Will I need to drive my own vehicle to conduct my everyday life (work/school/shopping) at my destination?

Whether or not you choose to drive your own personal vehicle depends on the location of your residence and how comfortable you are with driving in the city. Public transportation is quite useful within the central part of the city, but as you get further into the suburbs, having your own car may be necessary as access to the above becomes limited.


How can I legally drive a vehicle in this city?

It is legal for foreigners to drive in Malaysia with a foreign driver's license for up to three months from the last date of entry as stated on his/her passport. You can also drive legally in Malaysia using an international driving license up to a maximum of 12 months from the last date of entry as stated on your passport.
It is advisable to obtain an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) in your home country as processing the conversation in Malaysia can take approximately two to three months. You can drive with your IDP while the conversion is being processed. The IDP is not transferable or convertible to a Malaysian license.

For information on transfer an overseas driver's license to Malaysian license, please refer to http://www.jpj.gov.my/


What side of the road do people drive on?

Drive on the left and overtake on the right in Malaysia.
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Describe typical public transportation an expat might use to get around the city.

Taxis are relatively inexpensive and tend to be the most widely-used mode of transport for expats, but be sure only to use metered taxis. 
Otherwise, you may end up paying a high taxi fare. Alternative services such as Grabcar and GOJO are available.

Local buses are available for the more adventurous expats, and once the various routes are mastered, bus travel can be a very reasonable way to get around town.

A cheaper and convenient method of transport is the KTM Komuter.


Could an expat also use public transportation to get out of the city—to surrounding towns, recreation areas or suburbs? If so, list options.

By taxi
JB's main long-distance taxi station– blue cabs travel outside town, red within town – is at the Larkin bus station (five km north of town); a handier terminal is on Jln Wong Ah Fook near the Sri Mariamman Temple. Registered taxis to Singapore depart from the Plaza Seni Taxi Terminal (Jln Trus) in the center of town, with taxis to Orchard Road or Queen Street terminal costing around RM30. Local city taxis cannot cross the Causeway.

By Bus
Frequent buses run between Singapore's Queen St bus terminal and JB's Larkin bus station, located five kilometers north of the city. More convenient is the Singapore–Johor Bahru Express. At Larkin, buy your ticket at counter 37 at the rear, facing the bus departure park. The regular SBS (city bus) 170 also runs between Larkin and Ban San terminal in Singapore, departing from stand 13 in Larkin. Tickets can be purchased on the bus. You can board just before the Causeway (after clearing immigration). In central JB, buy tickets from the agents facing the train station on Jln Tun Abdul Razak and board the bus after clearing Malaysian immigration just before the Causeway. For either bus, disembark with your luggage as you may not board the same bus after clearing immigration; hang on to your ticket, too, to avoid having to pay for another one.

At Larkin bus station – a frantic sprawl of hawker stalls, restaurants, clothes shops and other outlets – numerous bus companies run services to Melaka (2½ hours), Kuala Lumpur (four hours, nonstop), Ipoh (eight hours), Seremban (3½ hours), Mersing (two hours), Pekan (2½ hours), Kuantan (five hours) and Kuala Terengganu (eight hours). There are also buses to Kota Tingi (45 minutes) and Desaru (two hours). In central JB, you can buy tickets from the Merlin Tower's ground-floor agents opposite the train station on Jln Tun Abdul Razak.
There is a left-luggage counter at Larkin bus station.

By Train
Johor Bahru Sentral (also known as JB Sentral) replaced the closed Johor Bahru railway station. It is connected to both the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex and Johor Bahru City Square shopping center by pedestrian overhead bridge.  Presently, three daily express trains run to Kuala Lumpur from the old train station www.ktmb.com.my. The line passes through Tampin (for Melaka), Seremban, KL Sentral, Tapah Rd (for Cameron Highlands), Ipoh, Taiping and Butterworth. The line bifurcates at Gemas so you can board the ‘jungle train’ for Jerantut (for Taman Negara), Kuala Lipis and Kota Bharu. Trains also run to Singapore (55 minutes), but it's more convenient to take a bus or taxi.


In regards to transportation, are there any safety issues I should be aware of?

  • A vehicle's road tax tag must be prominently displayed on the windscreen and be valid at the time of use of the vehicle
  • Car registration plates must be displayed and in good condition
  • All lighting functions must work and the car must be in good working condition
  • Car insurance must be valid
  • Front seat belts must be worn at all times while driving
  • A driving license must be carried at all times and must be shown on request to police or at a Road Transport Department check point
  • Drink driving and driving while under the influence of prohibited drugs are serious offences and are subject to strict penalties, including jail terms
 

Where do I buy tickets/tokens/etc. for the major public transportation?

Please refer to point five above.
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IMPORTANT NOTE:

Crown Relocations has made every effort to present accurate information. However, regulations, rates and other variables are subject to change and Crown Relocations cannot accept responsibility for the errors that might result. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact your local Crown representative.