Can a Malaysian Driving License be used to drive in Thailand?

[soihok]

I hold a Malaysian Driving license for cars and small bikes.

I am not Malaysian - (British).

Can I legally use my Malaysian driving license to drive a car in Thailand for a short period (2 weeks)?

To get an International License here in Malaysia, my license needs to be valid for over a year, which it is not.

Any advice welcome.

[craigt3365]

I think this might be better off over in the motoring forum. A link will stay here in the travel forum also. Let's see how it does over there, OK?

Topic Moved.

[harrry]

If you have an full Malasian "ASEAN" photo licence it can be used here.

[stevenl]

If you have an full Malasian "ASEAN" photo licence it can be used here.

I would think the same, but he mentioned he has only the temporary 1 year license. This means that I presume, but I'm not sure, that it is not legally valid here.

The license for small bikes is for sure not valid in Thailand, where a full bike license is required for all bikes.

[harrry]

Yes that is why I put full licence. It must not be a temporary or provisional one.

[soihok]

Thanks guys.

Its a full license not provisional. It was a conversion.

What's frustrating is that I let my employer handle my license application here in Malaysia, I have a UK license for unlimited bike cc but was given only up to 200cc here.

Never mind, won't be getting a bike here.

I'll save that for home in Thailand (did have both car and bike licenses in Thailand before, but they expired years ago, they were for 1 year).

[harrry]

They are probably like here ....when converting they only give a one year licence as the rules probably require the driver to have held a licence HERE for 12 months before he can get a full one. He also here must be on a NonO to do so.

wickipedia say this for malasia. Is it a CDL you have or a PDL

• Competent Driving Licence (CDL) - a full-fledged driving licence being upgraded from the probationary licence after 2 years. CDL holders are subject to the 15-point KEJARA system before their licence may be suspended or revoked. Competent driving licence may be renewed after every 1, 2, 3 or 5 years. A grace period of three years is given to renew the licence before the licence holder may need to restart the whole driving lesson procedures.^[3]

• Probationary Driving Licence (PDL) - possessed by new drivers who have passed all the driving lesson procedures and tests. New drivers are subject to the 10-point KEJARA demerit point system, where points will be deducted according to the types of traffic infractions. Licence will be revoked after a probationary licence holder accumulates 10 demerit points.^[2] 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 a year is given to upgrade the licence before the licence holder may need to restart the whole driving lesson procedures.^[3]

http://mm2h.gov.my/pdf/mm2h11.pdf

indicates you should have got a CDL so just extend it for a longer period than one year and you should be fine.

[soihok]

I never followed through with the 5 years after my 1 year expired in Thailand, had moved away for work and no longer held a Non Imm O Visa at that time.

I will try to renew my Malay license before the expiry date, can apply up to 5 years, then get the international license.

Cheers

[stevenl]

I never followed through with the 5 years after my 1 year expired in Thailand, had moved away for work and no longer held a Non Imm O Visa at that time.

I will try to renew my Malay license before the expiry date, can apply up to 5 years, then get the international license.

Cheers

If you have the 5 year Malaysian license you don't need an IDP.

[soihok]

Thanks for help.

Cheers

[Tomtomtom69]

Some article in the Bangkok Post from January as well as an Asian Nikkei article from March both incorrectly stated that a Malaysian licence can only be used for driving within 200km of the Thai-Malaysian border. I don't know where they got that rubbish information from, but given that Malaysia has the most open policies for allowing the entry of foreign registered vehicles to travel temporarily on its roads (along with Thailand and Laos) it would seem an absurd restriction to have in place, especially since Malaysians are highly motorised and out of 4 neighboring countries, Malaysia is the only one that drives on the same side of the road as Thailand after Myanmar switched to driving on the right in 1970.

Anyway, as the other respondents have correctly stated, of course a Malaysian licence is valid and recognized for driving throughout Thailand, whether you rent a car in Thailand or drive a Malaysian or other foreign registered vehicle in Thailand or any other Thai registered vehicle assuming your stay is only temporary. If you were to reside in Thailand, obtaining a local licence would be highly recommended.

[tifino]

yes I'd heard of the 200km limitation, and when driving into Thailand from Malaysia, I kept within that.

A Malaysian Registered vehicle could also only stay over the Border and stay in LOS for a max 1 month.

Apparently there was a big Fine awaiting if you try to drive out after exceeding the time limit.

On one of my last trips into LOS, from the Malaysian origin years back, I had a massive engine cooling failure, and made it out with a couple of days to spare.