Many posts on social media ask if a foreign driving licence can be used by long term residents to legally drive in Malaysia.
Some responses to these posts suggest that a foreign licence can only be used on a temporary basis, perhaps for only 3 months or 6 months, and must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP).
I emailed JPJ to ask if a UK driving licence could be used and I received a response which advised I “can use UK Valid Domestic Driving License and International Driving Permit (IDP) (According to the defined format on the Convention on Road Traffic Geneva 1949) to drive in Malaysia”, so a foreign driving licence must be used with an IDP from the country that issued the licence.
There are lots of websites offering 'International Driving Licences'. These are not official documents and are not valid for driving in Malaysia (or elsewhere). Only an International Driving Permit can be used (alongside your domestic driving licence) and must be obtained from the country where your driving licence was issued.
The Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), which sets out the rules for driving in Malaysia, states:
"A driving licence issued under the corresponding provisions of any law in force in any country which is a party to a treaty to which Malaysia is also a party and which purports to recognize domestic driving licences issued by the contracting countries shall, so long as such licence remains in force in that country, be deemed to be a driving licence granted under this Part."
More details on the Act are here: https://www.lawyerment.com/library/legislation/acts/1987/333/
Malaysia is party to the 'UN Convention on Road Traffic, Geneva, 1949'. Details of all the other countries that are also party to that UN Convention can be found here: https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetailsV.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XI-B-1&chapter=11&Temp=mtdsg5&clang=_en
**Information for UK driving licence holders**
The UK government FCO website says the following, which initially seems to indicate that a UK licence and an IDP can be used for long term visitors (but that a new IDP needs to be purchased each year):
However, the FCO advice goes on to say that if you are moving abroad you should not apply for an IDP but should either exchange your UK licence or apply for a new one in the country you are moving to:
Also note that UK driving licence holders who are not normally resident in the UK are not allowed to renew their 10-year licence photocard when it expires. Some people claim to have renewed their photocard while living abroad by using a relative's address, which is an offence, and DVLA can cross-check applications against tax and other records. Even if the photocard is renewed, it is possible that the UK licence would be considered invalid, and insurers in the UK and abroad could deny insurance claims.
This is an extract from the DVLA explanatory notes:
and this one is from the DVLA photocard/licence application form:
**Information for ASEAN driving licence holders**
ASEAN licence holders can use their home licence in Malaysia, providing it is in English or is accompanied by a certified translation in English, but the 'Agreement On The Recognition Of Domestic Driving Licences Issued By ASEAN Countries' says the following:
"By virtue of the recognition hereby of the licenses, holders of the licenses issued in any one of the ASEAN countries and intending to make only a temporary stay in the territory of any of the other ASEAN countries may drive therein in the classes or types of vehicles the licenses permit them to drive"
If you are a long term resident of Malaysia then it might be difficult to demonstrate that you are here on a temporary stay, so ASEAN licence holders should consider if they need a Malaysian licence. The full ASEAN Agreement can be seen here: https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/70.-Agreement-Driving-Licenses-1.pdf
Summary
Whilst short term visitors may be able to use their foreign licence and an IDP, there seems to be conflicting information on whether long term residents are allowed to.
It's also worth considering that, as an IDP will state the address shown on your foreign driving licence, if you are a Malaysian long term resident could the Police/JPJ consider that your IDP and foreign driving licence are invalid if they don't show your Malaysian address?
If you are a long term resident in Malaysia, then to remove any doubt over the validity of your driving licence you should consider these options:
- Convert your foreign licence to a Malaysian licence. From January 2021 JPJ allowed more foreigners to convert their driving licence - see the updates in this post: https://spousevisamalaysia.blogspot.com/2016/05/driving-in-malaysia-do-you-need-to-ask.html
- Take the Malaysian Driving Test. I took my JPJ test in March 2020, as at that time it was not possible for me to convert my licence. See this post: https://spousevisamalaysia.blogspot.com/2020/03/malaysian-driving-lessons-test-for.html