Driving licence in Malaysia

Last updated

Malaysian driving licence
Lesen Memandu Malaysia - LMM
Malaysia driving licence.jpg
Competent driving licence in Malaysia
Malaysian Vocational License.jpg
Vocational driving licence in Malaysia
Type Driving licence
Issued by Flag of Malaysia.svg Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan.svg Road Transport Department Malaysia
PurposeAuthorisation

A driving licence is required in Malaysia (Malay: Lesen Memandu Malaysia - LMM) before a person is allowed to drive a motor vehicle of any description on a road in Malaysia under Section 26(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333). Under section 26(1) of the Road Transport Act, an individual must possess a valid driving licence before being permitted to drive on the road, or can be prosecuted under section 26(2). Upon conviction, the miscreant is liable to fines or jail or both. Driving licence holders are subject to all traffic rules stated in the Road Transport Act 1987. [1]

Contents

Types

Learner's Driving Licence (LDL)

The Learner's Driving Licence (Malay: Lesen Belajar Memandu) must be possessed by learners in driving schools. They must first attend a 6 hour of KPP01 class or also known as Safety Driving Theory, then they must pass the Section I computer examination or also known as Road Laws and Safety Driving Test.

Licence holders are only permitted to drive car displaying the L plate owned by driving schools under the supervision of a driving school instructor. For motorcycle learner's licence holders, they are permitted to ride a motorcycle without a pillion. The learner's licence may be renewed every 3 or 6 months but the licence cannot be possessed for more than 2 years. After the 2 years, the licence holders may go to Road Transport Department (JPJ) to attend KPP01 again. [2]

Probationary Driving Licence (PDL)

The Probationary Driving Licence (Malay: Lesen Memandu Percubaan) is possessed by new drivers who have passed all the driving lesson procedures and tests. PDL holders also need to ensure to bring along driving licence when driving. New drivers are subject to the 20-point Road Safety System (KEJARA) demerit point system, where points will be deducted according to the types of traffic offences. The licence will be revoked after a probationary licence holder accumulates 20 demerit points. [3]

Probationary drivers are required to display the probationary licence plate (marked with white capital P in square red background) at the front and back of their respective vehicles. A probationary licence may be upgraded to a full competent driving licence after 2 years, and a grace period of 1 year is given to upgrading the licence before the licence holder may need to restart the whole driving lesson procedures. [4]

Competent Driving Licence (CDL)

A full-fledged driving licence (Malay: Lesen Memandu Kompeten) being upgraded from the probationary licence after 2 years. A competent driving licence may be renewed up to 10 years. A grace period of 3 years is given to renew the license before the licence holder may need to restart the whole driving lesson procedures. [4] If the competent driving licence (CDL) holder for one licence class wants to add another driving licence class, then he or she does not have to undergo a probationary driving licence (PDL) period again.

Vocational Licence (VC)

The Vocational Licence (Malay: Lesen Vokasional) consists of three types of licence:

The vocational licence must be accompanied with the holder's competent driving licence and should have the classes of licence that is equivalent to his or her competent driving licence. Only applicants with Malaysian nationality or permanent resident with age not less than 21 years old and have a satisfactory level of health are allowed to apply for vocational licence. [5] The renewal period allowed is 1 year only and applicants must submit their medical report each time they want to renew. If the vocational licence expires more than 3 years, applicants need to redo the test.

Classes

The following classes are printed on the new high security driving licence:

ClassDescriptionMinimum ageNotes
A Invalid Carriage (Motorcycle) unladen weight not exceeding 450 kg16The applicant must submit a health check form for the application for a driving licence for disabled persons who have obtained the qualification verification to apply for a driving licence from a medical officer in a government health clinic as prescribed by the Ministry of Health. They also must drive a specially-modified vehicles throughout the driving lessons.
A1 Invalid Carriage (Motorcar) unladen weight not exceeding 3500 kg17
B Motorcycle exceeding 500 cc16Starting in 2024, those who have possessed B1 or B2 class licence for more than 10 years can upgrade their licence to B class, provided that they must attend a special driving lesson & does not possess any traffic summons or had been charged in court for any traffic offences under the Road Transport Act 1987.
B1 Motorcycle not exceeding 500 cc
B2 Motorcycle not exceeding 250 cc
C Three-Wheeled Motorcycle
D Motor Car unladen weight not exceeding 3500 kg17
DA Motor Car Without Clutch Pedal unladen weight not exceeding 3500 kg
E Heavy Motor Car unladen weight exceeding 7500 kg21Have been holding class D (CDL) for at least one year. On March 1, 2022, 67,000 class E1 and E2 holders were transitioned to class E. Class E1 and E2 was no longer offered. [6]
E1 Heavy Motor Car unladen weight not exceeding 7500 kg
E2 Heavy Motor Car unladen weight not exceeding 5000 kg
F Tractor/Mobile Machinery Light (Wheeled) unladen weight not exceeding 5000 kg21
G Tractor/Mobile Machinery Light (Tracked) unladen weight not exceeding 5000 kg
H Tractor/Mobile Machinery Heavy (Wheeled) unladen weight exceeding 5000 kg
I Tractor/Mobile Machinery Heavy (Tracked) unladen weight exceeding 5000 kg
MCourt Conviction

Vocational licence types and classes:

TypeClass
PSVD: Taxi/ Luxury Taxi/ E-hailing
PKW aus Zusatzzeichen 1048-10.svg
PSVD: Minibus/Van (Light Motor Car)
Light commercial van symbol.svg
PSVE: Bus unladen weight > 7500 kg
BSicon BUS.svg
GDLB2: Motorcycle <= 250 cc
Motorrad aus Zusatzzeichen 1046-12.svg
GDLB: Motorcycle > 500 cc
Motorrad aus Zusatzzeichen 1046-12.svg
GDLD: Unladen weight <= 3500 kg
Sinnbild LKW.svg
GDLE: Unladen weight > 7500 kg (Heavy Rigid)
Sinnbild LKW.svg
GDLE: Unladen weight > 7500 kg (Articulated)
LKW mit Aufleger aus Zusatzzeichen 1048-14.svg

Road Safety System (KEJARA)

This system is applicable to both Probationary and Competent driving licences. This system was introduced to:

  1. Reduce accident rates.
  2. To raise awareness of road safety towards all drivers.
  3. Ensure all drivers to always obey the traffic laws.
  4. Raise disciplined, responsible and cognizant drivers on the road.
  5. Take legal actions towards any drivers whom had breached the laws.

Driving licence suspension system:

Accumulated demerit pointsCDL PenaltyPDL PenaltyEndorsement
The first 20 pointsWarning12 months suspensionPoints eliminated
The next 20 points6 to 8 months suspensionN/APoints eliminated
The next 20 points8 to 10 months suspensionN/APoints eliminated
The next 20 points10 to 12 months suspensionN/APoints eliminated

Drivers whose licence has been suspended three times in a period of five years will have their driving licence revoked and are not allowed to drive or receive a driver's licence for 12 months from the date of the licence was revoked. [7]

Road penalties associated with KEJARA demerit points:

All vehicles other than buses and goods transportersGoods transporters and busesOffence
10 points10 pointsDriving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
10 points10 pointsDriving with a blood alcohol level beyond the set limit.
10 points10 pointsReckless and dangerous driving
10 points10 pointsFailure to provide breath specimen when directed
10 points10 pointsFailure to provide breath, urine or blood specimen when directed
n/a10 pointsCarrying dangerous or potentially dangerous loads
n/a10 pointsCarrying loads that extend beyond the body of the vehicle
n/a10 pointsCarrying an improperly secured load
n/a10 pointsCarrying a load using an unsuitable transporter
4 points5 pointsFailure to obey a police officer, road official or traffic warden's instructions
4 points6 pointsFailure to observe a red light
4 points6 pointsFailure to observe a stop sign
4 points6 pointsSpeeding:More than 40 km/h over limit
3 points5 pointsSpeeding:Between 25 km/h and 40 km/h over limit
2 points4 pointsSpeeding:Between 1 km/h and 25 km/h over limit
n/a6 pointsOverloading
n/a6 pointsUsing a goods transporter as a people carrier
4 points6 pointsImproper use of emergency lane
4 points6 pointsOvertaking on the left
3 points5 pointsFailure to yield
3 points5 pointsUsing a telephone or electronic device while driving
n/a4 pointsOperating a goods transporter on the rightmost lane
3 points3 pointsFailure to wear a safety belt
2 points2 pointsRiding without an approved safety helmet
5 pointsn/aFailing to bring driving licence along. (Learner & Probationary)
10 pointsn/aFailing to display the P stickers on vehicle. (Probationary)

Conversion

Foreigners holding driving licences from countries with signatories to any treaty or agreement with Malaysia may apply for conversion of driving licence to drive in Malaysia. [8] Meanwhile, citizens of a member state from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) only need to possess a valid driving licence of their respective countries to drive in Malaysia, and do not require any conversions or an International Driving Permit (IDP). [9] [10] [1]

Digitalisation

MyJPJ app was introduced by the Road Transport Department in February 2023 for license to display their digital driving licence and road tax on their mobile devices as an alternative to carrying around their physical copies.

On February 10, it was announced that Malaysian-owned private vehicle owners will no longer be required to display their physical road tax on their windshield or carry it around. It was also announced that users are not required to download the MyJPJ application as it can be verified by the police.

References

  1. 1 2 Akta Pengangkutan Jalan [Road Transport Act](PDF) (333) (in Malay). 1987.
  2. Lesen Belajar Memandu (LDL) saya telah tamat tempoh melebihi 2 tahun. Adakah saya masih boleh memperbaharuinya bagi membolehkan saya duduki ujian praktikal? [ permanent dead link ](in Malay) - FAQ from Malaysian Road Transport Department Website.
  3. http://www.jpj.gov.my/en/web/main-site/kejara Archived October 10, 2018, at the Wayback Machine (in Malay) - from the official page of Malaysian Road Transport Department.
  4. 1 2 Lesen Memandu - Berapa lamakah tempoh lesen memandu tamat jika saya tidak memperbaharuinya? [ permanent dead link ](in Malay) - FAQ from Malaysian Road Transport Department Website.
  5. "Driving License - JPJ Portal - Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan".
  6. Izwaashura Sadali (28 February 2022). "Lesen memandu E2, E1 dan E digabungkan jadi Kelas Lesen E sahaja mulai 1 Mac 2022 - Menteri MOT - paultan.org". Paul Tan's Automotive News. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  7. "Kejara". Road Transport Department Malaysia. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  8. "JPJ: Convert your foreign driving licence to a Malaysian one from tomorrow". malay mail. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  9. "Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licences Issued by ASEAN Countries" (PDF). Kuala Lumpur. 9 July 1985.
  10. "Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licenses Issued By ASEAN Countries". Kuala Lumpur. 9 July 1985.

Further reading