Which Letters Are Normally Not Used in Standard Malaysian Number Plates?

The letters I, O and Z are normally omitted from ordinary alphabetical registration sequences, but their treatment is not identical. I and O can be visually confused with numbers, while Z is used in Malaysian military vehicle registration formats.

These conventions refer to ordinary registration sequences. They should not be interpreted to mean that these letters can never appear anywhere in every Malaysian registration format.

If you want more information about common state prefixes and registration areas, our guide to what the letters on Malaysian number plates mean explains the standard prefixes and different registration formats.

Why Are I and O Usually Omitted?

The main reason I and O are normally omitted from ordinary Malaysian registration sequences is readability. Their shapes can resemble the numbers 1 and 0, particularly when viewed quickly.

The potential similarities are straightforward:

• I and 1 can appear visually similar.
• O and 0 can also be difficult to distinguish.
• Omitting these letters helps maintain clearer distinctions between the alphabetic and numeric parts of a standard registration number.

This is also why it is useful to look at a registration number as a complete combination of letters and digits rather than interpreting an individual character in isolation.

Why Is Z Different?

The letter Z is different from I and O. While I and O are normally omitted because they can be confused with the numbers 1 and 0, Z is normally omitted from ordinary alphabetical registration sequences and is used in Malaysian military vehicle registration formats.

Z should not simply be described as an unused letter. Its use depends on the registration format, so it is important to distinguish ordinary registration sequences from military and other specialised registration formats.

Is the Number 0 Used in Malaysian Number Plates?

Yes. The number 0 can appear within a Malaysian registration number, but ordinary registration numbers do not start with 0.

However, a leading zero is not used to create formats such as 01, 008 or 0123 in the ordinary registration number sequence. JPJ's published registration number categories show single-digit numbers from 1 to 9, followed by larger numeric combinations without adding zeroes in front.

In simple terms, 0 can be part of the number, but it is not used as the first digit of an ordinary Malaysian registration number. This is why saying “0 is not used in Malaysian number plates” would be inaccurate.

Do Special Registration Series Follow the Same Rules?

Not necessarily. Rules and conventions associated with ordinary state registration sequences should not automatically be applied to every special registration series.

JPJ recognises Nombor Pendaftaran Istimewa (NPI), or Special Registration Numbers, as dedicated registration series. One clear example is the MALAYSIA special series, which JPJ offered from MALAYSIA 1 through MALAYSIA 9999.

That example is important because the word MALAYSIA contains the letter I. It demonstrates why it would be too broad to claim that I can never appear on a Malaysian number plate.

Special series may use words, index marks or letter combinations outside the format normally associated with standard state registration sequences. Customers interested in distinctive formats can browse our special series number plates for available options.