On our recent trip to Malaysia, we decided that renting a car in Langkawi would be the best way for us to get around. Car rental in Langkawi is very affordable and driving in Langkawi is pretty easy and straightforward.
Renting cars in foreign countries is something we always love to do so we were excited at the chance to do it again on this trip. Louise collects Starbucks mugs so renting a car gave us the flexibility to search for mugs at all three Starbucks locations. We also got to drive ourselves off-the-beaten path to eat street food and mingle with some locals.
After three days of driving in Langkawi, we’re sharing all our tips and what to know when renting a car in Langkawi!
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What To Expect When Renting a Car and Driving in Langkawi on Vacation
We originally booked a rental vehicle before we knew that our hotel provided a free limo service from the airport. Even though we could have had a driver take us to and from the airport, we stuck with our car rental as it was so cheap and it would allow us to tour the island on our own.
Plus, Langkawi is a laidback place so it’s perfect for self-driving. Driving around the island is actually fun and relaxing compared to the big cities. There’s no traffic to worry about, and the island is small enough that you can explore and not worry about getting too lost.
Road Conditions in Langkawi
The roads were better than we expected. They were well-paved with no potholes. The main roads were nice and wide, with clear road markings. Signage was good as well. We were impressed.
The main highway was kind of windy and a little hilly up and down. Nothing that would make you sick, but not a straight or flat road.
As we got closer to our hotel, the highway slowed down into the town where we finally saw some traffic. Overall, it was a very easy drive from the airport to our hotel.
The only time we felt we had to be extra careful was on our drive to the Langkawi Sky Bridge where we encountered tons of monkeys on the side of the road. With the road being windy and narrow, it was important to slow down and watch out for monkeys on the road as there wasn’t any room to swerve to avoid them.
One cool feature about driving in Langkawi was a few lights at the intersections had a countdown for when the light was going to change. I had never seen that before and thought that was very helpful.
What side of the road do they drive on in Langkawi?
In Langkawi (well, all of Malaysia, actually), they drive on the left side of the road.
This is the opposite side of the road than we are used to back home in Canada. I have only driven a right-hand car on the left side of the road one other time and that was in Barbados. I really enjoyed it so I was excited to try it again.
Luckily, Langkawi is similar to Barbados as there is not too much traffic and no one drives very fast. So, getting used to driving the car on the opposite side is much easier. If it’s your first time driving on the left side of the road, I’d say Langkawi is a good place to try it out.
The biggest challenge for me was making sure to turn into the correct lane when I was turning right. I was very cautious as I did not want to drive into oncoming traffic. Roundabouts were also a bit tricky at first.
There were a few instances where I also turned on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal, but I eventually got the hang of it. Luckily, I didn’t cut anyone off by accident.
Do I need an International Driver’s License to drive in Langkawi?
A valid driver’s license in English from your home country (or a certified translation) is sufficient to drive for up to three months in Malaysia. An International Driver’s License (IDP) is not required. This is based on the information we found from our car rental company and the Government of Canada travel website.
We have gotten an IDP to drive in other countries in the past, but have never once been asked for it. Since we could not find anything in writing that it was required in Malaysia, we chose not to obtain one to drive in Langkawi.
When we picked up our rental car, the worker helping us only took a photo of my Canadian driver’s license with his phone. It was one of the most nonchalant transactions renting a car I’ve ever experienced.
Renting a Car in Langkawi
There are numerous options for renting a car in Langkawi and at first it’s difficult to decide which company to go with. We normally book car rentals with well-known global chains, such as Avis or Budget, but in Langkawi, you’ll only find local companies.
After researching and reading many reviews, we decided on a local company called LangkawiBook. They were conveniently located right at the airport which made for an easy pick-up and drop-off. Prices were very reasonable as well.
LangkawiBook Car Rental Review
Since we were just the two of us touring the island, we only needed a small car. We reserved a Perodua Axia, which was the cheapest model available. It was a small, automatic 4-seater car, about the size of a Toyota Yaris or Nissan Micra.
We booked it in advance directly on the LangkawiBook website and paid by credit card. The total cost came to only RM215 for two days including the Liability Reduction Option. That’s less than $50 USD! What a deal.
It worked out just fine for our needs and was incredibly fuel efficient. The AC worked well which was very helpful in the hot and humid climate. There were a couple radio stations that actually worked and played some popular music. And the car didn’t have that many kilometers on it, so it was still pretty new and well-maintained.
Louise had been in contact with the rental car company by Whatsapp prior to our arrival in Langkawi. They text us in the morning of our arrival day and gave us instructions on where to pick up our car when we landed.
Luckily, it is not a very big airport because there were no signs indicating where any rental car companies were. We exited door 3 as instructed and found our car by looking for the license plate number they had given us. Louise sent a message on Whatsapp to confirm we had arrived and were waiting by the car.
We stood by the car for about 5-10 minutes before someone on a moped came and helped us. The whole process was super casual. They really didn’t check for any ID or confirmation that we were renting a car from them. He just asked me to look around the vehicle for any damages. Then he gave me the keys, and told me and a couple of other parties that were renting cars to follow him out of the parking lot.
At the exit gate, he only took a photo of me and my driver’s license, and we left. One of the most unusual, but easy, rental processes I’ve ever experienced.
Using GPS to Get Around Langkawi
We had purchased SIM cards in Singapore, where we had just come from, which we could also use in Langkawi. This made it easy to use Google Maps to get around.
It was pretty easy to navigate the island as there are only a few major roads and it only takes about an hour to get from one side of the island to the other.
With Google Maps, you should have no issue finding your way around Langkawi.
Rules of the Road in Langkawi
Everyone drives very respectfully on Langkawi. Not many people were speeding or driving dangerously. They all respect the traffic lights and signs, stay in their lanes, and use their turn signals. International signage is used so signs are easy to understand. Overall, I felt very safe driving.
The official rules for driving in Langkawi are:
- Seatbelts are mandatory
- Kids under eight years old must be securely fastened in a child safety seat
- No using cell phones while driving
- No driving under the influence
Speed Limit in Langkawi
The speed limit in Langkawi is 50-80km/h in urban areas (as posted), and 90-110km/h on expressways.
How much is gas in Langkawi?
Gas in Langkawi is incredibly inexpensive. We drove all around the island for two days and used maybe half a tank of gas. When I went to the gas station they only had two options: 95 octane and 97 octane. I had never put premium gas in an economy car before.
The price per litre was RM2. When we converted the price, it came out to be about 50 cents per litre, for premium! After filling up, we realized we had only used about $5 total for gas in the 2 days.
Make sure you have some cash on you as you have to prepay for the gas at the window. The gas station we went to close to the airport did not take credit cards. If you need to fill up, overestimate to make sure it is full and they will give you change if you do not use it all.
Parking in Langkawi
We did not have any issues finding parking anywhere we went.
The only place we had to pay for parking was at the Langkawi Sky Bridge. Everywhere else we went, we mostly just parked on the street and it was free.
Driving in Langkawi at Night
We drove around at night quite a bit while in Langkawi and didn’t have any issues. Some of the side roads can be very dark so you just have to be cautious.
Returning the Rental Car
When it was time to fly out of Langkawi, we drove ourselves to the airport and returned our car to LangkawiBook. It was super easy and quick.
We just parked the car in the lot, provided them our parking ticket, they checked our gas level, and said goodbye!
Final Thoughts on Driving in Langkawi
Driving in Langkawi is a fun and inexpensive way to explore the island on your own. If you’re not used to driving on the opposite side of the road, it can take some time getting used to, but on an island like Langkawi, it is not too bad.
If you are thinking of renting a car on Langkawi, we highly recommend it, especially when taking into consideration the low cost of car rentals and cheap gas. It was great not having to rely on taxis, buses or ride shares, which are not as prevalent on the island.
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