[PHV DRIVERS] Ultimate Guide to Driving into Malaysia!

Are you already planning your upcoming trip to our neighbouring country, Malaysia? With the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions, you can now look forward to driving into Malaysia again!

Here’s the ultimate guide of what you need to know before you drive into Malaysia, private hire drivers edition!

BEFORE YOU GO:

1. Renting a car? Check if your rental company allows you to drive to Malaysia (GrabRentals does!)

PHV drivers who are renting their car should check with the rental company if the car is approved for travel into Malaysia. 

Depending on your rental company, you may be required to submit certain documents, or pay an additional surcharge. You may also be required to purchase additional vehicle insurance coverage separately. 

GrabRentals hirer-partners are allowed to drive their cars to Malaysia, and do not need to get additional clearance or approval from GrabRentals.

2. Get your Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) ready

The Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) is a permit issued by the Road Transport Department of Malaysia (under Section 66H of the Road Transport Act 1987) that allows the entry of foreign vehicles into Malaysia. It is mandatory to apply for a VEP for all foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia.

You may register for a VEP online on the Road Transport Department of Malaysia’s website

Private hire drivers who are renting their car should approach their vehicle rental company for the VEP confirmation slip instead. Similarly, all GrabRentals hirer-partners will be able to download their VEP confirmation slip from the GrabRentals Portal and will not need to sign up for a separate VEP account. 

driving-into-jb-malaysia-phv-driver-rented-car-gr-portal

GrabRentals Portal

After receiving the confirmation slip, you will be invited to make an appointment to collect your VEP RFID tag in Malaysia. VEP-registered vehicles will be issued with non-transferrable VEP-RFID tags that uniquely identify the vehicles.

The VEP-RFID tag can be collected at these locations:

  1. Lima Kedai Toll Plaza
  2. Pandan RnR
  3. Gelang Patah Southbound RnR
  4. Plaza Angsana Open Carpark C

3. Make sure to get vehicle insurance covering Malaysia (GrabRentals’ insurance does!)

Insurance is mandatory for all vehicles entering Malaysia and it is illegal to enter without vehicle insurance.

PHV drivers who are renting their car should check with the rental company whether there are additional surcharges and if you will need to purchase additional vehicle insurance coverage separately.

GrabRentals hirer-partners may drive to Malaysia with their rented car with no additional surcharge, as GrabRentals’ vehicle insurance covers West Malaysia.

4. Touch N’ Go Card (TNG)

EZ-Link x Touch ‘n Go Motoring Card

Before you set off on your trip, please ensure that your Touch ‘n Go card is active and has sufficient balance. 

The Touch ‘n Go card is similar to the NETS cashcard in Singapore, and can be used to pay for highway and checkpoint tolls. If your card is inactive or expired, you may purchase a new Ez-Link x Touch ‘n Go Motoring card at selected 7-11 outlets in Singapore. 

5. Other important items to note

The most important item is undoubtedly your passport! Ensure that your passport has at least 6 months validity. Do note that from 1 May 2022, it is no longer mandatory to check-in with the MySejahtera app (similar to the Trace Together app used in Singapore).

Drivers planning to take advantage of the lower petrol costs in Malaysia should also take note that you’ll need to have at least ¾ tank of fuel in your vehicle when leaving Singapore via the land checkpoints or you may be turned away from entering Malaysia, fined or prosecuted in court! 

SAFETY TIPS WHEN DRIVING ABROAD:

1. Lock your car at all times

The most important item is undoubtedly your passport! Ensure that your passport has at least 6 months validity. Do note that from 1 May 2022, it is no longer mandatory to check-in with the MySejahtera app (similar to the Trace Together app used in Singapore).

Drivers planning to take advantage of the lower petrol costs in Malaysia should also take note that you’ll need to have at least ¾ tank of fuel in your vehicle when leaving Singapore via the land checkpoints or you may be turned away from entering Malaysia, fined or prosecuted in court! 

2. Be aware of the hotline to call in case of a breakdown

It is very important to be aware of what to do in case of vehicle breakdowns and emergencies, and whom to contact. GrabRentals hirer-partners may refer to the 24/7 vehicle breakdown hotline found on your decal.

3. Conduct simple maintenance checks on your vehicle before you go

Make sure that your car is in optimal condition prior to driving to Malaysia.

Simple checks you can do that are often overlooked include making sure that your headlights, turn signals, brakes and parking lights are working properly. Walk around your car and visually inspect that all of the lights are working correctly.

You should also make it a habit to visually inspect your tires often, especially before a long trip. If you notice that your tires are too worn out, you should replace them as soon as possible.

As a rule of thumb, you should also be sending your car for maintenance and servicing every 10,000 km or every 6 months, depending on which comes first. GrabRentals hirer-partners may refer to our GrabRentals Portal for workshop information.  

Are you ready to travel to Malaysia? In summary, make sure that you have the below items ready!

  • Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) 
  • Vehicle insurance (covering Malaysia)
  • Touch ‘n Go card
  • ¾ tank of fuel in your car
  • Passport with at least 6 months of validity
  • MySejahtera app (no longer needed from 1 May 2022)

Book your car with us now!

Rent your car from GrabRentals now! We’re the largest private-hire car rental fleet in Singapore. Whether you are interested in petrol, hybrid or electric cars, we have a wide-ranging vehicle fleet available for you. 

For new hirer-partners, you may visit our website here to book your car online. Existing hirer-partners may recontract online here. If you would like to find out more or speak to our customer helpdesk, you can also book an appointment at Grab@Tampines or chat with us on our Facebook page.

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Komsan Chiyadis

GrabFood delivery-partner, Thailand

Komsan Chiyadis

GrabFood delivery-partner, Thailand

COVID-19 has dealt an unprecedented blow to the tourism industry, affecting the livelihoods of millions of workers. One of them was Komsan, an assistant chef in a luxury hotel based in the Srinakarin area.

As the number of tourists at the hotel plunged, he decided to sign up as a GrabFood delivery-partner to earn an alternative income. Soon after, the hotel ceased operations.

Komsan has viewed this change through an optimistic lens, calling it the perfect opportunity for him to embark on a fresh journey after his previous job. Aside from GrabFood deliveries, he now also picks up GrabExpress jobs. It can get tiring, having to shuttle between different locations, but Komsan finds it exciting. And mostly, he’s glad to get his income back on track.