Act of Parliament · Updated to 15 Oct 2023 · 5 parts
Road Transport Act 1987
Feedback & supportRules for motor vehicles, road traffic and transport controlIn plain English
Not legal adviceThis Act regulates motor vehicles and traffic on roads. It protects third parties against risks from the use of motor vehicles. It coordinates and controls the means and facilities for transport. It also coordinates and controls the facilities for building and adapting motor vehicles. Some rules for public service vehicles also apply to goods vehicles, employees vehicles and excursion buses that the minister prescribes. Some rules in the Act apply to motor vehicles registered in any foreign country.
Summary · Drafted with AI, checked against the official text on 30 Sep 2026.
People often ask
Part I
Preliminary
Official textFrom Laws of Malaysia Online, unchanged
This Act may be cited as the Road Transport Act 1987 and shall come into force on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.
The Minister may appoint different dates for the coming into force of different Parts and provisions of this Act.
This Act shall apply throughout Malaysia.
12 Laws of Malaysia ACT 333
s 2Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
“accident” means an accident or occurrence whereby damage or injury is caused to any person, property, vehicle, structure or animal;
“airport” has the same meaning assigned to it by the Civil Aviation
Act 1969 [Act 3];
“animal” means any horse, pony, mule, ass, buffalo, cattle, sheep, pig, goat or dog;
“appointed day” means the day appointed by the Minister under section 1 for the coming into force of any Part or provision of this
Act;
“bankruptcy” includes insolvency as a result of which a wage earner’s administration order has been made under the laws relating to bankruptcy;
“camera-recorded offence” means an offence prescribed under the
Second Schedule;
“carriage of goods” includes the haulage of goods;
“certificate of insurance” includes a cover note;
“Chairman of a Municipal Council” means the Chairman of a
Municipal Council referred to in section 2 of the Local Government
Ordinance 1961 [Sabah No. 11 of 1991] and subsection 2(1) of the
Local Authorities Ordinance 1996 [Sarawak Cap. 20] and includes the Deputy Chairman of the Municipal Council;
“Chief Police Officer” means any police officer vested by the
Inspector General of Police with the control of the Royal Malaysia
Police in respect of any area or state under section 6 of the Police Act 1967 [Act 344] and designated as such by the Inspector General of
Police;
Road Transport 13
“City Council” includes a Council of a City and a City;
“commercial vehicle” shall have the same meaning as assigned to that expression in the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987 [Act 334];
“Commissioner of Police” means a Commissioner appointed under section 5 of the Police Act 1967 [Act 344];
“company” includes any company as defined in the *Companies
Act 1965 [Act 125], any company formed under any law, any corporation incorporated by law, and any firm or partnership;
“conductor” means a person licensed under section 56 to act as a conductor of a public service vehicle;
“Dato Bandar” means the Dato Bandar Kuala Lumpur appointed under section 3 of the Federal Capital Act 1960 [Act 190] read with section 4 of the City of Kuala Lumpur Act 1971 [Act 59] and includes any officer in the service of the City of Kuala Lumpur authorized in writing by the Dato Bandar to exercise powers conferred or to perform duties imposed by this Act on the Dato Bandar;
“Deputy Director” means a Deputy Director for Road Transport appointed under section 3;
“Deputy Director General” means the Deputy Director General for
Road Transport appointed under section 3;
“Director” means a Director for Road Transport appointed under section 3;
“Director General” means the Director General for Road Transport appointed under section 3;
*NOTE—The Companies Act 1965 [Act 125] has since been repealed by the Companies Act 2016
[Act 777] which comes into operation on 31 January 2017—see subsection 620(1) of Act 777.
14 Laws of Malaysia ACT 333
“driver” means the person for the time being driving a motor vehicle and, in the case of a stationary motor vehicle, includes the person for the time being responsible for the driving of the motor vehicle;
“driving licence” means a licence to drive a motor vehicle granted or deemed to be granted under Part II and includes a learner’s driving licence and a probationary driving licence granted under section 29;
“electric motor vehicle” means any motor vehicle that is propelled by electrical means and does not include a micromobility vehicle;
“excursion bus” shall have the same meaning as assigned to that expression in the Tourism Vehicles Licensing Act 1999 [Act 594]
and in the Second Schedule to the Land Public Transport Act 2010
[Act 715];
“goods” means anything, including livestock, carried on or in a motor vehicle for the purposes of any trade or business but does not include—
equipment ordinarily used with the vehicle;
articles of merchandise carried by a person on or in the vehicle solely for the purpose of exhibition as samples;
articles carried by a person on or in the vehicle for use in the exercise of his trade, business or profession and not for sale;
“goods vehicle” shall have the same meaning as is assigned to that expression in the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987
and the Land Public Transport Act 2010 [Act 715];
“Government” means the Federal Government or any State
Government;
“Highway Authority” means the body corporate established under section 3 of the Highway Authority Malaysia (Incorporation) Act 1980 [Act 231];
Road Transport 15
“land implement” means any implement or machinery used with a land tractor in connection with the purposes for which a land tractor may be used under this Act;
“land tractor” means a motor tractor designed and used primarily for work on the land in connection with agriculture, planting or forestry, land levelling, draining, dredging or similar operations, which is driven on a road only when proceeding to and from the site of such work and when so driven hauls nothing other than land implements;
“learner’s driving licence” means a driving licence which is granted to any person to learn theoretical and practical driving and thereafter to be tested on the prescribed tests of competence;
“maximum permissible laden weight” means such weight as the
Director General shall specify as a laden weight which is suitable for a specific vehicle using a road;
“Mayor of a City Council” includes Commissioner of a City and
“Mayor” shall be construed accordingly;
“member of the Forces” means—
a member of the Armed Forces;
a police officer;
a member of a visiting force within the meaning of any law for the time being in force regulating visiting forces lawfully present in Malaysia;
“micromobility vehicle” means any vehicle that is propelled by electrical means, an internal-combustion engine or human power or a combination of electrical means, an internal-combustion engine or human power, and having a maximum speed of 50 km/h;
“Minister” means the Minister charged with responsibility for transport;
16 Laws of Malaysia ACT 333
“motor vehicle” means a vehicle of any description, propelled by means of mechanism contained within itself and constructed or adapted so as to be capable of being used on roads, and includes a trailer;
“Municipal Council” means a Municipal Council for a local authority area that has been declared and determined in accordance with paragraph 3(d) of the Local Government Act 1976 [Act 171], paragraph 6(1)(cc) of the Local Government Ordinance 1961
[Sabah No. 11 of 1991] and paragraph 3(1)(e) of the Local Authorities
Ordinance 1966 [Sarawak Cap. 20];
“scheduled offence” means an offence prescribed under the
First Schedule;
“owner”—
in relation to a motor vehicle registered or deemed to be registered under this Act, means the registered owner of such vehicle; and
in relation to any other motor vehicle, means the person in possession of or using or having the use of the motor vehicle;
“parking” means the bringing of a motor vehicle to a stationary position and causing it to wait for any purpose other than that of immediately taking up or setting down persons, goods or luggage;
“parking place” means a place set apart as a place at which motor vehicles or any specified class or description of motor vehicles may be parked;
“passenger”—
in relation to a person carried on a public service vehicle, does not include the driver or conductor or any ticket inspector on the vehicle in pursuance of his duties;
Road Transport 17
in relation to persons carried on a goods vehicle, does not include the driver or any attendant required by law to be carried on such vehicle;
in relation to persons carried on an excursion bus, does not include the driver or any tourist guide on the excursion bus in pursuance of his duties; and
in relation to a private car, does not include the driver;
“Perbadanan
Putrajaya”
means the
Perbadanan
Putrajaya established under section 3 of the Perbadanan Putrajaya Act 1995;
“police officer” includes an extra police officer, a volunteer reserve police officer or an auxiliary police officer appointed under the Police
Act 1967;
“prescribe”, where no mode is mentioned, means to prescribe by rules made under this Act;
“President” means the President of the Perbadanan Putrajaya appointed under section 5 of the Perbadanan Putrajaya Act 1995
[Act 536];
“President of a Municipal Council” means the President as defined in section 2 of the Local Government Act 1976 [Act 171];
“probationary driving licence” means a licence for a probationary period of two years which is granted to any person who has passed the prescribed tests of competence;
“public body” means a body declared by the Minister to be a public body;
“public service vehicle” shall have the same meaning as assigned to that expression in the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987 and the Land Public Transport Act 2010;
18 Laws of Malaysia ACT 333
“recorded image” means any visual (whether still or moving)
images recorded, expressed, described or howsoever represented, including any information stated therein;
“registered owner” means the person registered as the owner of a motor vehicle under paragraph 11(1)(b);
“registered medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Act 1971 [Act 50];
“registration certificate” includes registration book;
“road” means—
any public road and any other road to which the public has access and includes bridges, tunnels, lay-bys, ferry facilities, interchanges, roundabouts, traffic islands, road dividers, all traffic lanes, acceleration lanes, deceleration lanes, side-tables, median strips, overpasses, underpasses, approaches, entrance and exit ramps, toll plazas, service areas, and other structures and fixtures to fully effect its use;
for the purposes of sections 70 and 85, also includes a road under construction; and
for the purpose of sections 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 45A, also includes a parking place;
“Road Transport Department” means the Department administered by the Director General;
“road transport officer” means any person appointed to be a road transport officer under section 3;
“this Act” includes any subsidiary legislation made under this Act;
“tourist guide” shall have the same meaning as assigned to that expression in the Tourism Industry Act 1992 [Act 482];
Road Transport 19
“tracked”, in relation to a vehicle, means that the vehicle is so designed and constructed that the weight of it is transmitted to the road surface either by means of continuous tracks, or by a combination of wheels and continuous tracks;
“traffic” includes micromobility vehicles, motor vehicles, tram cars, vehicles of every description, pedestrians, processions, bodies of police or troops and all animals being ridden, driven or led;
“traffic signs” includes all signals, warning sign posts, direction posts, signs, marks or devices erected or provided on or near a road for the information, guidance or direction of persons using the road;
“traffic warden” means any person appointed to be a traffic warden by the Dato Bandar, the Perbadanan Putrajaya, the Mayor of a City
Council, the President of a Municipal Council or the Chairman of a
Municipal Council under section 3;
“trailer” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in subsection 5(1);
“unladen weight” means the weight of a vehicle inclusive of the body and all parts (the heavier being taken where alternative bodies or parts are used) which are necessary to, or ordinarily used with, the vehicle when working on a road but exclusive of loose tools;
“use” means use on any road;
“vehicle” means a structure capable of moving or being moved or used for the conveyance of any person or thing and which maintains contact with the ground when in motion;
“vocational licence” means a licence to drive or act as a conductor granted under sections 56 and 57;
“weighing machine” includes a portable weighing machine, a static weighing machine and a computerized or electronic weigh in-motion system;
20 Laws of Malaysia ACT 333
“wheeled”, in relation to a motor vehicle or trailer, means that the whole weight of the vehicle is transmitted to the road by means of wheels.
There shall be appointed a Director General for Road Transport and such number of Deputy Directors General for Road Transport,
Directors for Road Transport, Deputy Directors for Road Transport and other road transport officers as may be considered necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Act.
The Director General shall have the general supervision and direction of all matters relating to road transport throughout Malaysia.
The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, prescribe—
uniforms and rank markings for any road transport officer; and
the authority card and badge to be carried by any road transport officer.
The Dato Bandar may appoint such number of persons in the service of the City of Kuala Lumpur as he considers necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Act to be traffic wardens and may, after consultation with the Inspector General of Police, prescribe uniforms for such officers.
The Perbadanan Putrajaya may appoint such number of persons in the service of the Perbadanan Putrajaya as it considers necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Act to be traffic wardens and may, after consultation with the Inspector General of Police, prescribe uniforms for such officers.
The Mayor of a City Council, the President of a Municipal
Council or the Chairman of a Municipal Council may appoint such number of persons in the service of the City Council or the Municipal
Road Transport 21
Council as he considers necessary or expedient for the purposes of this
Act to be traffic wardens and may, after consultation with the Inspector
General of Police, prescribe uniforms for such officers.
The Director General shall perform the duties and exercise the rights and powers imposed and conferred upon him by this Act.
The Director General, all road transport officers and all traffic wardens appointed under this section, and all public officers and officers of the Authority authorized under section 88D shall be deemed to be public servants for the purposes of Chapter X of the
Penal Code [Act 574].
The Director General shall assign a Director to each registration area or each division of the Road Transport Department.
A notification in the Gazette of the appointment of a road transport officer or a traffic warden shall be conclusive evidence that such person was so appointed.
Any officer appointed under any Ordinance repealed by this
Act and holding office on the date immediately preceding the appointed day, shall continue in office and shall be deemed to be a road transport officer or a traffic warden, as the case may be, appointed under this section.
Authorization to Mayor, President of a Municipal Council,
Chairman of a Municipal Council, officers of City Council or
s 3AMunicipal Council, etc.
The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, upon application being made by the Mayor of a City Council, authorize the
Mayor and the officers or persons in the service of the City Council to exercise the powers conferred and to perform the duties imposed by this Act on the Dato Bandar or traffic warden, as the case may be.
An order made under subsection (1) may limit the powers to be conferred on and the duties to be performed by the Mayor and the officers or persons in the service of the City Council.
22 Laws of Malaysia ACT 333
Upon authorization being made under subsection (1), the
Mayor and officers or persons in the service of the City Council may exercise the powers conferred and perform the duties imposed by this
Act on the Dato Bandar or traffic warden, as the case may be, as if—
references to “Dato Bandar” were references to the
Mayor of the City Council;
references to “officer in the service of the City of Kuala
Lumpur” and “persons in the service of the City of Kuala
Lumpur” were references to officers or persons in the service of the City Council respectively;
references to the “Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur”
were references to that City.
The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, upon application being made by the President of a Municipal Council or the Chairman of a Municipal Council, authorize the President of the
Municipal Council, the Chairman of the Municipal Council and the officers or persons in the service of the Municipal Council to exercise the powers conferred and to perform the duties imposed by this Act on the President of the Municipal Council, the Chairman of the
Municipal Council or traffic warden, as the case may be.
An order made under subsection (3A) may limit the powers to be conferred on and the duties to be performed by the President of a
Municipal Council, the Chairman of a Municipal Council and the officers or persons in the service of the Municipal Council.
Upon authorization being made under subsection (3A), the
President of a Municipal Council, the Chairman of a Municipal
Council and the officers or persons in the service of the Municipal
Council may exercise the powers conferred and perform the duties imposed by this Act on the President of a Municipal Council, the
Chairman of a Municipal Council or traffic warden, as the case may be.
(Deleted by Act A1585).
Road Transport 23
s 4Powers and duties of Dato Bandar, etc.
The powers and duties of the Dato Bandar, the Perbadanan
Putrajaya, the Mayor of a City Council, the President of a Municipal
Council, the Chairman of a Municipal Council and traffic wardens under this Act shall not exercised outside or in respect of offences committed outside the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, the
Federal Territory of Putrajaya, the City Council or the Municipal
Council, respectively.
s 4APowers of police officer and road transport officer
Notwithstanding anything contained in any written law, any police officer or road transport officer shall exercise the powers conferred by this Act in respect of offences committed under this Act on any road.
s 4B
(Deleted by Act A1585).
Part II
Classification, Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles and Drivers
Part III
Roads
Part IV
Provisions Against Third Party Risks Arising Out of the Use of Motor Vehicles
Part V