Fenella

Hi,
We've just renewed our Dutch driving license for another ten years (leaving for Asia in 7 weeks . Is it really necessary to get a Malaysian drivers license (eg. for renting a car) or will the Dutch one suffice : An international license is only valid for 1 year.
Thanks for any help

InVinoVeritas

Car rental companies ask for an international driving licence. I'm not sure a Malaysian license is really very useful at all but I stand to be corrected.

Gunnar45

Is the internatioal license stil valid for only one year?
I ask because there is no such statement on the one I have from Sweden

Regarding Malaysian drivers license, one advantage would be that you then have a valid ID card.
But it is not a requirement for foreigners, incl MM2H visa holders to drive a car in Malaysia.
Rental companies may of course have other requirments.

Gunnar45

ROAD TRANSPORT ACT 1987
Section 28. Recognition of driving licences of other countries.
A driving licence issued under the corresponding provisions of any law in force in any country which is a party to a treaty to which Malaysia is also a party and which purports to recognize domestic driving licences issued by the contracting countries shall, so long as such licence remains in force in that country, be deemed to be a driving licence granted under this Part.

Gunnar45

Official Portal of Road Transport Department Malaysia

Davita

When you look at Gunnar45s very useful list of countries, under the convention, that Malaysia accepts driver's licences.....they say 'Belanda' instead of 'Holland or Netherlands'....just a heads-up in case you miss that.

btw I once held an International Driver's Licence issued in Canada and it became invalid after one year

Fenella

Thanks Davita !

I was a bit perplexed - every country in the World seemed to be on the list except for The Netherlands Learned something new again.

Thanks for all the info Gunnar45

Gunnar45

Davita,
I had a closer look at my international license. (1949 convention)
I now see that it actually has a maximum validity of one year.
It is stated on the backside of the front cover.

Davita

Oh! you didn't know?....Belanda is 'The Netherlands' in bahasa Malay and Indonesian.
I have in-law relatives from Maastricht that I call Belandindians. They are cheaper than me...and I'm Scottish....
Talk about long pockets and short arms...

edit: btw I think it worth checking as it may be the convention is only applicable for those visiting. Not sure if having an MM2H will come under the same convention.
I know when I immigrated to Canada I had to take a driver's test once my 'landed immigrant' visa was issued. Same as when they issue a 'Green Card' in the States...of course USA is different as they use a driver's licen(s)e as ID.

Fenella

Davita - this is where I point out that we are British. We're leaving Holland before our arms have time to shorten

Davita

Oops! sorry...then you should have got a British Licence. Mine didn't expire till I turned 70....I think...but that was a while ago...

bakedbean

But I think the British licences have a time limit these days.

Fenella

Never lived in the UK so no British licence available.

InVinoVeritas

International driving licences issued in France are free, valid for 3 years and simply have the photo stapled in (not suggesting anything here BTW).

Stuurman

I drive a (small) motorbike and my original Dutch license is only for cars. With my Malaysian license I can drive bikes up to 250CC legally. Another advantage is that the new format license (the one with English translation on it) is recognised in most ASEAN countries. When driving for example in Thailand I don't need an International Driving License, my Malaysian one will suffice.