International Driving Licence

[LMei]

I tried to contact JPJ to no avail and I need this info urgently.

What is the process to apply for an International Driving Licence and how long does it take?

Is our "Malaysian" International Driving Licence recognised in Dubai?

[chewie]

pls visit http://portal.jpj.gov.my/v5/index.php/en/Driver/ for more info

[chewie]

here also can http://portal.jpj.gov.my/v5/index.php/en/International-driving-permit

[LMei]

Thanks Chewie. I still need to know if our "Malaysian" International Driving Licence recognised in Dubai?

[jmbeh]

If it is an International Driving License, then by right the country of issuance should not matter - Since it is "international" and issued by relevant authority. It should be recognised worldwide.

It is like asking if our Malaysian Passport recognised overseas. But it is stated there you are not allowed to enter Israel.

Do check out AAM as they also issue IDP - Intl Driving permit.

[kkearthling]

Hi LMei.
International License from different countries does not hv the same 'treatment' here in UAE (Dubai, etc). If you apply for Int'l License fr Msia, it will be of limited use here in Dubai:

- if you are holding a visit/tourist visa before you get your residence visa, you can drive a rented car rented from a car rental co, using your Msian intl license (but you cannot drive your own car)
- once your residence visa is approved, you cannot use your int'l license anymore. You will then need to go for local driving lessons & sit for the driving test.

Foreigners from some developed countries do not need to go thru this as their intl licenses are recognised in Dubai & can be converted directly, sometimes perhaps due to their own countries' already strict driving test hence recognised easily, but the rules kept changing, and some may no longer enjoy this 'priviledge' anymore due to increasing traffic accidents.
Some may not have to take any lessons but can just register to take the driving test straight away (Msian was allowed to do this before but no longer enjoy this since a few yrs ago...)

Some flexibility may be applied if you have other intl license such as from Japan, Spore, UK, US, etc, or recently had one, you will have to show proof & try your luck & ask, perhaps just to reduce the lessons, or sit for the test without lessons.

Total lessons will be about 40, but Msian is lucky need only 20 lessons (which means less costly). Lessons & test are costly, easily RM2K or more (for 20 lessons+test). There are many tales of driving tests from Msian, and most do not pass on the first try. The extremely lucky one which is very rare pass on first try (road has no traffic, the examiner is in very good mood & loves Msia & likes your face...haha), the lucky ones pass on 2nd try, the rest 3rd, 4th, some are still trying...

In short, if you do not have a residence visa & may take some time to get it while in Dubai, and you do not mind spending RM150 (or less/more if this fee has changed) getting Msian Intl License before you arrive in Dubai, and you need to drive a rented car yourself with no other means of transport, then the Msian Intl License will be useful.

But it will be redundant if you hv a residence visa or getting one very soon.

Points to ponder, Msia is right-hand drive, UAE is left-hand drive. The road kept changing as construction is ongoing, there are dangerous drivers on the road just like in Msia.

Good Luck!

Any other info, pls visit :
Road Transport Authority (http://www.rta.ae)

(this guides may be outdated in terms of cost, etc, but provides some general info..)
Guides (http://guide.theemiratesnetwork.com/living/dubai/drivers_license.php)

[kkearthling]

..continue...
conclusion - if you are just a tourist in Dubai, you can use the intl license. if you intend to reside here, the Msian intl license will be useless.

local driving lessons & tests - that's another long story.

Gong Xi Fat Chai.

[Sentinel]

To my knowledge and experience, the Malaysian International Driving Licence is valid and recognised all over the world if you are a tourist and are driving rented cars / vehicles.

They become invalid once you obtain a residential status like PR in that country.

For example, when I was in Singapore, my International Driving Licence was valid for driving rented cars. The minute I applied for PR and bought a car, I had to go to the Bukit Batok Driving Centre to sit for a test to get it converted to a local licence.

So, the answer to your question would be, what do you plan to do - visiting and driving rented cars or staying on in that country?

[kkearthling]

..continue...
conclusion - if you are just a tourist in Dubai, you can use the intl license. if you intend to reside here, the Msian intl license will be useless.

local driving lessons & tests - that's another long story.

Gong Xi Fat Chai.

i wld like to correct myself. it is not tht the Msian intl license is 'useles', rather your effort to obtain one will be fruitless if you intend to reside.

And, your Msian driving license will be the valid document to use, not Intl license, in order for you to apply for 20 lessons, instead of the full 40, provided your license shows you hv been driving for at least 2yrs & above. Anything less or you forgot to bring it over (including the old original license card assuming you hv renewed & gotten another new card issued), you will hv to take the full 40 lessons.

[patrick]

I tried to contact JPJ to no avail and I need this info urgently.

What is the process to apply for an International Driving Licence and how long does it take?

Is our "Malaysian" International Driving Licence recognised in Dubai?

Just go to the AAM office in USJ9 business centre and get it done immediately for RM150. I think you need to bring a coloured photograph. Anyway, give them a call first.

[tupai]

thus far, my bolehland lesen ok in every country i been...except, japan where they insisted i hv an expensive rm150/yr internatuional lesen ..i got that from aam...BUT damn expensive...

but wat2do? Cherry Blossom Ride lah :p

Yang Benggang dgn japan latotupai

[pucman]

If it is an International Driving License, then by right the country of issuance should not matter - Since it is "international" and issued by relevant authority. It should be recognised worldwide.

.

That's not true ! My international car license was supposed to be recognised in USA but they didn't recognise it.

So I was forced to retake their strict oral exam and road test. Road test was a piece of cake. :D

I still have their driving license as souvenir. :D

[patrick]

thus far, my bolehland lesen ok in every country i been...except, japan where they insisted i hv an expensive rm150/yr internatuional lesen ..i got that from aam...BUT damn expensive...

but wat2do? Cherry Blossom Ride lah :p

Yang Benggang dgn japan latotupai

Errhhh...Lato, when you say ok, what you really mean huh? Car renters accept it? Police check accept it? Or what? Based on clarification, next time I dont want to get the stupid International lesen anymore lor. Like you rightly commented, pretty expensive at RM150 each time I travel!!

[coleslaw]

when we go for hols overseas, we always rent a car to drive around. and so far, we have not , been denied rental due to our malaysian driving licence. i have never applied for an international driving licence. :confused:

[kkearthling]

just to clarify...my remarks was based on LMei's question - whether Msian Intl License is recognised in Dubai, not elsewhere. There are 2 scenario - whether one arrives in a country as tourist or to reside.

To reiterate, the Msian Intl License is recognised in Dubai if you arrive as a tourist & will drive a rented car even though the "List of the Contracting States' (list of countries which recognise Msian Intl License) (you can find this on the Intl License 2nd page) does not include UAE.

In the 2nd scenario, if you reside in Dubai, the Msian License is the valid document to register for driving lessons & test, not the Intl License, as the Msian License has the date that indicate number of years of driving. Notes: you will first need to get it translated at Consulate as it is in Bahasa.

[tupai]

Patrick & others...KEONG HEE HUAT CHAI!

Yes, from my experience, arriving as tourist to any country, including 3rd world (except japan) and renting a car or a caravan or a motorcycle (doesnt matter left or right hand drive) using our bolehland lesen is NOT a problem.

Each new country I went to and intended to rent a vehicle, i'c check with their local embassy/consulate office...so, I have been Ok thus far.

Yes, if you intend to reside in any country for say more than 3months, u r required by the local laws to apply for a local driving license..and you may have to re-sit for your test (best check out with the respective consulate/embassy first)...and you will also be needing separate insurance cover too...

The most scariest city to drive, in my book, is Prague. Foreign plated vehicle driven by a foreigner (esp Asian looking - read as China Chinese) will attract the opportunists to create accident and 'extort' hugh sum of money as cpompensation...as in many countries, the local law officers take the side of their country man. You tourist? Ok, U wrong!


Yang Boleh pandu here&there latotupai

[VeeJay]

That's not true ! My international car license was supposed to be recognised in USA but they didn't recognise it.

So I was forced to retake their strict oral exam and road test. Road test was a piece of cake. :D

I still have their driving license as souvenir. :D

It depends on which State you are, and for how long you have resided and your VISA status (resident, student, working, or business/visitor)

[xaviers]

there is no such thing as international driving licence, only driving permit.

if you are tourist then will depend on the country visiting- sometimes our licence will suffice else driving permit (permit valid for 1 year only).

if residence/work permit - ah then must sit for test loh, cause Malaysia licence tak laku, - our safety standard so low and we don't meet international standards for driving test.


BTW..just for info... Singapore licence is recognised in Australia.can do a 1 to 1 conversion without sitting for test !!!

So my advice is do get a International Driving permit and sit for test if you're going to work there for more than 3 months.

[blues]

The most scariest city to drive, in my book, is Prague. Foreign plated vehicle driven by a foreigner (esp Asian looking - read as China Chinese) will attract the opportunists to create accident and 'extort' hugh sum of money as cpompensation...as in many countries, the local law officers take the side of their country man. You tourist? Ok, U wrong!

Yang Boleh pandu here&there latotupai


luckily you realised,

otherwise many thought only in Malaysia ugly senario can be happened.