All drivers in Malaysia are required to have a valid driving licence - either a Malaysian driving licence, a foreign (e.g. UK) driving licence, or an International Driving Permit (if the foreign driving licence has been lost or is being renewed).

A UK driving licence can be used in Malaysia for three months only. We therefore advise British nationals staying in Malaysia for longer than three months to get a Malaysian driving licence or an annually-renewable International Driving Permit.

There is currently no reciprocal agreement between the Governments of the UK and Malaysia on automatic conversion of each other's driving licences. British applicants therefore normally have to sit a Malaysian driving test. But the Director General of the Malaysian Road Transport Department (RTD) may, occasionally, grant a Class D Malaysian driving licence upon presentation of a valid UK licence and other relevant documents. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. Further information on Malaysian driving licences is available from the RTD:

Road Transport Department of Malaysia (HQ)
Parcel D, Block D4
Level 2, Federal Government Administrative Centre
62620 Putrajaya
Malaysia
Tel: (03) 8886 6400
Fax: (03) 8886 6830

The Automobile Association (AA) provide guidance on International Driving Permits for British nationals:

Automobile Association Developments Ltd
Overseas Assistance
Copenhagen Court New Street
Basingstoke
Hampshire RG21 7DT
UK
Tel: (44) 1256 320 123
Fax: (44) 1256 460 750

The form can be downloaded from the AA website.

Renewing a UK Driving Licence

Driving licences are issued by the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). Driving licences are usually valid until the age of 70, after which they must be sent for renewal every three years. You will have to contact the DVLA to obtain the application form.

Drivers aged under 70 who are applying to renew a medically restricted licence should send a medical report D4 with their renewal application. Call the DVLA in the UK on (+44) 1792 792 792 for more information.

Replacing a UK Driving Licence

If your UK driving licence is lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed in Malaysia, you should lodge a police report. To apply for a duplicate licence or a "Certificate of Entitlement to Drive" (see below), you must submit a copy of the Police report to the DVLA, together with the application form.

Alternatively, you can apply by telephoning the DVLA on (+44) 1792 772 151 during office hours. The DVLA accepts the following credit/debit cards: Access, Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard and Switch.

If the licence holder does not live in the UK, the DVLA is unable to issue a duplicate licence. The DVLA can only issue non-residents with a Certificate of Entitlement to Drive. Unfortunately the Malaysian RTD does not recognise this certificate for the purpose of driving: they accept it only for the purpose of verifying the holder's particulars.

In order to continue driving legally in Malaysia, therefore, the licence holder will also need to apply for an International Driving Permit.