As a matter of fact, this provision is allowed for by the Geneva Conference of 1949 and 1968. All signatories to the above conference have agreed to accept each other’s license for use in their respective countries.

However, member countries have the rights to impose certain rules and regulations from time to time. Foreign drivers arriving in a particular country must abide to the rules imposed by the host nation.

For example, England, it is said permits drivers visiting its country as a tourist or on a short social visit to rent a car from a rental car company and drive it all over the country to view the beautiful sights available. The above amenity accorded to tourists is one of the cheapest and most convenient mode of seeing a country which one happens to be visiting.

Before proceeding any further with today’s topic for discussion, it should be reminded that although the Geneva Conference 1949 and 1968 allows a person to use his domestic license, nevertheless do remember two important things.

These two things are:

i) Domestic licenses should be valid, meaning it shouldn’t be expired.

ii) Do bring a translated copy of your license either in Bahasa Malaysia or English. This would facilitate local official, the Police or the Road Transport Department people in their work.

If you are a history student, like myself, you would surely have learnt that World War I (1914 – 1919) and World War II (1939 – 1945) and other squabbles were ended by famous treaties. The 1st World War was ended, for instance, by the League of Nations in 1919. The 2nd World Was, ended when 2 atomic bombs were dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

The peace agreement signed at the United Nations, have not only ended the World Wars, other bodies affiliated to it, like the International Labour Organisation (I.L.O.), the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) and United Nations Economic and Social Organisation (U.N.E.S.C.O.) and International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.) are functioning actively all across the world today.

Besides the above world bodies, which signatories member countries agree to abide with, and as I said, the Geneva Conference 1949 and 1968, another world body has agreed to the usage of domestic licenses.

In my Highway Code class which I conduct in a driving institutes in Kampung Jawa, Klang, students especially foreign ones from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan even, often pose this important question to me. They have frequently asked of me, “Can foreigners use their domestic driving license when they come and work in Malaysia?”

As per the text book I use for my lecture, and published by the J.P.J. entitled Kurrikulum Pendidikan Pemandu (K.P.P.), in short, the answer to the above question is Yes.

As a lecturer for the above course for over 25 years now, it has always been my contention that foreign licenses can indeed be used in Malaysia. The simple explanation is “Malaysia is a signatory of the Geneva Conference 1949 and 1968″.

But of late, colleagues and driving instructor friends of mine have come up to me to ask this question which foreign students frequently confront me. My usual answer to the above question of Yes has met lately with much disapproval.

It has come to a stage whereby I have no other alternative but to come out with an explanation. Lest, other people especially comrades, friends, fellow instructor and students who follow my lectures, begin to have the opinion that I’m not well versed with J.P.J. rules and regulations.

For this purpose, permit me to provide some explanation to the above problem. Due to certain reasons, which I am not in a liberty to expose, the Transport Department in Putrajaya has decided to do away with the automatic conversion of domestic licenses into Malaysian licenses. In short, the J.P.J. has decided upon this decision.

Some readers from this blog from India for example, have written in to lament that they have not been able to get their domestic licenses converted.

The Malaysian government possesses the right to lay down rules and regulations. Foreign visitors to our country should be aware of one thing. When coming or visiting a country, a visitor is normally accorded certain privileges. For example, visitors are given the privilege of good service by the Tourist Department.

But some visitors who visit our country, feel it’s their rights to have their domestic licenses automatically converted into full Malaysian licenses. This is indeed wrong assumption.

Although Parliament may not have passed any laws as yet, the government, and in this case J.P.J., can from time to time make necessary changes to its existing rules and regulations. J.P.J. Putrajaya can through circulars to state J.P.J. offices, alter existing rules and regulations, In such cases, it therefore becomes law.

Though I am not in the government services, unfortunately have no access to the above alterations mentioned above. I am writing this article based upon my vast and long experiences, which has spanned over more than 40 years.

It is therefore my assumption and contention, that the J.P.J. latest decision to deny conversion of domestic licenses from, for example, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Indonesia to name a few, is within the rights of the Road Transport Department to do so.

Actually, there is nothing much a foreign driver here in Malaysia can do. For one, a foreign driver who feels he needs to have a Malaysian driving license can take steps to get the above license by going for a test.

In England, a foreign driver has to apply for a full British license after being given a period of 120 days to drive. Likewise, if a foreign driver here in Malaysia has the necessary qualifications, he or she can very well appear to test for a Malaysian driving license.

Short of the above suggestion given, the only other alternative for a foreign driver to do is to seek his or her Embassy or Consulate’s assistance regarding the subject of using their domestic licenses here in Malaysia.

Try bringing up the question of the Geneva Conference 1949 and 1968 decision made by all signatory nations. I doubt anyone can get very far with it these days.

Via this article, I have explained rather explicitly regarding the conversion of foreign license into full Malaysian driving licenses as faced by some foreign nationals. It is therefore hoped that in the future, such question similar to these will no longer be submitted to this blog for my advice.

But has anyone ever contemplated the “hassle” a couple has to go through in a “Divorce”? By now you might be wondering how the question of marriage and divorce ever come to be involved with Driving School Malaysia Blog of all things.

Read on. Permit me to explain. In the end, you’ll surely understand.

You see, recently the blog received a poser. A lady driver, from somewhere overseas asked: “My international driving license is getting expired soon. How do I go about renewing it?”

To be frank with you, over the years involved in the driving school business, I have yet to lay eyes on a Malaysian International Driving license. I only know it costs a “whopping” sum RM150 per year.

As to the question the above lady asked, how am I to know? Well, as they say, all questions asked, should be answered, right?

Asking around for assistance, some old instructor friends said this and that. In fact, the more I asked, the more perplexed I became.

Finally, luckily, an ex J.P.J. friend provided me the answer. But the question given really sets me thinking. Please read on. I assure you, you’ll eventually agree with me.

So, how do I go about renewing my Malaysian International License?

Firstly, you can’t renew it overseas. Not at the Malaysian Embassy definitely, or the Malaysian Consulate.

The required procedure is:

i) You can only renew it back home, in Malaysia.

ii) Must one come home personally? I am yet unsure about this.

iii) Can one renew the license on our behalf? Also unsure.

iv) Supply 2 coloured photographs (passport size).

v) A RM150 renewal fee (for 1 year).

vi) Obviously a few forms have to be filled.

vii) Come home a little earlier before your license expires.

As for item (ii) and (iii), no affirmative answer could be given. The prerogative to permit another person to act on the owner’s behalf lies with the Department’s officers. It must also be noted that a “new” copy of the International Driving License will be issued.

Secondly, thinking about how difficult it is to renew our Malaysian International Driving License when it “expires”, the question asked is “Is it worthwhile to get it at all?”

What happens if your International License expires while you’re say in Australia or England? Then you obviously can’t drive.

At the end of the day, think about it carefully. The authorities should also contemplate about this problem seriously.

Anyway, I hope the lady succeeds in getting her license renewed.

So before you rush into getting your International Driving License, think over carefully too. How do you renew it? I maybe right by saying “getting married” in Malaysia is easier, after all.

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A person goes to another country namely for 2 reasons. One is to work there. The other is to visit that foreign country as a tourist. Whichever maybe the reason of visit, the problem of transport will always be a major one.

Unlike in certain countries, like Singapore, Hong Kong and countries which are renown for their good transportation facilities, the rest of the countries will always pose as a problem to many. This problem could be overcomed if only domestic foreign licenses could be converted to Malaysian domestic license.

First and foremost, do understand that domestic foreign licenses can be used in Malaysia. Those holding Singapore licenses or Thai licenses can very well drive here when they visit Malaysia.

But the question many foreigners frequently inquire or ask is: Can foreign licenses be converted into Malaysian licenses?

Before it is forgotten, foreign domestic license can be used in Malaysia provided it has not expired. The driver should also ensure he or she has an English or Bahasa Malaysia translation of the license used. The assumption for this requirement being it would assist the authorities in their work.

To what I know, there is no test required. To my personal knowledge, I have came across the case of a Bangladeshi whose license was converted to Malaysian “P” License (Probationary Drivers’ License) status.

For your information, the above conversion was accompanied by all the requirements as had to be followed by Malaysian “P” holders.

As the above case took place some many years ago. I am unable to quote exactly the section under which the conversion was done. But vaguely, I think it was Section 5. Further reference will be conducted to rectify the mistake if need be.

What documents are necessary for conversion purposes? As usual, they are:

i) Use JPJ Form B-2.

ii) Foreign country domestic license which has been certified.

iii) Translation of the license in either Bahasa Malaysia or English.

iv) Embassy or authority which issued the license.

Some driving schools even Institutes when asked by foreigners if their domestic license can be converted into Malaysian license are unable to give a correct answer.

Misleading or vague answers are sometimes given. To prevent time wasting, most foreigners, who already have domestic licenses, prefer to take the entire test all over again, doing:

a) The Highway Code in English.

b) Practical Test Part II (Slope, Side Parking, 3 Point Turn).

c) Part II (Road Test).

The distance of the transport Headquarters in Putrajaya, the necessity of having to meet the correct officials to seek permission to convert their license to Malaysian one, are some of the reasons which lead foreigners opting to do their test all over.

This is most unfortunate – as by the Geneva Conference (1949) and 1968, signing nations have agreed “domestic” license can be used in each other country.

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Related web sites:

1) International Driving Permit

2) How to get an International Driving License in Kuwait?

3) Guides to Obtain an International Driving License for Malaysian

4) The “IDP” Question – Driving in Italy…

5) How to Apply for your Australian Driving License

Malaysian who travel abroad to other countries as tourists can use their domestic license to drive rented car or caravan especially in countries like Australia or New Zealand.

The same applies to those who work overseas for a short period. Those going to neighboring countries like Thailand and Singapore should have no fear of driving there.

As long as the licenses are valid, meaning it has been renewed (not expired) and the vehicle driven be it cars or motorcycles have the required insurance coverage, there should exist no problem at all.

Readers should bear in mind that the above amenities are made possible where most countries of the present world have agreed to extend this important service to its citizens, thus making it much easier for them to travel around.

Nevertheless, it should be remembered that there are a few countries which still do not have bi-lateral relations, thus not enabling their citizens this privilege.

One can apply to the International Driving License from Road Transport Office (J.P.J) all over the country. The rules and regulations are as follows, including the necessary documents required:

a) Domestic license which is still valid for at least a year and its photostat copy.

b) Identity card (original) and 1 copy photostat

c) 2 copies coloured photo, passport size

d) Application form JPJL1

e) International Driving License fee for 1 year (RM150)

To my knowledge, you have to surrender your Domestic Malaysian License in place of your International Driving License. As no one is permitted to posses 2 driving licenses in Malaysia.

If in the later stages, you no longer require usage of this said license (which is rather costly anyway) you could then surrender it for your C.D.L (Competent Driver’s License) domestic license later.

Other than J.P.J offices, this license is attainable from the Automobile Association Of Malaysia (A.A.M) office also.

Now that you know how to obtain the International Driving License, what are you waiting for. Apply for it now and Happy Driving.