how to buy a car plate number

In Malaysia, scoring a license plate number can be done in two main ways through the Road Transport Department (JPJ): either via their public bidding system or by directly purchasing an existing plate. The exact process really depends on the type of number you're after. For regular plates – you know, the standard random combinations without any special flair – you can just head to a JPJ counter or hop on the MySikap website, register, and pay a fixed fee (usually around RM200 to RM300). Once that's sorted, the plate's yours. But if you've got your eye on a special number – think something like "8888" or a custom-made plate – you'll need to get in on JPJ's monthly auctions. You submit your bid through MySikap, and it's straightforward: highest bidder wins. Hot numbers can go for anywhere from a few thousand ringgit to even six figures, all depending on how much people want them. Another route is the used car market, where you might find rare, already-registered plates up for grabs. Just make sure you handle the legal transfer properly – that means filling out JPJ's transfer forms and paying the necessary fees. Beyond just being a way to identify your car, license plates in Malaysia often carry a bit more weight. They're sometimes seen as a status symbol or even an investment, especially those with lucky digits or short, snappy combinations. But it's not a free-for-all – JPJ has rules. Your custom plate can't have sensitive words or misleading info, for starters. And if you win a bid, you've got six months to register that plate; otherwise, JPJ will put it back up for grabs.