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Road Transport Act 1987 · Updated to 15 Oct 2023 · Part II · Classification, Registration and Licensing of Motor Vehicles and Drivers

26. Driving licences

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In plain English

A person may drive a motor vehicle on a road only with a driving licence for that class of vehicle. A person also may not employ or allow an unlicensed person to drive. Breaking these rules is an offence with a fine of three hundred ringgit to two thousand ringgit, up to three months in prison, or both.

Summary · Drafted with AI, checked against the official text on 30 Sep 2026.

(1)

Except as otherwise provided in this Act, no person shall drive a motor vehicle of any class or description, on a road unless he is the holder of a driving licence authorizing him to drive a motor vehicle of that class or description, and no person shall employ or permit another person to drive a motor vehicle on the road unless the person so employed or permitted to drive is the holder of such a driving licence.

(2)

Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine of not less than three hundred ringgit and not more than two thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.

(3)

For the purposes of this section, the expression “holder of a driving licence” includes a person in possession of and driving a motor vehicle in accordance with a licence duly issued by or on behalf of the proper authority authorizing such person in the course of his duties as a member of the Forces to drive a motor vehicle of the class or description

46 Laws of Malaysia ACT 333

specified in such licence and being a vehicle which is the property of the

Government or of any Government whose forces are lawfully in

Malaysia under the provisions of any law for the time being in force regulating visiting forces lawfully present in Malaysia.

Terms defined in this Act

Authority
Defined · s 88A
“Authority” means any body, whether corporate or unincorporate, established, appointed or incorporated under any written law;
Open s 88A
driving licence
Defined · s 2
“driving licence” means a licence to drive a motor vehicle granted or deemed to be granted under Part II and includes a learner’s driving licence and a probationary driving licence granted under section 29;
Open s 2
Government
Defined · s 2
“Government” means the Federal Government or any State Government;
Open s 2
member of the Forces
Defined · s 2
“member of the Forces” means— (a) a member of the Armed Forces; (b) a police officer; (c) a member of a visiting force within the meaning of any law for the time being in force regulating visiting forces lawfully present in Malaysia;
Open s 2
motor vehicle
Defined · s 2
“motor vehicle” means a vehicle of any description, propelled by means of mechanism contained within itself and constructed or adapted so as to be capable of being used on roads, and includes a trailer;
Open s 2
road
Defined · s 2
“road” means— (a) any public road and any other road to which the public has access and includes bridges, tunnels, lay-bys, ferry facilities, interchanges, roundabouts, traffic islands, road dividers, all traffic lanes, acceleration lanes, deceleration lanes, side-tables, median strips, overpasses, underpasses, approaches, entrance and exit ramps, toll plazas, service areas, and other structures and fixtures to fully effect its use; (b) for the purposes of sections 70 and 85, also includes a road under construction; and (c) for the purpose of sections 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 45A, also includes a parking place;
Open s 2
this Act
Defined · s 2
“this Act” includes any subsidiary legislation made under this Act;
Open s 2
vehicle
Defined · s 2
“vehicle” means a structure capable of moving or being moved or used for the conveyance of any person or thing and which maintains contact with the ground when in motion;
Open s 2

Report

Read on from s 27

Part III

Roads

Read on from Part III

Part IV

Provisions Against Third Party Risks Arising Out of the Use of Motor Vehicles

Read on from Part IV

Part V

Offences and Miscellaneous Provisions

Read on from Part V