There is no public registry in Malaysia that lets you identify a car owner from a number plate. Vehicle ownership data is personal information protected under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA), and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) does not provide public online access to owner names or IC numbers. The only lawful path to trace an owner is through PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) after lodging a police report. That said, several official online tools let you check a vehicle's road tax status, insurance coverage, and summons by plate number, which is often exactly what you need after a hit-and-run accident. This guide explains what each tool actually reveals and how to get police help to identify the driver.

Why do you need to trace car owners by number plate if you've been hit and run accident in Malaysia?

Getting to know the car owner involved in the hit-and-run accident is very important. Here are some reasons why it is important to check car owner by number plate:

Identification

If you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident, getting the plate number is your starting point. You will need it to file a police report, and PDRM will use it to identify the registered owner. Online tools like MyEG and MyCarInfo only show vehicle status (not owner identity), but the plate number itself is critical for the police investigation.

Insurance Claim

To make an insurance claim, you will need to provide as much information about the accident as possible. This includes details of the other vehicle involved. If you can trace the owner of the car, it will strengthen your claim.

You will need to check the car owner's details if you decide to take legal action. This information will be necessary to file a police report and possibly for court proceedings.

Responsibility

The person responsible for the accident should be held accountable for their actions. Tracing the car owner ensures that they won't simply walk away without facing any consequences.

Prevention

By tracing the car owner and reporting them, you could potentially prevent similar accidents in the future. They could be a habitual offender, and your actions could help get a dangerous driver off the road.

Compensation

If you're injured or your vehicle is damaged, you might be entitled to compensation. Tracing the car owner is the first step towards making a claim.

What to do if you're involved in a hit and run accident?

If you find yourself involved in a hit-and-run accident, don't panic. Here are the crucial steps you should follow to gather evidence and report the incident:

  1. Note down incident details such as the date, time, and location of the accident.
  2. Capture evidence like pictures or videos of the incident using your car’s dashcam or witness statements if available.
  3. Report the hit-and-run accident to the police.
  4. Provide the police with information about the offender, such as the license plate number, car model, and colour.
  5. The police will then check the records of the reported vehicle. If the offender is identified, the police will contact the car owner and take appropriate legal action.

Check road tax, insurance status, and summons via MyEG

MyEG does not reveal the registered owner's name or IC number. What it does show is useful supporting evidence: road tax expiry date, active insurance status, current NCD percentage, and any outstanding PDRM summons linked to a plate number. In a hit-and-run situation, this information can help confirm whether the vehicle was insured and road-legal, which supports your police report and insurance claim.

Here is how to check a vehicle's status on MyEG:

  1. Visit https://www.myeg.com.my.
  2. Register an account if you have not already done so, then log in.
  3. Under the Summons or Vehicle services section, enter the plate number to check outstanding PDRM and JPJ summons.
  4. The result shows road tax and insurance expiry, NCD rate, and any recorded summons, but it does not display owner identity.

Check insurer and NCD via MyCarInfo i-Search

MyCarInfo is an official portal developed by Insurance Services Malaysia (ISM) together with the Malaysian General Insurance Association (PIAM). Its i-Search function lets you look up a vehicle's current and previous insurers, coverage period, and policy expiry date by plate number. It does not reveal the owner's name or IC number. This is useful if you need to contact the other vehicle's insurer directly after an accident.

  1. Visit https://www.mycarinfo.com.my/isearch.
  2. Log in or register a free account.
  3. Select i-Search and pay the RM6 fee.
  4. Enter the vehicle's plate number along with your name and email address.
  5. The insurer name, coverage period, and policy expiry details will be emailed to you.

How to actually trace the car owner via PDRM and JPJ official channels

If you need to identify the registered owner of a vehicle (for example, after a hit-and-run), the only lawful route is through PDRM or JPJ official channels. Neither is a self-service online lookup; you need a formal reason and proper documentation.

  • Lodge a police report (PDRM): Go to the nearest police station and file a report for the hit-and-run incident. Provide the plate number, vehicle description, date, time, and location. PDRM has access to JPJ vehicle registration records and will trace the registered owner as part of the investigation. For non-emergency written reports only, PDRM also offers an online e-Report at ereporting.rmp.gov.my, but for a hit-and-run, report in person at the station.
  • JPJ official inquiry: For civil or legal disputes (such as a damage claim), your lawyer or insurance adjuster can formally request vehicle registration information from JPJ. This requires a valid legal basis under Section 27 of the Road Transport Act and cannot be done as a walk-in public request.

What if you don't know the number plate of the car?

In some instances, you might not have sufficient information about the offender's vehicle. In such a case, you should:

  1. Report the incident to the police, providing as much information as you can, such as the vehicle's colour, brand, model, and other distinguishing features.
  2. Try to find witnesses who might provide additional details.
  3. Consider your insurance options, based on the extent of damage to your vehicle and your financial capacity to bear the repair costs.

Conclusion

No public tool in Malaysia reveals a car owner's identity from a plate number. That data is protected by the PDPA. What you can do online is check the vehicle's road tax and insurance status (MyEG) and find out which insurer covers the vehicle (MyCarInfo i-Search). To actually identify and pursue the owner, file a police report at the nearest PDRM station with the plate number, and let the police use their official JPJ access. The sooner you file the report, the stronger your position for any insurance claim or legal action.

For the Bahasa Melayu version of this guide, see cara semak owner kereta.