Hassle of Getting A Car Number Plate

To those who know and have bought cars before will know the hassle of getting a 'good' car number plate. Unless of course, u don't need any special numbers thus, less hassle. This is my second time going to JPJ to buy my car number plate. The first was with my ex and it wasn't that hard. Maybe it is due to he bought common number.

If u log on to JPJ website,the numbers are categorized into premier value number which are those single digit numbers, interesting numbers such as 11, 333, 8888 etc and popular numbers such as 1000, 2772, 7788 etc. But the number which I wanted to buy is not in either one of these category. Usually, when u buy a new car, the sales person will help u handle all this hassle. I guess I was unlucky to have a not so competent sales person. Initially he told me he could help me to get the number I want for RM 300++ then it become RM 400++ then it turn out to be RM 500-600 cos he ask a runner to help him buy that number! I was very pissed off with his ever increasing price tag for the number and so I decided to get the number from JPJ myself.

Early Tue morning, I wake up as early as 7am and prepared myself to go JPJ. Luckily it's nearby my house. I reach there 7.30am and already there are a few people queing for the relatives departments to open up! Since I was there with my dad, I asked him to go join the Q upstair as that's the place where we are suppose to go for application for number plate, while I wait for the forms counter to be open. The form counter open 5 mins earlier than the other department. I grab a form and quickly fill it up and join my dad in the Q. By the time I reach the staircase, the Q is already until ground floor. Am so glad that dad's place was the 4th but sadly by the time the Q reach me, the lady told me that the new number is not open for sale yet. Thus no waiting numbers for me and I have to wait indefinitely.

I waited for an hour plus before the lady say we can Q up again for the number. By this hour a lot of people already Q-ing and long line have been formed. I did sort of jump Q cause the few of us are the early bird bunch and it's pretty unfair for us to have waited so long and to join the Q again. Lucky the lady recognize us and gave us the number or else I would not have be able to get what I want.

I'm the 5th person. Not too bad. A very good chance to get the number that I want. I reach the counter, pass the forms to the lady and tell her the number which I want. The number is still available and it only cost me RM 340 plus RM 10 service charge. At this time I panic, cause dad went out for breakfast and I don't have enough money for it. I only have about RM 150 in my purse and the lady in the counter said I have to pay her and no waiting or pre book number. I called my dad and he's quite far from the place. In the meantime, I have to do what I had to do.

To borrow money from strangers!!! Yes, it is embarrassing but if I don't buy the number now I would not have got it. I asked the uncle at the next counter but he seem very angry with the JPJ lady and say 'don't know' and left. Lucky at the time, the lady serving me is also handling another issue with another customer thus I get to pro-long the time while waiting for my dad. Eventually there's this guy (which I think is a runner) who's familiar with the lady came ask her something and so I grab the chance and asked him to borrow me some cash to secure the number. I assured him that I won't run away and I will wait with him for my dad to reach. Lucky me, he's very kind and he did borrow me RM 170 for me to buy the number cause at that time I only have RM 180. Dad came in just in time to pay the lady and I don't have to borrow the guy's money after all. Phew! what a situation.

Finally mission accomplish and number secured but the hassle of getting it..... really not so worth it but think of saving at least RM 200 to pay a runner to buy the number, brings a smile to myself :)