You can now buy RFID holders on Shopee. Should you get one for your car?

With all toll highways on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia supporting RFID, vehicle owners are encouraged to get an RFID tag to enjoy seamless travel without the need for bulky SmartTAG devices. For those who opt to purchase the DIY RFID Self-fitment kit, Malaysians have found creative ways of using the RFID sticker including holding it by hand or sticking it behind the car’s front number plate.

Now it appears that some sellers on Shopee are offering RFID holders for RM6.99. These are essentially thin acrylic strips that you can attach to your windscreen from the inside with suction mounts. According to the description, this allows easier installation of RFID tags and you can change the position repeatedly without damaging the tag. It even claims to work with tinted windscreens.

To recap, Touch ‘n Go, the provider of the RFID tags recommend that you stick the RFID tag on the outside of your vehicle either on the passenger side windscreen or on the passenger side headlamp. Since RFID uses electromagnetic field, technically it should still work even when it’s attached from the inside as long as there’s no interference. Touch ‘n Go warns that metal framework may cause interference and it is recommended to attach it at least 5cm away from metal parts of your vehicle. There’s also a risk of detection issues if you do not install the RFID tag according to the recommended guidelines which would result in unnecessary jams when you try to reverse out from the lane.

If you’re wondering why users are looking at various RFID installation methods, it is due to concerns of detection issues especially among those who purchase a DIY kit. The TNG RFID tag has a security feature that will render the tag useless if someone tries to remove it. Not wanting to damage it unnecessarily, there are users that opt not to stick the RFID tag and instead, attach it to the windscreen with a transparent film like the old school road tax. In case you didn’t know, all RFID Tags that are sold for RM35 each come with a one-time free replacement which you can claim from Touch ‘n Go.

It is worth noting that the RFID tag is non-transferable and once registered, you are not allowed to use it on other vehicles. According to PLUS’ dos and don’ts, you are also not allowed to use the RFID tag handheld. If you’re caught misusing the RFID tag, you will be blacklisted. If you have multiple cars at home, you should get a tag for each vehicle and you can link up to 10 RFID tags to a single Touch ‘n Go eWallet account.

I’ve not personally tried the RFID tag holder but I reckon you can achieve the same thing for less by using the free “road tax sticker” film that’s usually provided by car insurance. There are some who used the McDonald’s Drive-Thru VIP sticker to hold the RFID tag and it works for them as well. If you plan on not sticking the RFID tag as per original guidelines, take note that there’s a risk that someone could steal the tag. The culprit could attach it to their vehicle to enjoy “free toll” especially on highways without Automated Number Plate Recognition. For RFID Refuelling at Shell, the system recognises your vehicle via RFID tag and number plate before you can refuel your vehicle.

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Related reading

• PSA: SmartTAG does not work for RFID lanes
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• Why did the PLUS RFID implementation fail? | Let’s Talk About #82
• JPJ might introduce RFID-embedded number plate or road tax for Malaysian vehicles