The idle and the inactive: Over 14 million vehicles in limbo due to registry status

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 9, 2026

More than 14 million vehicles in Malaysia are listed as inactive on the national registry, comprising about one-third of all registered vehicles but not necessarily scrapped or deregistered. This large number of inactive vehicles highlights challenges in record accuracy and enforcement, as many remain on the system despite being unused, abandoned, or improperly deregistered, posing risks for road safety and liability.

As of September 30, 2026, more than 14 million vehicles in Malaysia remain classified as inactive on the national vehicle registry, according to data from the Transport Ministry. These vehicles—representing roughly one-third of the 40.77 million registered vehicles nationwide—are not currently in use on the roads but have not necessarily been scrapped or deregistered.

A former senior officer from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) explained that the inactive status applies to vehicles that may be out of commission for various reasons. Some are broken down and abandoned, with owners unable to afford repairs. Others are maintained but not driven, such as classic or collector vehicles passed down through families. In some cases, owners may simply neglect to renew the road tax, especially for luxury cars or vehicles kept for sentimental reasons. Additionally, vehicles may remain in the registry due to unresolved ownership transfers, especially when the original owner has died and inheritance documentation is incomplete.

The official also highlighted another category involving vehicles that have been scrapped but remain registered because deregistration procedures were not completed by scrapyards. "There are cases where a discarded vehicle is bought by scrapyards but the deregistration is not done," he said.

Authorities noted potential risks associated with vehicles that remain on the roads without valid road tax or insurance. These vehicles present liability concerns in the event of accidents but often go undetected unless caught during enforcement operations or roadblocks.

According to Ministry of Transport figures, of the 40.77 million registered vehicles, only 26.6 million—about 65.3%—were active as of late September. Active vehicles include nearly 16 million cars and 9.57 million motorcycles. In 2025 alone, 1.62 million new vehicles were registered, with 847,000 cars and 703,000 motorcycles added to the system.

The Ministry acknowledged that some vehicles may have been scrapped or otherwise disposed of but remain listed in JPJ’s system pending formal deregistration. To address this, the government introduced the Motor Vehicle De-Registration System (e-Dereg) over two years ago. The online platform allows owners to deregister vehicles permanently damaged or uneconomical to repair before disposal, through authorised automotive treatment facilities registered with the Department of Environment.

Despite the system’s availability, uptake has been limited. By September 2025, only 1,355 vehicles had been voluntarily deregistered via e-Dereg, indicating a gap between available mechanisms and user participation.

The inactive status reflects a vehicle’s registration condition rather than its physical state or location, underscoring challenges in maintaining an accurate and current vehicle database nationwide.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.