This Nation Can't Cease Seizing Luxury and Exotic Vehicles from Its Roads | Carscoops

      Malaysian authorities have confiscated numerous exotic vehicles in a significant enforcement action against expired documentation, counterfeit plates, and uninsured cars.

      A total of 258 luxury and exotic cars were seized due to various legal and documentation infractions, including expired licenses, lack of insurance, fake plates, and inconsistent VINs. The collection included brands such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce.

      While one might expect owners of high-value cars to maintain their documentation impeccably, this is not always the case in Malaysia. Recently, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has carried out seizures of 258 luxury and exotic vehicles due to differing legal and administrative violations.

      The ongoing campaign, termed “Operation Luxury,” aims at owners lacking valid insurance, those with expired driving or vehicle licenses, as well as vehicles displaying counterfeit or inconsistent number plates and chassis numbers. To date, three rounds of seizures have been executed: 101 cars on June 24, 53 on August 1, and 104 on August 10.

      Some striking models included a green Lotus Elise, a yellow Lamborghini Huracan STO, a black Rolls-Royce Cullinan, a yellow Lamborghini Urus, a matte gray Aston Martin DBX, an orange Porsche Cayman GT4, and a red Ferrari 458 Italia—vehicles one wouldn’t expect to be involved in such infringements.

      The JPJ’s official social media pages have shared photos showing a diverse range of Porsches, including the Cayman, Cayenne, 911, and Panamera, along with premium Toyotas like the Land Cruiser 300 Series, Alphard, and Vellfire, as well as various sedans and coupes from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

      In three instances, the seized vehicles were driven by foreigners who had not paid road tax nor held valid insurance. The majority of confiscations, totaling 93 out of 258, took place in Kuala Lumpur. Tuan Muhammad Kifli bin Ma Hassan, Senior Director of Enforcement at JPJ, indicated that owners had been alerted and advised to rectify the situation before their vehicles were seized.

      The department emphasized that “the launch of Operation Luxury clearly indicates that JPJ will not tolerate any party that fails to comply with road regulations. Owning a luxury vehicle does not exempt anyone from legal responsibilities as a motorist.” Officials are urging owners to ensure that all necessary documents and licenses are current and valid.

      Additionally, a report from the New Straits Times highlighted that over 1,000 cases have been identified where owners have neglected to renew their road tax and insurance for extended periods, involving some notable individuals, including celebrities and business magnates. According to local media outlet Paultan, most vehicles confiscated under Malaysia’s Road Transport Act 1987 are typically returned once taxes and insurance are updated.

      The JPJ has stated that Operation Luxury will persist regularly and encourages the public to report traffic law violations via its dedicated app or email.

      It is important to note that Malaysia imposes considerable taxes on luxury vehicles. As per Wikipedia, buyers of high-end models face a 30 percent import duty, a 10 percent sales tax, and a 105 percent excise duty, which cumulatively can triple the purchase price. Additionally, any vehicle valued over 200,000 Malaysian Ringgit (approximately $47,200) incurs a further High Value Goods Tax between 5 to 10 percent.