Malaysian motorists are being urged to keep their driving licences up to date, as an expired licence could affect eligibility for the upcoming RON95 fuel subsidy scheme.
From 30 September, the BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) programme will allow Malaysians with a valid licence to purchase up to 300 litres of RON95 petrol each month at RM1.99 per litre.
Photo via Free Malaysia Today
Expired Doesn’t Always Mean Ineligible
Transport Minister Anthony Loke clarified that not all expired licences immediately disqualify drivers. Under Road Transport Department (JPJ) records:
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Licences that have expired for less than three years are still considered active. Holders remain eligible for BUDI95.
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However, once the three-year mark passes, the licence is no longer valid. Motorists must retake the driving test to obtain a new one—and will lose access to the subsidy.
“Don’t wait until your licence lapses. Today it’s active, but if it expires tomorrow, it becomes a problem,” Loke cautioned at a press conference in Putrajaya.
The Numbers Behind It
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Malaysia currently has 15 million active licence holders.
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Another 925,421 licences have expired but are still within the three-year grace period:
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551,688 expired in the past year
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219,092 expired between one and two years
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154,641 expired between two and three years
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Meanwhile, about 2.4 million motorists no longer have active licences at all.
Renewals on the Rise
Since the subsidy announcement on 22 September, JPJ has recorded nearly 27,000 licence renewals through:
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The MyJPJ app
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MySikap kiosks
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JPJ counters nationwide
Loke emphasised that timely renewals will help motorists avoid unnecessary complications: “We don’t want subsidy applicants to miss out simply because their licence is inactive.”
Bottom line: If your licence has expired, renew it quickly—so you don’t lose your spot at the pump for RM1.99 RON95!
