Driving in Malaysia
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Malaysia accepts the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP issued in Australia. Carry it with your Australian licence.
What Australian drivers need to know
- Malaysia drives on the left, same as Australia, and the highway network is genuinely good.
- Touch 'n Go cards are needed for tolls — buy one at a petrol station.
- Grab is cheap and widely used in cities.
- Motorcycles filter aggressively between lanes — check mirrors constantly.
How to get an International Driving Permit in Australia
Only the state and territory motoring clubs affiliated with the Australian Automobile Association can issue one — NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RAC, RACT and AANT. It costs around $49, you don't need to be a member, and it's valid for 12 months.
You cannot get one once you have left Australia. Apply at least two weeks before you fly.
Read the full IDP guideInsurance warning. Australian travel insurance policies exclude claims from driving or riding without a valid licence for that vehicle in that country. A car licence does not cover a scooter — hiring one in Malaysia without a motorcycle class on your Australian licence means an accident is entirely uninsured.
More Malaysia essentials
Malaysia driving FAQs
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Malaysia?
Yes. Malaysia accepts the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP issued by Australian state motoring clubs, carried alongside your Australian licence.
Watching Malaysia?
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