Renewing A Driving License for Non-Malaysian in Malaysia

Being an expat in Malaysia in not easy. A lot of rules to be taken into considerations. I guess we have to accept the fact that in each country, they have their own rule to abide pertaining to foreign workers, expats, immigrants, etc.

Heading to Senai International Airport. Photo taken12/4/17

I just want to share with you the things that I did when I renewed my driver’s license in connection to the earlier post I did for this blog: (the title of the article. Conversion of Driver's License to Malaysian License) .

The time has come for me to renew my driver’s license and here are the requirements that I prepared for myself before we went to the Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan (JPN).

1. Existing Driver’s License

2. Current passport (if you renewed your passport here or abroad, just bring with you both as the officer needs to verify  your identity based on the existing records that you have had submitted before when you applied for your driver’s license)

3. Photocopy of the first page of your passport (old and new)

4.  Photocopy of your existing visa

5. Your photo in a passport size (white background)

6. Cash (in Malaysia Ringgit: RM30 per year)

How was the process?

1. Get your queue number and wait for your number to be called.

2. Once your number is called, prepare yourself to present all those requirements stated above.

3.  FYI, the officer will speak to you in Bahasa, but some can speak in English. Just try to understand them. If you don’t get it, ask them politely to repeat again (just with proper manners)

4. Show your passport (current). If the officer says do you have your new passport with you? Just present them to verify it to their database. If you have renewed your passport, automatically, you will be having a new Passport Number. Hence, they will update it in their system too.

5. The rest of the documents, just submit it to them. (Some officers just want to see your passport, visa). The verification stage is where they will see in their system if you had violated any of the rules (parking, traffic lights etc.) If you have summons, then you must be ready to clear all those summonses before proceeding to the next step.

6. Then after verification stage, they will ask you how many years you want to apply. In my case, they just followed based on the expiration of my passport.

7. Pay the required amount and wait for your name to be called to receive your new driver’s license.

Source: Google

How about those question mostly asked by the officer:

From a circle of friends working here in Malaysia, I heard that some officers ask some questions like "why do you need a driver’s license?", "What are you doing in Malaysia?" etc.

These kind of questions were quite tricky especially when they asked you on the spot. Well, for me, I just told them, since I’m working in Malaysia as what has been stated on my current passport, I need a driver’s license so that I can drive myself to go to work and obviously, I need to drive my family since I have a Malaysian wife and son.

Then when the officer asks, "are you sure you are working here?" Then just told them “YES”, and for me,I just prepared my offer letter from my current Company as well as my endorsement documents under the spouse visa programme to work here in Malaysia.

This kind of situation is on a case to case basis. I don’t know if how relevant all their questions in renewing driver’s license here. The moral of the story is- JUST BE STRAIGHT FORWARD AND BE HONEST.

What other things you need to consider?

1. If you know that your passport is soon to expired, you better renew your passport first and transfer your visa from your old passport to your new passport.  You have to refer to your respective consulate what are the requirements on this matter.

2. Don’t go to JPJ office during Fridays.  Friday break is quite long.

3. Go to the nearest UTC from your place.

4. For working expats, UTC is appropriate since they are open during Saturdays and Sundays.

To sum up all the above story, I've finished my transaction at the JPJ office in less than 10 minutes since their system is quite straightforward too.