Single-digit license plate numbers have become a hot topic when their bids soared to RM1 million, far exceeding the minimum price of RM20,000 set for the main category of license plates in the JPJeBid system.
Based on the JPJeBid display on 25 August 2026, the highest bid for QE 1 reached RM1,360,000, while the second and third positions were RM1,200,000 and RM504,444 respectively.
The RM1.36 million value is equivalent to 50 times the minimum price of RM20,000. The QE series is the latest Sarawak license plate number to be bid on the JPJeBid platform.
Where Did the RM1.36 Million Go?
The question is, if a single-digit license plate number is won at a price of RM1.36 million or higher, where does the money go?
The proceeds from the sale of government registration numbers are essentially government revenue, not profits kept by JPJ for the department's own use.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke previously explained that the proceeds from the registration number collection are channeled to the Consolidated Fund. For the Special Registration Number (NPI), the government had previously determined that part of the proceeds would be returned to the Ministry of Transport (MOT) to fund certain programs.
According to the Malaysian Parliament, the special GOLD series in 2024, the government collected around RM17 million. Half of the proceeds were returned to the MOT to implement several transportation and road safety initiatives.
Among the programs that have been funded using registration number revenue include driver's license assistance for the underprivileged and the distribution of helmets.
A Series of Plates Only Can Generate RM21.68 Million
The economic value from the registration number bidding can be huge when thousands of numbers are offered in a series.
Last April, the P_P Special Registration Number recorded a total collection of RM21.68 million in just five days.
Of this amount, about RM19.19 million came from bidding proceeds, while another RM2.48 million was service charges. A total of 19,370 bidders participated and 5,973 registration numbers were successfully won.
According to Bernama, the P1P number was the highest bid in the series at RM1.1 million, followed by P9P at RM1,000,777, P8P at RM613,000, P6P at RM600,777 and P2P at RM512,000.
QE 1 Approaches GOLD 1 Record
The main record is still held by GOLD 1, which was acquired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim for RM1.5 million in 2024. The value was announced as the highest registration number bid in the country's history at the time and the proceeds were channeled to the Federal Government.
What is clear is that premium registration numbers are now a source of government revenue with high value.
The price of RM1 million for a registration number like QE 1 is equivalent to 50 times its minimum price, showing that the value of a registration number is ultimately determined by how much bidders are willing to pay to obtain a combination that is considered exclusive.
