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Used cars in Sarawak and East Malaysia — buying locally or shipping

· Roda Editorial

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Sarawak's used car market is spread across towns that are hours apart: Kuching in the south-west, Sibu and Bintulu in the centre, and Miri in the north. Sabah adds Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau. The choice in any one town is smaller than in the Klang Valley, so many buyers search the whole state, or buy in the Peninsula and ship the car across. This guide covers both routes, with a focus on Sarawak. For Sabah-specific points, such as cars from Labuan, read our Sabah guide.

Rules change. This guide reflects information as of October 2026 and is general information, not legal advice. Check with JPJ for your situation.

Where to look

  1. Open used cars in Sarawak or used cars in Sabah, and filter by model, price and year.
  2. Check the town in each ad. Kuching and Miri are a long drive apart, so shortlist by town and group your viewings.
  3. Ask for a video call walk-around and a photo of the registration record before you travel.
  4. If you prefer to buy from a business, browse dealers in your state.

Reading the plate

Registration numbers start with letters that usually show where the car was first registered. Based on published prefix lists:

  • Sarawak: Q, with a second letter for the area, such as QA or QK for Kuching, QM for Miri, QS for Sibu and Mukah, and QT for Bintulu.
  • Sabah: S, such as SA for Kota Kinabalu and the West Coast, SS for Sandakan and ST for Tawau.
  • Labuan: L.

A car keeps its number when it changes owner, so a Peninsular plate on a car in Kuching usually means it was brought across. Ask when and how, and for its service records from both sides.

Road tax

JPJ sets road tax rates for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan that differ from the Peninsular rates. Use the road tax calculator for an estimate. If you might take the car to the Peninsula later, read the road tax section of our Sabah guide, which covers the three-month rule and the Ministry of Transport's 2026 plan for location-based road tax.

Buying in the Peninsula and shipping across

The Peninsula has more cars to choose from, but you take on extra cost, time and risk. Work in this order:

  1. Check the car before you pay anything large. Ask someone you know, or a workshop near the seller, to look at it. A faulty car is much harder to return once it is across the sea.
  2. Clear the paperwork. Match the seller's IC with the registration record, confirm any loan will be settled, and check for summonses or a blacklist.
  3. Complete the transfer. See below.
  4. Ship it. Hand the car to the shipper only after it is in your name, or agree in writing who is responsible for it during the trip.

What to ask the shipper

  • Ro-ro vessel or container? Which ports, and how does the car reach you from the port?
  • Which documents do they need, such as copies of the registration record and ICs, or an authorisation letter?
  • How long does it take, and what if a sailing is delayed?
  • Is the car insured in transit, under whose policy, for how much, and with what exclusions? Ask your own insurer whether your policy covers the sea crossing.
  • Will they photograph the car's condition at pickup and delivery?
  • What is the full cost, including port charges and delivery?

Get the quote and terms in writing, and pay the shipper directly, not through the seller. If you need a loan, include shipping when you run the car loan calculator.

Transfer when you and the car are in different states

JPJ offers two routes:

  • At a counter: for cars owned by individuals, the seller and the buyer both attend in person for fingerprint checks.
  • Online: the seller starts the transfer on the JPJ portal (MySIKAP), and the buyer confirms online. The seller's account must first be upgraded to ID Advance, which needs a one-time fingerprint check at a JPJ office. MyGOV lists the fee as RM100 for private vehicles.

Either way, a car needs the MV15 ownership transfer inspection, which is done where the car is. Book it while the car is still with the seller, and complete the transfer while the report is valid. See the JPJ transfer guide and our PUSPAKOM guide.

Condition checks

  • Floods: parts of Sarawak and Sabah flood in the monsoon season. Look under the carpets, in the boot and under the seats for silt and water marks, and for rust under the dashboard.
  • Coastal rust: cars kept near the coast need a rust check on the sills, floor, brake lines and suspension mounts.
  • Rough roads: cars used on rural or plantation roads need an underbody check for damaged sump guards, bent suspension parts and leaks. For pickups, see our Toyota Hilux guide.
  • Shipped cars: before you sign for a car at the port, compare its condition with the photos taken at pickup.

After you buy

Insure the car in your name and renew road tax as needed; see road tax renewal online. For the full buying process, read how to buy a used car in Malaysia.

Sources

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