Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Licence
Feb 19th 2020, 1:05 am
#91
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
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.
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.
Mar 4th 2020, 7:04 am
#92
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
I now have a Malaysian category D probationary driving license, about five weeks after I applied. It could have been three weeks, but I wasn't checking the JPJ website correctly, and I was waiting for a letter from them (UK citizens won't get one).
If there is sufficient interest, I'll put the effort into writing a guide to the process (Scuba Tyke promised one, but he seems to have gone AWOL) in a separate thread.
One thing I will say right now: After your application has been approved by Putrajaya, DO NOT repeat my mistake and go there again to pick up the license because they will not issue it, not even at the small JPJ office next door to the JPJ HQ. You have to go to a State-level JPJ office. For KL that is in Setapak, and there's another in Shah Alam.
If there is sufficient interest, I'll put the effort into writing a guide to the process (Scuba Tyke promised one, but he seems to have gone AWOL) in a separate thread.
One thing I will say right now: After your application has been approved by Putrajaya, DO NOT repeat my mistake and go there again to pick up the license because they will not issue it, not even at the small JPJ office next door to the JPJ HQ. You have to go to a State-level JPJ office. For KL that is in Setapak, and there's another in Shah Alam.
Mar 4th 2020, 8:18 am
#93
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
Mar 4th 2020, 8:58 am
#94
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
And you can't drive in Singapore (and probably most other countries) with it.P sticker, yes. The indignity!
Mar 4th 2020, 9:36 am
#95
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
Two years. PDL - it's the same license that a driver who has just passed their test gets. It's irrelevant that you've been driving for 40 years all over Europe. Malaysia's driving conditions are extra difficult. And you can't drive in Singapore (and probably most other countries) with it.
P sticker, yes. The indignity!
And you can't drive in Singapore (and probably most other countries) with it.P sticker, yes. The indignity!
Mar 4th 2020, 10:25 am
#96
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
I thought they were meant to issue a full Malaysian license and not a probationary one (P)? Presumably you still retain your UK license so driving in Singapore or other countries should not be a problem. If you are inclined to write a short guide I, and many others, would be very grateful. Many thanks.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malay...morrow/1805648
Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Seri Shaharuddin Khalid said the conversion would be granted to individuals who have valid driving licence from their country of origins.“The licence must be a full licence and does not include learning licence, temporary licence or probationary licence,” he told a press conference here today.
Shaharuddin said the conversion application process could only be done at the JPJ headquarters and state-level JPJ offices.
He said their original driving licence would be converted to a Malaysian probationary licence (P licence) and they must comply with the same rules and regulations observed by Malaysians with P-licences.
“This is to ensure that these individuals have the competence to drive and to educate them to comply with all traffic rules in the country,” he said.
Shaharuddin said the conversion application process could only be done at the JPJ headquarters and state-level JPJ offices.
He said their original driving licence would be converted to a Malaysian probationary licence (P licence) and they must comply with the same rules and regulations observed by Malaysians with P-licences.
“This is to ensure that these individuals have the competence to drive and to educate them to comply with all traffic rules in the country,” he said.
renew the UK driving licence
I'm loath to take the chance that my insurance company could find a way to get out of paying in the event of an accident outside of Malaysia.
Mar 4th 2020, 11:23 am
#97
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
Policy changed after the suspension. Previously we would have got a CDL, now it's a PDL.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malay...morrow/1805648
And regarding using your UK licence a year (or more) after you have ceased residing in the UK, it's a very grey area. This thread may be enlightening (it's about UK license renewal, but many of the points raised overlap with this issue):
renew the UK driving licence
I'm loath to take the chance that my insurance company could find a way to get out of paying in the event of an accident outside of Malaysia.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malay...morrow/1805648
And regarding using your UK licence a year (or more) after you have ceased residing in the UK, it's a very grey area. This thread may be enlightening (it's about UK license renewal, but many of the points raised overlap with this issue):
renew the UK driving licence
I'm loath to take the chance that my insurance company could find a way to get out of paying in the event of an accident outside of Malaysia.
I looked at the thread you pasted here and I think there is a bit of confusion in that thread as to whether:
i) the UK driving license become invalid when you move abroad
or
ii) your UK insurance companies will cover you if you move abroad.
I know the answer to the second question. Most standard UK insurance companies will not cover you if you move abroad. You need to be ordinarily resident in the UK to get covered by the likes of Pru, Aviva etc. If you put a UK residential address down and you have an accident you are not covered. In effect you paid an insurance premium for nothing. However, you can buy specialist insurance (e.g. www.dayinsure.com or www.hertsinsurance.com) and they will accept your foreign residential address and also your UK driving license. These insurance contracts are more expensive and for shorter periods of time but at least you know that you are properly covered. They even cover you if you travel to Europe from the UK (N.B. I know since I have spoken extensively with them about this but you need to tell them in advance which countries you are going to). The key to getting properly covered is to be forthright and honest with the insurer from the start.
Now, as to the first question I have not seen or read anything that suggests your UK license becomes invalid when you move abroad. Does anyone have a link or confirmation of this?
Mar 4th 2020, 11:39 am
#98
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
Back to the license validity question: https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/dr...ou-move-abroad
Driving if you move abroad
You need to get a local driving licence if you move abroad. Check with the driving licence authorities there to find out how to apply.
In some countries you can exchange your UK licence without taking another driving test.
You need to get a local driving licence if you move abroad. Check with the driving licence authorities there to find out how to apply.
In some countries you can exchange your UK licence without taking another driving test.
Mar 4th 2020, 12:23 pm
#99
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
Thanks Epicurious. More to mull over.
One more question I had for you: How long did the D737 form take to arrive in Malaysia from UK after you ordered it from DVLA?
One more question I had for you: How long did the D737 form take to arrive in Malaysia from UK after you ordered it from DVLA?
Mar 4th 2020, 12:45 pm
#100
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
I still have the paper counterpart and they accepted that, so I didn't order a D737. YMMV. I think someone else waited a couple of weeks for airmail.
Mar 5th 2020, 8:11 am
#101
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
Two years. PDL - it's the same license that a driver who has just passed their test gets. It's irrelevant that you've been driving for 40 years all over Europe. Malaysia's driving conditions are extra difficult. And you can't drive in Singapore (and probably most other countries) with it.
P sticker, yes. The indignity!
And you can't drive in Singapore (and probably most other countries) with it.P sticker, yes. The indignity!
Luckily you have to show that sticker for only 2 years. Time flies when you're having fun.
Mar 6th 2020, 10:40 am
#102
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
As per the MY Road Transport Act of 1987, one is entitled to drive in MY with a license from a country listed in Section 28 of the act. (Appr 155 countries)
So if one has a valid license from any of these countries, there are no Probation restrictions.
So, a strategy to avoid the embarrassing 2 years MY PDL could be to apply for it latest two years before the original country license expires
So if one has a valid license from any of these countries, there are no Probation restrictions.
So, a strategy to avoid the embarrassing 2 years MY PDL could be to apply for it latest two years before the original country license expires
Mar 6th 2020, 11:30 am
#103
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
As per the MY Road Transport Act of 1987, one is entitled to drive in MY with a license from a country listed in Section 28 of the act. (Appr 155 countries)
So if one has a valid license from any of these countries, there are no Probation restrictions.
So, a strategy to avoid the embarrassing 2 years MY PDL could be to apply for it latest two years before the original country license expires
So if one has a valid license from any of these countries, there are no Probation restrictions.
So, a strategy to avoid the embarrassing 2 years MY PDL could be to apply for it latest two years before the original country license expires
As for Section 28, have a read of this: https://pickofpenang.blogspot.com/20...g-licence.html
Yes I've seen the above legislation and it has been discussed at length on a number of forums. There has also been much discussion around a more recent Road Traffic Act that repealed it. As yet I have been unable to find the detail.
I have not mentioned the above Act mainly because of the lack of clarity around it AND the fact that when I asked the JPJ officer in charge of the foreign licence section at Butterworth he specifically said you can drive on a UK (or other acceptable foreign) licence for 3 months only. There has also been much discussion, and as yet no 100% conclusion, around the acceptability of a UK licence by Malaysian insurance companies in the event of a serious / fatal accident.
There comes a point though where researching all this and being bothered about it just takes too much time, life's too short. So, in light of the uncertainty and the ease with which a Malaysian licence can be obtained I chose to go down that route and avoid ANY risk. It's a call people will need to make for themselves. Down to the individual.
I have not mentioned the above Act mainly because of the lack of clarity around it AND the fact that when I asked the JPJ officer in charge of the foreign licence section at Butterworth he specifically said you can drive on a UK (or other acceptable foreign) licence for 3 months only. There has also been much discussion, and as yet no 100% conclusion, around the acceptability of a UK licence by Malaysian insurance companies in the event of a serious / fatal accident.
There comes a point though where researching all this and being bothered about it just takes too much time, life's too short. So, in light of the uncertainty and the ease with which a Malaysian licence can be obtained I chose to go down that route and avoid ANY risk. It's a call people will need to make for themselves. Down to the individual.
Mar 7th 2020, 8:45 am
#104
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
Epicurious quote:
"As stated before, if you are no longer a permanent resident of your home country, your license may be deemed invalid. I guess you could argue the case with the insurance company, but I'm not willing to take the chance."
As I said,one does of course need to have a valid license from a country in the list!
I am not familiar with UK rules, do UK driver licenses become invalid when the license holder is no longer a permanent resident there?
Or are they valid until their expiry date and then not renewable?
"As stated before, if you are no longer a permanent resident of your home country, your license may be deemed invalid. I guess you could argue the case with the insurance company, but I'm not willing to take the chance."
As I said,one does of course need to have a valid license from a country in the list!
I am not familiar with UK rules, do UK driver licenses become invalid when the license holder is no longer a permanent resident there?
Or are they valid until their expiry date and then not renewable?
Mar 7th 2020, 9:52 am
#105
The Flying Anglo-Dutchman
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Re: Suspension Of Conversion of Foreign Driving Licence to Malaysia Driving Lice
I have a related question to this.
My wife never obtained a drivers licence in the UK.
Has anyone ever taken driving lessons at a driving school in Malaysia?
Would it be easier for her to obtain a PDL licence in Malaysia than the UK?
I also see from Gunnar45's list that driver licences from Thailand are accepted in Malaysia, would this be an easier alternative?
Both of us are on the MM2H scheme.
My wife never obtained a drivers licence in the UK.
Has anyone ever taken driving lessons at a driving school in Malaysia?
Would it be easier for her to obtain a PDL licence in Malaysia than the UK?
I also see from Gunnar45's list that driver licences from Thailand are accepted in Malaysia, would this be an easier alternative?
Both of us are on the MM2H scheme.
