Driving in Malaysia - Can you still drive with your UK (or other country's) driving licence / drivers license and an International Driving Permit?

I have recently seen a lot of social media posts by people asking if a UK (or other country’s) driving licence can still be used with an International Driving Permit (IDP). 

Some people have stated that ‘the rules changed last year’ but provide no evidence of what ‘rules’ they are referring to. The Road Transport Act 1987 (which sets out the rules for driving in Malaysia) is still in force, and has recently been amended to bring in stricter penalties regarding dangerous driving and drink driving.

I decided to email JPJ to check for certain and I received a response from them on 30 October 2020 confirming you “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.” 

If you hold a licence other than from the UK you will need to check with JPJ, but my understanding is that for many countries you will be able to use your home licence and an IDP.

As getting an IDP from your home country can be inconvenient and/or costly (and due to Covid-19 is even more challenging) then you may decide to take the JPJ driving test. I took my test in March 2020. See my post here: https://spousevisamalaysia.blogspot.com/2020/03/malaysian-driving-lessons-test-for.html

There is more detail on the Road Transport Act 1987 here:

https://www.lawyerment.com/library/legislation/acts/1987/333/ 

** UPDATE January 2021**

Note that it appears that JPJ will now allow more foreign citizens to convert their foreign driving licence - see my updated post here: https://spousevisamalaysia.blogspot.com/2016/05/driving-in-malaysia-do-you-need-to-ask.html

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