Indonesia Malaysia
Indonesia 
MalaysiaLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Indonesia and Malaysia share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.
Driving rules in Malaysia
- Drive on the left.
- Touch 'n Go electronic tolls on highways.
- 0.05% alcohol limit.
- Helmets mandatory for motorbikes.
What to see when you arrive in Malaysia
- the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur
- the Batu Caves
- the historic streets of Penang's George Town
- the rainforests of Borneo
- the island of Langkawi
Once you're driving in Malaysia
Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.
Driving on a foreign licence
Visitors may drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 90 days from entry, provided it is in English (otherwise carry a certified translation). An International Driving Permit is strongly recommended and is required by most major rental firms (Hertz, Avis, Mayflower) for non-ASEAN drivers.
Tolls & road charges
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.
Parking in the cities
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.
Fines & camera enforcement
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.
If you have an accident
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.
Driving in the capital
Kuala Lumpur traffic is dense with confusing multi-level interchanges and frequent toll gantries; the KL-Karak Expressway and other routes now use point-to-point average-speed cameras, so speeding between gantries is detected.
Sources: motorist.my · gemcarrental.com.my · bhpetrol.com.my · ereporting.rmp.gov.my