The Transport Ministry will begin licensing and regulating recreational vehicle (RV) services for commercial use starting Jan 1, in a bid to boost Malaysia’s RV-based tourism sector.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the new policy allows RVs to be used as self-drive tourist hire vehicles in Peninsular Malaysia, and as self-drive hire cars in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
“Implementation will be limited to new vehicles, either completely knocked down (CKD) or completely built up (CBU) units, effective Jan 1, 2026,” he told reporters after officiating the groundbreaking of a new Road Transport Department (JPJ) office on Tuesday (Sept 23).
Privately-owned RVs registered before Dec 31 may also be commercialised provided they are not more than 15 years old and pass a technical inspection to be determined by JPJ.
Loke said his ministry and the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) are exploring a “single window” system to simplify RV licence applications, where new RVs intended for rental would only need a single Motac permit for tourism activities.
He stressed the licensing move is crucial to regulate operations, ensure safety and protect renters’ interests through enforceable permits.
On a separate issue, Loke commented on an incident where an illegal driver overcharged a foreign tourist more than RM800, saying such touts typically rent cars to operate unauthorised transport services.
“Their modus operandi is simple: they use vehicles they don’t own, so if a car is seized or impounded, they are unaffected. Daily profits from one customer can reach hundreds of ringgit,” he said.
JPJ will intensify enforcement at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) through increased surveillance and operations to curb such activities, Loke added. The ministry is also reviewing whether existing laws need to be strengthened to send a clear warning to offenders.
