A good way to travel around Malaysia according to your own schedule is to rent a car, or buy one if you are planning on staying for some time. Expats in Malaysia should be careful as driving in cities isn’t for the faint-hearted.
As in many countries, renting a car in Malaysia is pretty straightforward. You will find some of the global car rental companies such as Europcar , Avis and Hertz , but also a variety of smaller local companies, which are usually cheaper. Of course, if you want to rent a car in Singapore and drop it off at Kuala Lumpur for example, international car rentals will probably be a better option.
To rent a car, you will need:
If there is more than one driver, all potential drivers must be present the day of the car hire as their name and licence information have to be added to the rental agreement. Having an additional driver will cost more.
Driving in Southeast Asia is typically quite unsafe, especially for inexperienced drivers. Malaysia however, especially West Malaysia, is probably one of the best places to drive in Asia. The highways are excellent, gas is cheap and signs are very frequent.
First, be aware that Malaysia follows the British driving system - steering wheels are on the right, and you drive on the left. The limited speed is 110km/h (70mph) on highways and 50 to 70km/h (30 to 45mph) in town, although most people drive a little faster.
Even though the infrastructure is good, be careful of the local drivers. Traffic regulations are not always respected, and not giving priority, tailgating, overtaking on a solid white line and abrupt lane changes are common. Also, be careful around other drivers, who don’t often use their light signals.
Stay alert and use your rear and side mirrors at all times. Driving in Malaysia will require you to be fearless and have the spirit of adventure!
Carjacking can happen, and you should be aware of the neighbourhood you are driving in and where you park. Always lock the doors and roll up the windows when driving slowly or parking your car. Once parked, it is a good idea to use a steering wheel lock.
Traffic jams are very common in big cities, and it is often worth taking public transportation to avoid them.
Here is a small glossary of the terms you may see on street signs in Malaysia:
| Malay | English | Malay | English |
| Utara | North | Berhenti | Stop |
| Selatan | South | Dilarang meletak kereta | No parking |
| Barat | East | Beri Laluan | Give way |
| Timur | West | Dilarang Masuk | No entry |
| Awas | Caution | Lebuhraya | Highway/expressway |
| Jalan sehala | One-way street | Pusat bandar/bandaraya | Town/City centre |