JOHOR BARU: Cheah, 36, bought a second-hand BMW X6 for RM40,000, hoping the luxury badge would help him project success and win people's trust.
But the cost of keeping the car on the road proved harder to manage than the bargain he had struck.
"People look at what you wear and what you drive before deciding whether they can trust you. Some think you are not doing well if you do not drive a luxury car," he said.
The sales executive bought the first-generation BMW X6 from a friend who runs a used-car dealership.
He admitted that he and some of his peers had underestimated the cost of ownership, particularly insurance and road tax.
"The appeal of a luxury vehicle goes beyond the drive itself. It is also about how others perceive me," he said.
Cheah said the Transport Ministry's decision to allow private vehicle owners to use digital road tax instead of displaying a physical disc had made things easier, particularly during enforcement operations.
"Many people assume that if you can afford a luxury car, you should have no problem paying for its insurance and road tax," he said.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced the change in February 2023, removing the requirement for private vehicle owners to display physical road tax discs.
Cheah admitted motorists had to take responsibility for complying with the law, especially amid concerns about dangerous driving and road accidents.
"Lifestyle is equally important," he said, describing the pressure to maintain an image of success despite the financial burden.
Meanwhile, Tow-truck operator S. Siva, 46, who has spent more than 20 years in the business, said some luxury-car owners were among the most difficult customers when their vehicles had to be towed.
"They have all sorts of excuses when it their cars towed," he said, adding that some owners allowed their road tax and insurance to lapse because of the cost.
"In my experience, luxury-car owners are more likely to let their road tax lapse. You rarely see locally made cars on the road without valid road tax," he added.
Yesterday, the Johor Road Transport Department (RTD) seized four luxury vehicles during Ops Luxury after inspections found that their road tax had expired and they had no valid insurance.
The vehicles were a BMW X6, a Mercedes-Benz CLA 45, a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class and a Toyota Alphard. Their combined value was estimated at nearly RM1 million.
Ops Luxury targets luxury vehicles whose owners flout road transport laws, including failing to renew road tax or maintain valid insurance, as well as offences involving driving licences and vehicle technical requirements.
Johor RTD director Zulkarnain Yasin said enforcement would continue to ensure vehicles on public roads complied with the law and met safety requirements.
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