Obtaining A Malaysian Drivers License

You are allowed to drive on Malaysian roads if you have a valid driver’s license from any ASEAN country. Most foreigners can drive in Malaysia using a valid driving license from their own country. It is best to check with your embassy about the regulations regarding your country if you are not sure. International driver’s licenses are also valid until they expire. However even when the rules say you can drive on your own country’s license we have heard of people having problems with the police when they could not produce a local license. Therefore it may be a good idea to obtain one if you plan to stay here for some time.

The British High Commission recommends ‘British subjects staying in Malaysia for longer than one year obtain a Malaysian driving license or an annually renewed International Driving Permit’. If you want to apply for a local license and you currently drive on an American or British driving license you can go to the Putrajaya JPJ (Road Transport Department) office with your drivers license, passport (plus photocopy), two photos and show your work permit. Their address is Pejabat JPJ, Bahagian Lesen Memandu, Aras 3, Blok D 4 Parcel D, 66620 Putrajaya. Tel: 03-8886 6400.

They will take about two weeks to issue it and advise you by mail when it is ready for collection. You then have to go to a designated JPJ office to collect the license with the RM50 to cover the fees. For most other countries (best to check with your embassy about the rules for your country) you have the choice of using a driving school or other agent to apply for the license. Expatriates from these countries will have to obtain a letter from their embassy confirming the validity and contents of their driving license. In some cases the Road Transport department may not accept your current license and insist you take a local drivers test.

Application for automatic conversion of foreign driving licence to Malaysian driving licence

License holders from the following countries are given automatic approval. Applications can be submitted to the nearest RTD offices.

Australia	Brunei
Denmark	Mesir
France	Jerman
Itali	Iraq
Libya	Laos
New Zealand	Belanda
Filipina	Poland
Belgium	China
Fiji	Hong Kong
Jepun	Maurtius
Finland	Iran
Nigeria	Rusia
Korea	Myanmar
Papua New Guniea	Switzerland
Thailand	Turki
Sepanyol	Singapura

Documents required

1. Identity card/Passport (original and copy)
2. Original and copy of work permit and foreign driving licence
3. Dependant Pass (for an applicant accompanying the wife/husband)
4. 1 colour photograph (25 mm x 32 mm)
5. Translation of the foreign driving license from the relevant foreign embassy (if details of the license are in languages other than English)

Fee
- Malaysian driving license fee of RM 30.00 per year.

How to get a driving license in Malaysia

“This month’s expat survival looks at how to get your driving license here in Malaysia. While many dread the thought of driving in the Malaysia especially because of the KL traffic. There are few better ways to see the city and indeed the country.”

Important: You can only use your overseas or international drivers license for 3 months then you will need to get a Malaysian driver’s license.

If you already have a driver’s license then it is important to check with your embassy or a driving school for the procedure on changing your license. You won’t have to surrender your other license but there will be some procedures to follow. When visiting the relevant authorities remember to bring along your passport, work permit (or related info) and two passport sized color photographs.

For those first timers the following awaits you.

Five-hour road safety course.

This is conducted in Malay so take a good book and something to munch on. The driving school will provide a booklet to study for the written test.

Take written test.

The test is not hard it consists of 45 multiple choice questions of which you can only get 4 wrong. This test must be passed, if not you can not start the practical lessons. More to the point you have to sit the test again-a real waste of time.

Minimum of 16 hours of driving lessens.

This is where the fun begins. Hope you like manual Kancils. It’s not so bad-it teaches humility more than anything else. Here you not only learn to drive but to park as well. The instructors tend to be very helpful and will work on any problem areas. All you need do is ask.

Take the driving tests. One on the open road, the other in a car park.

Nervous? Don’t be. It’s simple. Just do as you did in practice, don’t be in a rush and everything will be fine. The car park test consists of performing a three point turn, a hill start (which can be a little tricky) and reverse parking. The open road is much more fun, just go for a drive for about 5 minutes, turn around and come back, again don’t be in a rush.

Procedure to obtain a Valid License

General procedure to obtain a Valid Driving Or Bike License

1st Step : Attend a 5 hours Road Rules and Safety Course

2nd Step : Sit For Computerized Road Rules and Safety Learning Test

3rd Step : Attend Pre-Learning License Course

4th Step : Learning License (L) is awarded

5th Step : Practical Learning Process for Driving or Bike

6th step : Sit for Trial Driving or Bike Test or Q.T.I

7th Step : Sit for Driving or Bike Test with JPJ

Finally : Probation License (P) is awarded

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