Does Sixt require an IDP in Malaysia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Malaysia: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for licences issued outside the EU and not in the Roman alphabet. Premium European brand with a fast-growing global network.
Malaysia drives on the left and accepts the IDP; tourists should carry one with their national licence to rent and drive.
In Malaysia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Malaysia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Kuala Lumpur desks request an IDP for non-English licences.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Malaysia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Malaysia drives on the left, uses the MYR, and sets a minimum driving age of 18, so an IDP is the document that removes any doubt at the counter.
What to bring to the Sixt counter in Malaysia
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the MYR deposit; Malaysia drives on the left with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Malaysia Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the left.
- Touch 'n Go electronic tolls on highways.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Helmets mandatory for motorbikes.
Sixt's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Minimum age is region-specific: typically 21 in the US (18 in New York, where an under-25 fee still applies) and 18 in much of continental Europe such as Germany and France; drivers aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of roughly USD 25-30 per day in the US (about GBP 36 per rental in the UK, around EUR 5-6 per day in markets like Cyprus), and under-25s are usually limited to economy through full-size sedans, midsize SUVs and minivans.
A credit or debit card in the main driver's name must be presented at pickup; Sixt holds a security deposit of at least USD 200 plus the rental amount on the card, with substantially higher holds on premium/high-value vehicles, and debit-card acceptance and limits vary by branch and vehicle class.
A per-rental additional-driver fee applies; extra drivers can be added at any Sixt branch during the rental provided the main driver is present and the additional driver shows a valid licence (some European markets waive the fee for a spouse/partner). The driver must typically have held a full valid licence for at least 1 year (rising to 2-3 years in higher-risk markets such as Cyprus, while Germany requires the licence be held only since at least the day before pickup).
Most Sixt passenger vehicles may be driven across borders into listed neighbouring countries (e.g. France, Germany, Spain, Italy within Europe), but you must notify and get authorisation from the pickup branch in advance; a cross-border and/or one-way drop-off fee applies, and certain vehicle classes and destination countries are restricted.
Sixt does not require an International Driving Permit everywhere, but states that where local law requires it the IDP must be carried alongside the original home licence; if the licence is in a non-Roman alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, etc.) the renter must present an IDP or an official translation, and an official translation is also required if the issuing country is not party to the international driving-permit treaty.
Once you collect the keys in Malaysia
Most expressways (PLUS network, including the North-South Expressway) are electronic-only via the Touch 'n Go RFID/SmartTAG system; cash is no longer accepted. Buy a Touch 'n Go card for about RM10 at Petronas, Shell, 7-Eleven or MyNews and load credit, or confirm whether your rental includes one.
Urban paid parking uses coupons or apps (Flexi Parking, JomParking, KL's official systems); look for white-lined bays and yellow-line no-parking zones. Illegally parked cars are clamped or towed in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and double-yellow lines mean no stopping.
Speeding caught by AES/AWAS cameras draws fines from RM100 up to RM300; using a phone or no seatbelt also attracts compounds. Camera fines are billed to the registered owner, so rental firms pass them to your card plus an admin fee.
Dial 999 for police and ambulance. A police report must be lodged within 24 hours of any accident (now possible online via PDRM e-Reporting for PLUS highway and single-vehicle cases); do not move vehicles until photographed if there are injuries or a dispute.
Full driving guide for Malaysia →