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Buying a used lorry in Malaysia — body types, licences and checks

· Roda Editorial

lorrytrucksbuying guide

A used lorry is a working tool, so the right one depends on what you carry, how far, and for whom. Before you judge condition, settle the body, the weight rating, the driver's licence and any permit.

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

Choose the body type

  • Box: a closed body for goods that must stay dry. Check the floor, door seals and any tail lift.
  • Tipper: a hydraulic tipping body for sand, soil and aggregates. Check the hoist cylinder, hinge pins and floor.
  • Flatbed or cargo: an open deck with side boards. Check the deck and tie-down points.
  • Crane lorry: a cargo lorry with a crane behind the cab. The crane has its own paperwork; see below.

Weight ratings

  • BDM (berat dengan muatan): the gross vehicle weight, the lorry plus its maximum load.
  • BTM (berat tanpa muatan): the unladen weight.

The difference is roughly what the lorry may carry. Match the BDM to your heaviest regular load with a margin, and check both figures on the registration record and the chassis plate. JPJ acts against overloaded vehicles.

The driver's licence

  • Class D: the car licence, listed by MyGOV for motor cars under 3,500 kg unladen. Under JPJ guidelines from 1 April 2026, Class D holders may drive de-controlled goods vehicles (see below) of up to 4,000 kg unladen.
  • Class E: heavy vehicles. E1 and E2 were merged into a single Class E from 1 March 2022, with a transition programme for existing holders. MyGOV lists a minimum age of 21 and Class D held for a year.
  • Goods Driving Licence (GDL): a vocational licence for goods vehicles. MyGOV lists a minimum age of 21, the relevant class held for over a year, and a medical check-up.

Check with JPJ which licences your lorry and your work need.

Whose goods will you carry?

This decides whether you need a permit from APAD, the Land Public Transport Agency. Under Ministry of Transport and JPJ guidelines effective 1 April 2026, as reported by the New Straits Times:

  • Goods vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 7,500 kg are de-controlled. They may carry the owner's own business goods without an APAD operator's permit.
  • Carrying other people's goods for a fee needs a Carrier Permit A from APAD under the Land Public Transport Act 2010.

For a heavier lorry, or other people's goods, ask APAD which licence you need. In Sabah and Sarawak, the state Commercial Vehicle Licensing Boards (LPKP) handle this. If the lorry runs under the seller's permit, ask how to move it to yours before you pay.

PUSPAKOM inspections

  • Routine inspection: PUSPAKOM states that the Road Transport Act 1987 requires commercial vehicles to have an inspection every six months.
  • Initial inspection: PUSPAKOM lists a one-time inspection for new or used commercial vehicles before JPJ registration.

Ask for the latest inspection certificate and past results. Gaps can mean the lorry was off the road, or needs repairs to pass. See our PUSPAKOM guide.

Crane lorries

DOSH's 2025 application guide for lifting machinery lists truck-mounted cranes among the machinery covered by the Occupational Safety and Health (Plant Requiring Certificate of Fitness) Regulations 2024. Ask for the crane's DOSH registration and current certificate of fitness, and check with DOSH what a new owner must do.

What to check on the lorry

Chassis and body

  • Look along the chassis rails for cracks, especially at the spring hangers, the crossmembers and behind the cab. Fresh paint or welded plates in one spot can hide a repair.
  • Match the chassis number with the registration record.
  • Look for rust and for crossmembers bent by overloading.

Suspension, brakes and tyres

  • Leaf springs: look for broken or shifted leaves, and sagging on one side.
  • Air brakes: pressure should build quickly and hold with the engine off.
  • Tyres: compare the tread on all wheels and check the date codes. Uneven wear points to alignment or suspension problems.

Engine, gearbox and PTO

  • Start from cold. Watch for heavy smoke, knocks and slow starting.
  • Drive it loaded if you can. The clutch should bite cleanly and gears should engage without crunching.
  • On a tipper or crane lorry, engage the power take-off (PTO) and run the hydraulics through a full cycle. Look for leaks at the pump, hoses and cylinders.

Distance and hours

An odometer can be replaced or reset. Compare the reading with the service records, the inspection history and the wear on the pedals and seat. For a crane or PTO-driven body, ask for the equipment hours, if recorded.

Transfer and payment

  1. Match the seller's IC or company documents with the registration record.
  2. Confirm any hire purchase or lease is settled, or agree in writing how your payment settles it.
  3. Check for summonses or a blacklist.
  4. Ask JPJ which inspection report a commercial vehicle transfer needs. See the JPJ transfer guide.
  5. Arrange insurance, road tax and permits before the lorry works.

Browse used lorries for sale on Roda. Ads are posted by sellers; Roda does not inspect vehicles or check permits.

Sources

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