Current format 3 Vehicle registration plates of Malaysia

a sabahan number plate.

all registration plates of sabah (except labuan) private , commercial motorised vehicles exceptions of used taxis, vehicle dealers , diplomats follow sdx #### x algorithm.

s - constant prefix sabahan number plates.
d - division prefix. (e.g. : = west coast, t = tawau)
x - alphabetical sequences. (e.g. : a, b, c ... x, y, except q & s restricted use)
# - number sequence. (e.g. : 1, 2, 3 ... 9998, 9999)

letters i, o, , z not used , there no leading zeroes, in case of peninsular malaysian number plates. q , s restricted being used in suffix minimise confusion sarawak s 1988–1991 sibu sx#### q series, , sabah s post-independence x#### s format.

the current algorithm majority of sabah s divisions start constant s prefix, followed division prefix , number sequence. example sa 1 of west coast division. once sa 9999 reached, alphabetical sequence added , served suffix; sa 1 result. when sa 9999 y achieved, second alphabetical sequence placed right of division prefix , first alphabetical sequence reset; result saa 1 a.when saa 9999 y met, second alphabetical sequences,sab 1 outcome. on 20th october 2017, sandakan division exhausted ss 9999 y , being issued ssa 1 series. sandakan second division of sabah have completed 2 letter format, next division exhaust 2 letter format tawau division being issued st #### y.

despite measures minimise conflicts similar number plate formats, number of vehicles in sabah bear same number plates number of private vehicles registered in singapore due complicated history of plate s algorithm , arrangement of characters. in singapore, letter z allowed use , different colours issued such opc number plate (white on red background), whereas z reserved military vehicles in malaysia. allow usage of letter z singapore number plates (suffix f, n, q, v , w not used on singapore number plates), cars in singapore bears s , opc scheme number plate bears white on red background plates, minimises confusion of sabah , singapore number plates.

sabah registration plates popular , commonly seen in johor johor bahru due similarity singaporean private vehicle registration plates.

on may 19, 2016, deputy minister of transport introduced v prefix kuala lumpur, there possibility current sabah format replaced new prefix ensure current sabah number plates bears no suffix compared current format. historically sabah used e series e series bears no suffix, similar number plate algorithm in peninsular malaysia.

the west coast division encompasses densely populated cities of kota kinabalu , penampang. sa series has become numerous number plate prefix in state of sabah.

labuan, federal territory based on former sabahan territory, uses standard l series based on peninsular malaysian algorithm, unlike other sabahan divisions.