Can Malaysian Use Their Driving License In Japan?

If you are an avid student of history, you would have learnt that the world has seen 2 major wars, the 1st World War (1919) and the 2nd World War (1939 – 1945).

The League of Nations ended the first one. While the Geneva Conference 1949, the second one. A revamp of the Geneva Conference was made in 1968.

Under the Geneva Conference, countries signatory to this agreement have agreed to allow drivers of each other countries to use their domestic licenses when they visit the countries concerned.

Malaysian’s domestic licenses for instance, could be used in Singapore without any problem at all. Likewise, when a Malaysian should visit neighboring Thailand, he is allowed to drive his Malaysian registered vehicle into Thailand fairly easily. Malaysian licenses for your information are acceptable for use by the Thai authorities.

The only reminder to Malaysian citizens who wish to drive down there is to remember that their licenses are valid, meaning it is not expired and secondly, have the license you own ideally translated into the local language to facilitate the authorities’ work there.

When my son-in-law, Kin, visited Australia with his wife for a holiday, he rented a car and traveled around the entire continent extensively. With his domestic Malaysian license, he had to trouble especially with the road transport authorities and police people there.

The same also applied to my brother-in-law, Mr. Ooi, and my sister when they visited the United Kingdom a few years ago. The above couple, I was told rented a car also and traveled extensively around England rather cheaply.

Readers of this blog have time and again inquired of me, can Malaysian domestic licenses be used to drive in foreign countries?

As I have explained earlier, the answer to the above question frequently asked in certainly “Yes”!

In providing such an answer, I base my answer on my vast experience in the driving industry, which has spanned over 40 years or so. Besides that, I also base my answer on text books and resources that I possesses. It would also be reminded that I have been involve in lecturing defensive driving courses at a fairly large institute for many years now.

Pertaining to question which I was unable to answer, I will normally approach the assistant manager of the institute to which I am currently attached to seek an answer from him.

But at times, the answer given to blog readers, I have to admit are not 100 percent correct all the time. One should remember that answers given to blog readers may at times be incorrect. In fact, the question of opinion should always be taken into consideration.

Recently, some readers of this blog posed a query to me, can Malaysian license be used in Japan?

Straight away, as per the Geneva Conference 1949, I have my opinion as yes. The above conference provides for the usage of domestic licenses.

To further question as to whether a Malaysian driving in Japan should change his license in to International Driving License (I.D.L) or otherwise, I have normally advised that such licenses can be used in most countries, including Japan.

My recent reading regarding driving conditions which Japan imposes on foreign nationals should in fact be in I.D.L. is required by the Japanese authorities there.

With this in mind, I am from now onwards, will advise readers to ideally procure an I.D.L. prior to visiting Japan is they should intent to drive there. Because that’s what the Japanese authorities insist upon.

Japan, it is said, has concluded some 20 or more agreements with many nations pertaining to use of licenses. I believe, in order to streamline driving rules and regulations, this requirement is indeed a good move.

With the conclusion of this article, the question of using Malaysian driving license in Japan has therefore been put to rest. By reading this article carefully, readers will find that it would be unnecessary for them to inquire me for an answer.

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The blog is frequently asked by readers if Malaysian issued licenses an be used in a foreign country like South Africa, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany and so forth.

Once and for all, I wish to reiterate again, the answer to the above question is Yes. Malaysian licenses can very well be used over there.

However, readers are advised to ensure a few things are in proper order. Amongst the few things that you have to make sure are:

i) That your driving license is valid and not expired.

ii) That the license that you possess is a real license and not a fraudulently obtained one. I’m sure you must be aware what is meant as a license that has obtained via fraudulent means.

iii) As you will be visiting a foreign country, make sure that your license is translated into the language of that country.

In most countries, I’m sure English would be understood by the authorities there. Policemen, transport authorities personnel and so forth will obviously understand the English language. Therefore, you are advised to have your license translated into English before your going there.

Another frequently asked question that readers ask of me must surely be, “For how long can my Malaysian license be used when I’m in that particular country?”

For this, it is of my opinion that you are allowed to driver in a foreign country for a reasonable period of time.

Taking England as an example, Malaysians going to the United Kingdom, the rules and regulations there say that you can be allowed to drive in that country for as long as 120 days. After that, a foreign driver has to take steps to secure a domestic license by first of all securing a provisional or “L” (learner’s license) and eventually going for his real practical test.

We can safely then assume that Malaysian, be it in South Africa, Australia or Germany can therefore drive there for a reasonable period of time.

It might differ slightly from country to country. I’m certain that when the time comes for that particular country’s officials to take action against you for driving in that country, the time will then be up for you to leave that country after all.

Having answered the question of can Malaysian driving licenses be used to drive in a foreign country, we arrive next to the question of, do we have to convert our domestic license or Competent Driver’s License (C.D.L.) at all.

Some drivers would like to convert their domestic licenses into International Driver License (I.D.L) prior to their going over to a foreign country,

To secure an I.D.L, which is obtained from any state J.P.J. office of J.P.J. Headquarters at Putrajaya, one has to pay a sum of RM150. The above license can even be obtained at Automobile Association Malaysia ( A.A.M.) offices throughout the country also.

In actual fact, a Malaysian who wishes to drive in another country need not have to go through all the hassle of securing an I.D.L. at all. Just our ordinary Malaysian license will suffice.

There are a small group of drivers from our country, who after going over to say, United Kingdom, and after staying over there for a short period of time, then decides to convert our domestic driving license into U.K. driving licenses.

Many drivers have in fact written in to ask about this. Can Malaysian convert their driving licenses into U.K. driving licenses?

The answer to the above question is unfortunately No.

The United Kingdom permits only certain countries like Singapore, Australia, Germany etc to convert their driving license into British licenses.

But unfortunately, sad to say, the British authorities have a rather low opinion of our local licenses. Malaysia, which possesses one of the world’s highest accident rate is not a license that is acceptable by the U.K. authorities.

To end this article on the question of using Malaysian driving license overseas, a word of advice before I penned off. If you are planning to rent a car or a caravan to go sightseeing the country you are visiting, you are advised to secure the necessary insurance coverage required to protect yourself and your family.

Car rental enterprises should be aware of all these requirements. Leave it to them to take care of whatever you might need. Happy sightseeing and enjoy yourselves.

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First of all, the Kejara System or the Demerit system adopted by the Road Transport Department at Putrajaya, mainly involves 2 categories of drivers only.

i) “P” or new drivers who have just received their licenses.

ii) Competent Driver Licenses (C.D.L.) or passed drivers.

Learners Driver License or “L” drivers, being temporary license holders are not involved in this system at all.

In an earlier article on the Kejara System, I have promised to talk about traffic offenses and the demerit points which are accorded to drivers.

All in all, 18 important offenses are involved. I believe drivers would be rather eager to know what these offenses are. The offenses together with the demerit points, which would be awarded are as follows:

1) 15 demerit points.

5 traffic offences are accorded for various traffic offences. Amongst them are:

a) Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

b) Dangerous and careless driving.

c) Driving with undue care and in inconsiderate manner.

d) Speeding or road testing activities.

e) Without due good reasons, refusal to provide specimens of breath, urine and blood to the police when requested to do so.

2) 10 demerit points.

For this, 10 demerit points are involved. Basically, it involves 3 main traffic offences. They are:

a) Failure to obey traffic lights.

b) Failure to install P stickers both front and back of one’s vehicles.

c) Exceeding a speed limit of more than 40 km/h in a designated road.

3) 8 demerit points.

Next under the Kejara System, offences which are deemed as important and therefore should not be violated by a driver are given 8 demerit points. What are the offences are we talking about? They are:

a) Speeding exceeding 26 km/h – 40 km/h at a designated place.

b) Offences involving overtaking and obstruction whilst in the process of overtaking.

c) Not giving way to ambulances, fire brigade, customs, police and J.P.J. vehicles.

d) Offences by drivers at zebra or pedestrian crossing areas.

e) Offences which involves non adherence to driving on the left hand side of the road.

f) Failure to stop at junctions.

g) Careless and not giving due care to the control of vehicles.

The above are 7 traffic offences which drivers are advised to keep a look out for.

4) 6 demerit points.

Exceeding speed limit at certain designated areas of speed of between 1 km/h – 25 km/h will get you a 6 point penalty.

5) 5 demerit points.

I can think of 6 offences which carries 5 demerit points. They are:

a) Using a motor vehicle at road block areas.

b) Disobeying directions and traffic signs.

c) Using worn out tyres.

d) Overtaking at double lines.

e) Failure to adhere to rules and regulations pertaining to P drivers under Kaedah 15A (Kaedah-kaedah Kenderaan Motor (lesen Memandu) 1992.

f) Failure to bring along one’s driving license while driving.

g) Failure to adhere to the requirement of alcohol content of breath, urine and blood being at 0.00 level.

Keeping an eye on the above important traffic offenses will g along way to prevent drivers getting demerit points.

In the process, you wouldn’t have to worry about your driving licenses getting black listed by the J.P.J. authorities. And you will have no problems at all getting your driving licenses renewed or your road tax issued when the time comes.

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