transport_Department_Malaysia (Wikipedia)

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