The Road Transport Department (RTD) has reminded Malaysians heading to Thailand that a physical driving licence remains a legal requirement across the border, despite digital versions being accepted domestically.
Kelantan RTD director Mohd Misuari Abdullah said digital licences displayed through the MyJPJ application are sufficient for driving within Malaysia, but Thai authorities do not recognise them as valid documents.
“Those travelling abroad can also visit any RTD counter to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP),” he told reporters at the Kucha Sugho Queen Ekspress programme, as reported by New Straits Times.
The reminder comes after a Malaysian woman was fined 1,000 baht (about RM123), at a police roadblock in Hat Yai, Thailand, for failing to produce a physical driving licence. According to New Straits Times, the woman had recently renewed her licence and was accustomed to using the digital version stored in the MyJPJ app.
Thai traffic police informed her that only physical Malaysian driving licences or an International Driving Permit (IDP) are accepted by Thai authorities. As she could not produce either document, she was issued the fine.
A Thai traffic police spokesman told NST that many Malaysian travellers remember to bring their passports, vehicle documents, Thai SIM cards and exchanged currency, but frequently overlook their physical driving licences.
Malaysian motorists driving in Thailand should carry both a valid physical driving licence and an IDP, particularly during longer journeys or when travelling beyond border areas, as reported by paultan.org.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced in February 2023 that Malaysian private vehicle owners would no longer need to display road tax or carry a physical copy of their driving licence for domestic use, with digital versions available through the MyJPJ application. A physical Malaysian driving licence can be obtained from any RTD counter for RM20.
Hat Yai is a popular weekend destination for Malaysians travelling by car for food, shopping and leisure.
