The Road Transport Department (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan, JPJ) is the agency under the Ministry of Transport that registers Malaysia's motor vehicles, issues driving licences and number plates, collects the motor-vehicle licence (road tax), and enforces the Road Transport Act 1987. It runs offices in every state and federal territory alongside digital services such as the MyJPJ app.
- JPJ sits under the Land Division of the Ministry of Transport and is governed by the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333).
- Its core functions are vehicle registration, driver licensing, collecting the motor-vehicle licence (road tax / LKM), and enforcement.
- The department traces its origin to 1937 and was re-established on 1 April 1946; the 1937 Traffic Enactment was replaced by the Road Traffic Ordinance in 1953.
- JPJ administers the KEJARA demerit-points system to act against traffic offenders.
- Digital platforms include the MyJPJ app, e-LKM (digital road tax from 2023), and the JPJeBid number-plate bidding system.
Who this applies to: Anyone in Malaysia registering a vehicle, applying for or renewing a driving licence, paying road tax, or dealing with JPJ enforcement.
On this page
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.
What is the difference between JPJ and PUSPAKOM?
JPJ is the government department that registers vehicles, licenses drivers and enforces road transport law. PUSPAKOM carries out the physical vehicle inspection that certain vehicles — such as commercial vehicles or those over 10 years old — must pass before road tax can be renewed.
What is e-LKM?
e-LKM is the digital Motor Vehicle Licence (digital road tax) that JPJ introduced starting in 2023, replacing the physical sticker. It is accessible through the MyJPJ app or the MySIKAP portal.
The following are deliberately unstated or described only qualitatively until confirmed by a subject-matter expert:
- Exact current number of JPJ offices nationwide (widely cited as 'more than 160' in secondary sources; not confirmed on an official jpj.gov.my page).
- Exact effective date of e-LKM digital documents (secondary sources say 10 February 2023; official page only confirms 'starting in 2023').
- Exact date MyJPJ enabled licence and road-tax renewal (reported as 1 February 2024) and the RM5 digital-renewal rebate window (reported to expire 31 December 2024) — from news reporting, not confirmed on a government source.
- How many months in advance road tax can be renewed (commonly stated as 2 months; not confirmed on the malaysia.gov.my page).
- Current Director-General name (Wikipedia lists Aedy Fadly bin Ramli — confirm against official appointment).
- Current headquarters address — official jpj.gov.my lists No. 26 Jalan Tun Hussein, Presint 4, while Wikipedia lists Block D4, Complex D; confirm which is current.
- Full list and codes of Malaysian driving licence classes (L, LDL, PDL, CDL, D, B, B2, DA, etc.) — needs a primary-source licensing page.
- Mechanics and thresholds of the KEJARA demerit-points system (points per offence, suspension thresholds) — needs primary source.
- Whether the AES (Automated Enforcement System) is currently operated by JPJ or another body.
Sources
- History of the Road Transport Department Malaysia — Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ)
- Home - Portal Rasmi JPJ — Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ)
- Renewing Motor Vehicle Licenses (Road Tax) — MyGovernment (malaysia.gov.my)
- Road Transport Department (Malaysia) — Wikipedia
Change history
| Version | Date | Change | By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01.00 | 14 Aug 2026 | Approved and published. | — |