How Much Should You Spend On A Car In Malaysia?

This article was first published on August 8, 2018 and has been edited and updated for accuracy and clarity.

We Malaysians love cars. There is no doubt about that. It often feels like it’s part of our culture to buy a car. Perhaps it’s because of our public transportation system that is lacking slightly in coverage-area (although slowly improving), or that we’ve got really awesome driving roads for driving. Whatever the reason may be, however, car loan repayment in Malaysia is one of the leading reasons that Malaysians are going bankrupt. 

But there are times that we really need a car, and surely there is a right formula to own one? When buying a car, it all comes down to the cost, and the question that most people want to know is “what can I afford?”

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How do you find out if you can afford a car?

There’s a very simple formulation that can guide you on how much you should spend on a car, and don’t worry, it isn’t going to be a big number. It’s simple maths: The car you can afford to buy is the one with a price that’s equivalent or less than your monthly gross salary x 12 months.

Let’s use the average starting salary of a fresh graduate, for example, RM2,500 (in most industries). Their annual gross income would amount to RM30,000. Using the annual gross income as a guide, a viable car to purchase by the fresh grad would be the Perodua Axia E 1.0 manual, priced at RM23,367 (not inclusive of car insurance), but do keep in mind that this is the cheapest brand new car available in Malaysia right now, and it doesn’t even come with a radio.

If the fresh grad is to put a downpayment of 10% and take a five-year loan with an (estimated) interest rate of 3%, they would be paying roughly RM404 per month (RM303 for a seven-year loan or RM247 for a nine-year loan). (These estimations were made via the car loan monthly instalment calculator on Calculator.com.my.) Do keep in mind that the longer the loan repayment period, the higher the total interest rate, so it is better to keep the loans as short as possible.

Related: #BreakingItDown – The True Total Cost Of Car Ownership In Malaysia

It is important to keep in mind the total cost of car ownership which includes running costs that aren’t limited to maintenance fees, petrol prices, toll prices, and parking rates.

It isn’t that simple

When it comes to buying a new car, the price of the vehicle is the most basic of expenses. What many people forget about buying a car is the total cost of ownership. It is important to keep in mind the total cost of ownership which includes running costs that aren’t limited to maintenance fees, petrol prices, toll prices, and even parking rates.

Going back to the Axia E; it is the cheapest car you can buy today, but it doesn’t mean that the petrol prices and maintenance fees are going to disappear. The running cost of a lower-priced car will be cheaper, yes, but it won’t be that much cheaper. According to new and used car e-commerce platform Carlist.my, it costs roughly RM2,500 for basic maintenance (not inclusive of tyres and brake pads) of a Perodua Axia for the first five years, which is about RM50 a month. The Axia’s 33 litre fuel tank would cost up to RM67.65 for a full tank of RON95 (RM2.05/l)

Related: Latest Petrol Price in Malaysia – RON95, RON97, & Diesel

What this means is that the fresh grad would have to live rather frugally if they were to purchase a car that’s equivalent to their annual gross income. Let us not forget that everyone’s monthly income is subject to monthly statutory deductions such as EPF and SOCSO as well.

Of course, if a person were to earn a higher gross annual income, they would have more flexibility in buying better cars or cheaper cars and saving more on a monthly basis. But it is important to always keep in mind the total cost of ownership of a car.

If a person were to earn a higher gross annual income, they would have more flexibility in buying better cars or cheaper cars and saving more on a monthly basis. 

Should you buy a car?

We strongly suggest that the suggested formula to buying a car is only used as a guide to help you get a rough gauge of car affordability for yourself and is not a strict guide anyone should use to purchase a car. Don’t forget to take into account the usual monthly expenses too, such as food, rent, and utilities.

Always take a look at your monthly expenses and get a clear idea of how much you can actually spare to afford a car, be it you’re a fresh grad who needs a car or you’re a veteran in the workforce who’s looking for his weekend car. After all, if there is no real need for a new car (you have sufficient transportation everywhere), then your money is better off kept in your savings or investments.

Related: #BreakingItDown – Don’t Make These 9 Mistakes When Buying A Car