Driving in Malaysia

Many parts of Malaysia (especially in rural and jungle areas) have limited public transport; a car is a necessary item to get around most of Malaysia, especially outside the major cities.

Understand
Malaysian car culture is somewhat similar to that to other countries of Southeast Asia, as well as North America, and as a result, cars are popular, and car culture is strong. While there is a long-distance bus network between major cities and tourist-heavy rural areas, and a rail network links a few major cities, other areas, including minor cities and even (most of) rural areas, are only reachable by car. Most rental agencies will require a valid drivers licence to be presented upon rental. The bigger car rental companies like Hertz and Avis may also require you to have a valid credit card where a deposit will be authorised but not deducted from (unless there is damage to the car).

It is also possible to cross into the borders into Thailand, Singapore, Brunei or Indonesia if you have your own car, but most car rental agencies will not allow you to do so in their cars.

Talk
Malay is the official language, and useful for communicating with emergency services or traffic police, and to fully understand road signage. Malay is also the official language of Brunei, making it useful when driving between Malaysia and Brunei.

English is widely spoken in the main tourist areas, while Mandarin is widely spoken among the ethnic Chinese minority, most visible in the larger cities. You may hear people speaking Thai in areas that near the near the Thai border (for example, in Bukit Kayu Hitam). Indonesian is widely spoken in areas near the Indonesian border, and is to a large extent mutually intelligible with Malay.

Other foreign languages (such as French, German or Spanish) are not widely spoken.

Road network
Malaysia has an excellent highway network with over of expressways, culminating in the North-South Expressway (E1/E2) along the West Coast from Johor Bahru at the border with Singapore all the way to Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah at the border with Thailand. There is also the East Coast Expressway (E8), crossing Peninsular Malaysia coast-to-coast from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan before heading up north towards Kuala Terengganu. Tolls are payable on expressways, but these are priced at varying degrees, ranging from expensive to reasonable: driving the length of the country (734 km) from the Thai border to Singapore costs RM108. While you can drive from Singapore to Thailand within a day on the West Coast, the highway system is considerably less developed on the East Coast, and even less so in Sabah and Sarawak, so be sure to factor in additional travel time if travelling in those areas. Toll prices for highways and causeways inside major cities, especially Kuala Lumpur, are priced exorbitantly, ranging from RM4 to RM7 for each exit.

Fuel
Full-service stations tend to be very common in Malaysia, so an attendant will pump the fuel for you. Petrol is slightly cheaper than market prices at RM1.90/litre (Ron 95) (in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak). Generally, it is rare outside of heavily touristed areas for an attendant to speak English or any other foreign language that’s widely spoken outside of minority communities such as Mandarin, so brushing up on your Malay will help a bit. Fuel levels are often compared before and after rental, and the vehicle is also checked for damage, so ensure everything is documented, and request a refund of any excess fuel if possible.

Emergency phone
The emergency number in Malaysia is 999, which is the same emergency number as in the United Kingdom.

Road signs
Road signage in Malaysia follows mixture of the United States' MUTCD and the Vienna Convention standards. The road signage in Malaysia is somewhat similar to road signs in Brazil and Japan, but unlike Brazil and Japan, road signage is in Malay. Here are a few Malay words or phrases that appear in road signage:

Refreshments
There are many kedai kopi (coffee shops) along the sides of roads that serve tea, coffee and refreshing dishes like noodle soups or fried noodles, fried rice, Hainanese chicken rice and pad prik and may sell packages of snacks including potato and cassava (ubi kayu) chips and sweets like dodol. You may also see juice vendors on some roadsides who sell various forms of fresh juices.

Driving licence
The Malaysian driving licence is generally for permanent residents and expatriates in Malaysia. Generally, Malaysia also accepts cross-border licences (notably Thai driving licences, since there are areas in Malaysia bordered by Thailand), and even International Driving Permits (IDP). Thai drivers, especially those owning trucks, have Thai driving licences that are also valid in Malaysia.

To get a Malaysian driving licence you must:


 * be aged 17 or above,
 * be registered with a driving school (JPJ-approved);
 * make sure that you completed your theory/computer examination,
 * get your learner driving licence and complete a minimum of 16 hours of on-road lessons
 * complete and pass the road test.

If you followed all the steps above, this is your gateway to getting a Malaysian driving licence.

Number plates
Malaysian number plates are displayed at the front and rear of all private and commercial motorised vehicles in Malaysia, as required by law. Your car should have number plates in a format like this: ABC 1234 X. The first letter indicates the state your car was first registered in, but unlike in the United States, Canada and Australia, there is no need to change number plates if you move to a different state. As such, do not be surprised if your rental car has a different first letter from the state you are picking up the car from.

Road rules
Driving side Driving is on the left as normally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India and Japan, but opposite to continental Europe, the United States and Canada. Most cars are right-hand drive. Neighbouring Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia also drive on the left.

Speed limits The maximum speed limit in Malaysia is 110 km/h.

Overtaking

In Malaysia, you should always overtake on the right side of the vehicle you’re passing. To stay on the safe side, you need to indicate when you’re overtaking, and check your mirrors and blind spots.

Yellow boxes

Yellow boxes are marked areas where you are not allowed to stop even in heavy traffic. You can only pass through smoothly and without delay; to do so safely and properly, only enter the box if there is a clear road ahead to your destination.

Bus lanes

Certain roads such as those in busy areas of Kuala Lumpur like Jalan Tun Razak or Jalan Ampang have designated bus or taxi lanes. During specific hours (especially during peak hours), one of the lanes is reserved for buses. You should avoid driving in these lanes unless you need to make a turn or access a property. Violating this rule can result in a fine of up to RM300.

Mobile phones

You are not allowed to use a mobile phone while driving. If you don’t like to wear earphones while driving, consider bringing a hands-free speaker with you.

Seatbelts

You must wear a seatbelt when driving a car in Malaysia.

To and from Brunei
Due to many parts of Brunei being poorly served by public transport (especially outside of major cities) generally a car would be needed. Driving in a rental car from Malaysia to Brunei is not permitted. Malaysian driving licences are valid in Brunei, however. Since Malay is widely spoken in Brunei, it is okay to use Malay when communicating with the border office. There are numerous land border crossings, such as the Kuala Lurah-Tedungan crossing and the Sungai Tujuh-Labu crossing.

To and from Thailand
Since public transport is usually not good outside of major cities in Thailand, a car is generally needed when crossing the border between Malaysia and Thailand. However, be aware that you may not use a rental car for this purpose, as Malaysia does not allow rental cars to leave Malaysia at all. However, Malaysian licences are accepted in Thailand - be prepared to present your Malaysian driving licence in Sadao Checkpoint. Due to the language barrier that arises from the use of Thai and Romanised scripts for vehicle plates registered in Thailand and Malaysia, respectively, road vehicles crossing the Malaysia–Thailand border are typically required to bear stickers in the front and back that translate the characters of your car's number plates into those understandable in the country of entry. Also, be aware that you may need to switch your language gears to Thai as Malay is generally not widely spoken in Thailand.

To and from Singapore
You would not need a car for driving into Singapore, as Singapore can be reached by bus or train from Malaysia. Driving a car into Singapore is a major bureaucratic hassle, and rental companies usually prohibit their cars from being driven across the border, or charge extra even if they allow you to cross the border. See Singapore for the full scoop. It is not possible to drop off a Malaysian rental car in Singapore.

In the reverse direction, driving a car from Singapore into Malaysia is relatively uncomplicated if you have your own car, but very difficult with a rental car. However, from 1st October 2024, you will need to obtain a vehicle entry permit (VEP) to drive a foreign-registered car from Singapore into Malaysia.

Stay safe
Care is needed when driving in larger cities, such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and George Town. Problems include apparently suicidal motorcyclists, congested traffic lanes throughout the day, and bewildering roads especially in the older parts of the city where planning was virtually nonexistent by the then British colonial occupiers.