Hi all, I found it difficult to get good information on how to sell a motorcycle as a foreigner in Malaysia, so here is my experience.

Context: I am travelling on a US passport. On 1 May 2024 I purchased a 130cc trail bike in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia to do a loop of the Golden Triangle through 3 countries. My intended trip length was 3-5 months, and buying was necessary to be able to cross borders in Southeast Asia.

The process of buying couldn't be easier. I showed up to a motorbike dealer with a passport, transferred some money, and I rode away same day. If I were to buy secondhand from a private seller, I would have to do the below procedure in reverse.

To sell the bike, I tried to prime the pump by posting it on Facebook Marketplace and in an enthusiast group in Malaysia a couple weeks in advance. I had little response and complaints that the kms were too high (estimated to be 7000km when I finished). So I waited until I got to Penang and re-listed the bike on Marketplace (successful sale), a different enthusiast group (some attention but low quality responses), and Mudah.my (no bites at all). Guess second time was the charm.

To complete the process, I had to go to a Road Transport Department *main branch* (Malay: Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan Malaysia, abbreviated JPJ). I was not allowed to use the convenient UTC locations that have longer opening hours but are only for locals. There is one in Penang
"JPJ BATU UBAN
Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan, Cawangan Batu Uban",
but in Penang the week starts on Monday, and I had to make a quick sale over the weekend. So instead the buyer and I went together to another branch an hour away:
"Road Transport Department, Kulim Branch
Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan, Cawangan Kulim"
because the week starts there on Sunday. Thus we were able to do the ownership transfer the Sunday before my flight.

The steps at the JPJ were to:
1. Go inside the main entrance and speak to the guard who issued us a queue number and forms to fill out. Note that Malaysian government offices close for lunch between 1 and 2pm, and frequently run out of appointments by midday, so it's important to arrive early.
2. Complete the forms the guards gave us (about 30 minutes for us, YMMV). Passport number or MyKad if the buyer is Malaysian, address of buyer and seller, vehicle documentation required.
3. Go to a mobile station outside to change the insurance to the new owner. Show passport and ownership documents. Fees were involved and they didn't have small change. (Another 30 minutes) Receive receipt.
4. Wait outside in the heat for our number to be called. (2 hours due to a system outage)
5. Arrive at the counter. Present passport and ownership documents, do thumbprints. Buyer pays road tax and collects tax and ownership documents. (30 minutes more)

It helps a lot to have a buyer or assistance from a Malay speaker. In the end I took about a 50% loss on the bike due to miscalculating how long logistics and selling would take. I would allow at least a full week if not two and list online earlier. I did try to take the bike to several dealerships but had a much harder time offloading the bike to them than I expected. In the end I was able to sell to a private buyer in 4 days, but it was very very tight.

Hope this sheds some light on what it's like to buy and sell a motorcycle in Malaysia. It was easier than other countries, so worth it, but is still not a slam dunk. If you can line up a buyer in advance (e.g. a friend who is willing to sell it on, or the dealer you buy the bike from), this is a safer route. But if you don't plan on selling in the same city you buy, this may not be practical.

ETA: photos

EXCELLENT post, thanks!!

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Grant Johnson
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Good post!

May I ask what 130 cc trial bike did you buy and how was it to do such a trip with?

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