5 cars with the highest road tax price in Malaysia
Arif · Jan 5, 2021 04:45 PM
0
0
Some say that our road tax structure is archaic and demand an emissions-based system. One way to pay less road tax in Malaysia is to opt for a smaller engine, which usually means opting for turbocharged cars or hybrid cars.
The road tax of a car can be a deal-breaker to some, and it is one of the reasons we don’t see that many V8 engines around. Used cars with big engines are a big turn off, since the annual road tax is almost half their value.
So, just how expensive can the road tax be? Well, here is a list of 5 cars with the most expensive road tax in Malaysia, starting with the cheapest one.
It seems then that the list is mainly dominated by Volkswagen and BMW cars with number 5 already starting with a massive 6.0-litre engine.
How did these cars incur such a high road tax?
Not that it matters anyway to those who could afford it, but the answer is their obvious large displacement engines and the high progressive rate upon exceeding 3.0-litre (RM4/cc)
Here’s what the road tax looks like for varying engine displacements in detail:
Private cars in West Malaysia road tax
Engine Displacement (cc)
Base Rate
Progressive rate (per cc)
Road tax amount
<1,001
RM 20
-
RM 20
1,001-1,200
RM 55
-
RM 55
1,201-1,400
RM 70
-
RM 70
1,401-1,600
RM 90
-
RM 90
1,601-1,800
RM 200
RM 0.40
RM 200-280
1,801-2,000
RM 280
RM 0.50
RM 280-380
2,001-2,500
RM 380
RM 1.00
RM 381-880
2,501-3,000
RM 880
RM 2.50
RM 882-2,130
>3,000
RM 2,130
RM 4.00
RM 2,134+
There are base rates and progressive rates to calculate a car’s annual road tax. Want to pay the absolute minimum? Get something below 1,000 cc.
Looking from the table, it is pretty clear why manufacturers aren’t very keen on bringing their big engines here. Although available with a 6.6-litre V12 elsewhere, the BMW 7 series in Malaysia is of the PHEV variant.
One thing you’ll notice from our Top 5 list is that there are no SUVs listed. Finding an SUV with a minimum 6.0-litre displacement is hard enough, but another reason for their absence (in the list) would be the lower progressive rate for SUVs, MPVs, and pick-ups in Malaysia.
SUV/MPV/Pick-up in West Malaysia road tax
Engine (cc)
Base Rate
Progressive rate (per cc)
Road tax amount
<1,001
RM 20
-
RM 20
1,001-1,200
RM 85
-
RM 85
1,201-1,400
RM 100
-
RM 100
1,401-1,600
RM 120
-
RM 120
1,601-1,800
RM 300
RM 0.30
RM 300-360
1,801-2,000
RM 360
RM 0.40
RM 361-440
2,001-2,500
RM 440
RM 0.80
RM 441-840
2,501-3,000
RM 840
RM 1.60
RM 841-1,650
>3,000
RM 1,640
RM 1.60
RM 1,641+
While private saloons and sports cars are charged RM4/cc upon exceeding 3.0 litres, SUVs and MPVs are only charges RM1.60/cc. That's 60% less.
Besides engine displacement, another factor affecting road tax rates would be where your car is registered. Cars registered in East Malaysia incur a lower road tax due to the road and infrastructure conditions.
The road tax may be cheaper for a Bugatti Chiron in East Malaysia, but there's not much road for you to enjoy it.
Private cars in East Malaysia road tax
Engine Displacement (cc)
Base Rate
Progressive rate (per cc)
Road tax amount
<1,001
RM 20
-
RM 20
1,001-1,200
RM 44
-
RM 44
1,201-1,400
RM 56
-
RM 56
1,401-1,600
RM 72
-
RM 72
1,601-1,800
RM 160
RM 0.32
RM 160-224
1,801-2,000
RM 224
RM 0.25
RM 224-274
2,001-2,500
RM 274
RM 0.50
RM 274-524
2,501-3,000
RM 524
RM 1.00
RM 525-1,024
>3,000
RM 1,024
RM 1.35
RM 1,025+
One result of this lower road tax in East Malaysia is having bigger displacement variants of cars selling better in East Malaysia.
Take for example, the Isuzu D-Max.The 3.0-litre version is more popular in East Malaysia compared to West Malaysia.
Previously an engineer in an automotive manufacturing company and a highway concessionaire. A part-time research student on biofuels and diesel engines. Obsessed with vehicle electrification and the future of transportation.
