Buying a used car? Here's how to check for unpaid summons

So, you've found the used car of your dreams, sent it to your trusted mechanic and even got the green light from Puspakom to transfer to name over to you. But wait, have you checked if the car has any unpaid traffic summons attached to it?

Surprisingly, this is a step that most used car buyers would miss on. Excited car buyers will find themselves facing a roadblock when they realise that JPJ will not transfer the car to them as the previous owner has outstanding traffic summons that has yet to be paid.

This will only prolong the process of the car transfer and lead to a wasted trip to JPJ only to find out that you still cannot be the proud owner of the used car you're eyeing.

Checking if the car has any unpaid traffic summons is a simple matter of logging on to government issue agency websites and entering the specifics and it will probably take you just a few minutes.

The most commonly used is MyEG Services Berhad (MYEG)'s website. There you can check summons from various platforms from the Road Transport Department (JPJ), traffic police (PDRM), as well as the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

All you need to do is sign up for a free account to be able to check for the information you want.

There is also RILEK, or also known as Government Interactive Network Portal (Rangkaian Interaktif Laman Elektronik Kerajaan). This is a website created by the government to make it easier and more convenient for the public to interact with government portals.

Like the MYEG website, RILEK allows you to check summons from JPJ, PDRM and DBKL. You will also be required to sign up for an account to use their services.

If you find registering for a website a little too tedious, you can always head to JPJ's own website to check for summons. But the website is not the most reliable source and requires you to install extra plug-ins to be able to get the full experience.

These websites usually requires you to insert the IC number of the previous owners to perform the check. If you don't have the previous owner's details or you're purchasing from a used car dealer, you can always check the car number plate for summons via PDRM's SMS service. 

All you need to do is text: POLIS SAMAN [IC or vehicle registration number] to 32728. Each SMS reply will cost you RM 0.50.

In the event the SMS came back with outstanding summons, you can text POLIS SAMAN [IC or vehicle registration number] [Email] to have the details sent to you.

Unfortunately, this service only limits to checking summons issued by PDRM, but at least it would give you an idea that there are pending summons that needs to be settled before the transfer. 

Up until now, the methods that we have mentioned are only focussed on traffic summons issued by JPJ and PDRM. Parking summons issued by the respective City Councils are another matter. 

MYEG only allows you to check if DBKL has issued any summons, it doesn't allow you to check if councils such as MBPJ and MPSJ have issued any summons on your car.

However, we're not just talking about the states that are in the Klang Valley but all over Malaysia as well. So be sure to check the status of summons on your used car on the respective City Council's website. 

Now you know that there is one more check you will need to add to your checklist when shopping for a used car! Unless you don't mind the hassle of going to JPJ office and walking away empty-handed that is.