Malaysia road travel and car rental Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway's interchange
Peninsular Malaysia generally has excellent roads making car hire a viable alternative to public transport. Rates are reasonable and the freedom from lugging bags from bus station to hotel and constant bartering with taxi drivers can be worth the extra expense. To rent a vehicle in Malaysia you must be at least 23-years-old and possess a clean drivers licence for at least a year, but the latter may not be thoroughly checked in practice.
All the major international firms such as Hertz, Avis and Europecar have offices in the big towns, and offer compact cars from RM100 a day. Booking online is the surest way to find availability and get the best rates. For this we recommend comparcarrentals.com which finds the best deals among all the companies.
Road users in Malaysia drive on the left and it is mandatory to wear safety belts in the front seats of the vehicle. Drivers are generally quite calm in Malaysia and seem to have established that sitting with your hand on the horn doesn’t make you go faster, unlike some other Southeast Asian nations. But that does not mean you can relax completely, and some Malaysian drivers (especially in the big cities) are extremely dangerous and should be given a wide berth.
Whether to hire a car in Malaysia depends largely on your itinerary, and if you plan to spend a large proportion of your trip on small islands then paying for a car to sit idly at the jetty is probably a waste of money. But if a group of you plan to do a quick round trip from KL down to Melaka and Singapore and then around to the east coast beaches of Kuantan and Cherating, it could be worthwhile and inexpensive to rent a car for a few days,.
The majority of tourist areas will have small firms offering some older vehicles at low prices. This type of car rental in Malaysia may be fine for getting about locally, but is probably not ideal for longer periods or journeys. There is normally no back-up service worth speaking about with a local small business and so you should look carefully at the contract and insurance details.
Road conditions
Most roads in Malaysia are well maintained but suffer from occasional potholes and rough patches. These are exacerbated during rainy season when some surfaces can become treacherous. Driving at night on country roads can be difficult, as with with anywhere else, as street lighting is not always prevalent, so take extra care. As Malaysia is a massive oil exporter, petrol prices are refreshingly reasonable. Road signs are generally clear and helpful and in English with international Highway Code symbols. And detailed road maps are available in any petrol station or good bookstore.
Motorbike hire is much more casual and is only really recommended for novice drivers outside the big cities. But on quiet islands such as Pulau Pangkor and Pulau Langkawi it is arguably the best way to explore the region. Rates start at a very reasonable RM25 per day, but it is wise to check your bike thoroughly for any scratches or damage before setting off that you do not want to get the blame for later. And remember to always wear crash helmets and never to drive after consuming alcohol.
