If the Bugatti La Voiture Noire is driven on the road in Malaysia, how much road tax would need to be paid?

【PCauto】Imagine if the world’s only Bugatti La Voiture Noire were spotted on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. What would its road tax amount to? The answer might surprise you: RM24,630 per year.

That's right. This figure is calculated based on its 8.0-litre W16 engine. Although it is highly unlikely to appear on Malaysian roads, such a scenario is enough to capture the attention of any supercar enthusiast.

How is road tax calculated in Malaysia?

In Malaysia, road tax for private cars is primarily determined based on engine displacement. The larger the displacement, the higher the road tax. The logic behind this is that a larger displacement usually means higher fuel consumption and emissions, so taxes serve as a regulatory measure. Simply put, a larger engine means a higher annual road tax.

High-displacement vehicles (e.g., those above 3.0 litres) are already common among luxury cars, but an 8.0-litre W16 engine is in a league of its own.

According to the current tax structure, for engine capacities exceeding 3,000 cc, an additional RM4.50 is levied per additional cc, on top of a base tax of RM2,130.

How is the road tax for an 8.0-litre W16 calculated?

The engine displacement of the La Voiture Noire is 8,000 cc, exceeding the upper limit of the 3,000 cc category by 5,000 cc. According to the formula:

Total road tax = Base tax + (Excess cc × Rate per cc)

Total road tax = RM2,130 + (5,000 × RM4.50)

Total road tax = RM2,130 + RM22,500

Total road tax = RM24,630 / year

In other words, the road tax for this supercar is over 50 times the road tax of a standard 2.0-litre sedan, which ranges from RM250 to RM400 in Malaysia. Even for luxury car enthusiasts, this amount is certainly enough to make anyone look twice.

How significant is a RM24,630 road tax?

To understand it more intuitively, RM24,630 is comparable to one or two months of combined income for an average Malaysian family. Alternatively, it could cover the annual rental of a mid-range sedan.

To put it more bluntly, if you own the La Voiture Noire, the annual road tax is almost the same as buying an entry-level new car for yourself every year.

Even though the La Voiture Noire will likely never be driven on Malaysian roads, the calculated road tax alone leaves a lasting impression. The 8.0-litre W16 displacement translates to an annual road tax figure of RM24,630. It is not merely about the numbers; it symbolizes the exclusive experience of a top-tier supercar lifestyle.

That leads to a final question: If you had the opportunity to drive this one-of-a-kind supercar, would you be willing to pay an annual road tax of RM24,630?