Scuba Tyke

I think that's the most likely reason Macsta. You can have DVLA provide a link online so that others may check your licence validity directly on the DVLA website (useful for car hire companies). However, as that method of verification is not included in the process it's not good enough for JPJ!

Once I have verified everything and have a Malaysian licence in my possession I will write a post explaining the procedure in full.

Macsta

Hi Scuba, I was getting my “certifying letter” faxed from DVLA but now I’m informed that JPJ will not accept the fax so it seems the original letter will be the only route forward. I’ll have to get that sorted and sent out to me.

I would appreciate your update once you have completed, thanks.

Epicurious

The exchange scheme re-opened on 1st Nov '19. It must be done at a State-level JPJ dept. or Putrajaya, a local branch or UTC will not do. These are the documentation requirements:



I guess people will have some questions - I'll do my best to answer them.

WiredTight

Well... I hope not to ask too many dumb questions...LoL.

The forms (JPJl1 / B2) are in English and available at office ???
Do the Copies of passport, visa, DL require Notary or other proofs to be Legal ???
Translation of drivers license...I'm assuming this is required IF you DL isn't already in English ???
Letter from Immigration... Is this the original approval letter from MM2H, or... something new that needs to be typed up saying you have MM2H, etc... ???

Thanks in advance.

Epicurious

JPJ L1 is in Malay only. B2 is in Malay and English. They are available at the JPJ office and can be downloaded:
https://www.jpj.gov.my/en/web/main-s...n-form-jpj-l1-
https://www.jpj.gov.my/en/web/main-s...-appendix-b-2-

The JPJ officer will compare the originals and copies, no certification of copies needed.
Translation: Correct, only if the license is not in English. For the UK an embassy letter is not needed.
The original MM2H approval letter from Immigration is fine. Make a copy of that too, just in case.

Additionally, as Scuba Tyke said, if your license is from the UK you will need a Certificate of Entitlement D737 from the DVLA. Just phone the number Scuba gave above. I think they will post abroad, but it could take weeks.
My understanding from doing a lot of reading is that the D737 is necessary only because DVLA abolished the paper counterpart in 2015. If you're not from the UK and have a two-part license (plastic card and paper counterpart) in English, it should not be necessary to produce any further proof of entitlement (but don't take my word for it).

I recommend if you live near KL it's best to go straight to the JPJ HQ in Putrajaya. The staff there are knowledgeable and helpful, plus it's less busy than the State JPJ office.

This thread is worth a read, even though some of the info is out of date: Buying & Driving a car in Malaysia

Epicurious

There's potentially a big drawback to this. Your new/exchanged Malaysian license will be Probationary (P), regardless of your previous driving experience. You are not allowed to obtain an IDP in Malaysia with a P license. So, if you've surrendered your home license because you no longer live in that country (as many countries require), then your Malaysian P license may not be legal there because you have no IDP. Hence, you may not be able to drive legally in many countries until you get past the two year probation.

Also, if you do eventually get an IDP from Malaysia, "You need to surrender your domestic license to JPJ as you are not allowed to hold 2 types of licenses at a time." International Driving Permit (IDP) - JPJ Website

IanBlakeley

A wise person would be sure to obtain a 2nd licence from home country before going through this by reporting their existing missing.

Epicurious

I understand the JPJ sentence I quoted as referring to the Malaysian domestic license. You can hold one of those, or an IDP issued by JPJ, but not both. That goes against many countries' advice that a foreign license is legal as long as it is accompanied by an IDP.

But I guess you meant that you should hold onto a copy of your home license. That could be all very well, until you have a big accident and insurance companies start digging. I understand that as soon as a D737 is issued, your DVLA license is automatically revoked, but I'm willing to be corrected on that.

IanBlakeley

Exactly, hang on to home one, it is not something I'd let worry me in the slightest, they can't apart from a court order or medical reasons revoke the licence qualification, if you fail to renew the photo every 10 years the licence is valid, the actual offence is failing to renew.

Teh Tarik

As part of the conversion process does JPJ retain (or try to retain) your UK driving license?

Epicurious

No, if they mistakenly try to do that you should resist. I believe the license is ultimately the property of the UK Govt. JPJ want to see the original to compare it with the copies you should take along with you.

Teh Tarik

Thank you Epicurious and all those who provided helpful information here. It is really important to us to keep our UK licenses because we are in driving in UK and Europe for several months of the year (mainly in Summer). However, I am a little worried that this process will somehow invalidate our UK licenses despite being able to keep them.

Epicurious

I think it would be prudent to phone the DVLA and check whether or not the issue of a D737 by them automatically invalidates your UK license. If you do so, please report back.

Bikbergen

Here's a tip for those who are dual national, EU/UK like me.
I hold an UK DVLA licence which is currently recognised in the EU.
But this will no longer be the case from next year when the transition period has ended.
I will then be able to apply for my EU drivers licence (in the Netherlands) next to my UK drivers licence.
I will be converting my UK licence to a Malaysian drivers licence next year when we purchase our car in Penang.

Teh Tarik

I called DVLA who informed me that the issuance of the D737 form does not in itself invalidate your UK license. Apparently, the UK license is only made invalid if there is an official exchange of licenses. Since the UK and Malaysia do not have an official exchange programme the issuance of a Malaysian license would not in itself invalidate your UK license.

It takes at least 2 weeks to arrive in Malaysia apparently.

This gives me sufficient confidence to get the ball rolling here in Malaysia. If anyone else hears something different from DVLA kindly let us know.