Chinese Licence in Malaysia 2026: Translation, Left Side
China
Malaysia
China signed neither road-traffic convention, so there is no Chinese IDP. Carry an official English translation with your licence for a short visit, and adjust to driving on the left.
For Chinese travellers, Malaysia is a rewarding self-drive destination: well-surfaced toll expressways, Mandarin widely spoken, and good roads between the cities. The unfamiliar parts are the paperwork and the direction of traffic.
The document question
China is not a party to the 1949 Geneva or the 1968 Vienna road-traffic convention, and Chinese authorities do not issue International Driving Permits. A licence printed in Chinese is not read on its own in Malaysia, so for a short visit carry an official English translation of your licence alongside the original and your passport, arranged before you fly. Ask your rental company in advance which translation it accepts. The Driving Permit Checker shows what your trip needs.
The side switch
China drives on the right. Malaysia drives on the left, and reversing that habit is the biggest adjustment. The riskiest moments come in the first hour: leaving a car park, taking a roundabout that now turns clockwise, or checking the wrong mirror. Choose a quiet road for your first stretch rather than central Kuala Lumpur.
Limits and alcohol
Expressways are capped at 110 km/h, below the 120 you know on Chinese expressways, and cameras cover the main routes; the Speeding Fine Calculator helps you gauge penalties. Since October 2020 the alcohol limit has been 50 mg per 100 ml of blood, above China’s 20 mg, with fines and prison for offenders, so drive sober. Motorcycles weave between lanes constantly, so check mirrors more than you would at home. The emergency line is 999. Our Malaysia driving guide has the full detail.
Sources
- UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (China not a party): treaties.un.org
- UN Treaty Collection, 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (China not a party): treaties.un.org
- Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2020 (Act A1618), amended section 45G on the prescribed alcohol limit: lom.agc.gov.my
- GOV.UK, Malaysia travel advice, road travel: gov.uk
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
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Frequently Asked Questions
For a short visit, yes, if your licence is backed by an official English translation, because a licence that is not in English or Malay is not read on its own. China is not a party to the 1949 or 1968 road-traffic conventions and does not issue International Driving Permits, so the translation, arranged before you travel, is what fills that role. Rental companies may ask for it at the desk.
The left, the opposite of China. Roundabouts, junctions and overtaking all run the other way, so the first day calls for real concentration.
Since October 2020 the limit is 50 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood (0.05%), or 22 micrograms per 100 ml of breath, and penalties include heavy fines and prison. It is still higher than China's 20 mg, so do not read it as permission: treat it as zero.