Izinto Onokuzonwabela Ezinento Yokwenza Nezothutho e-Malaysia

These information pages can help you get started in learning about some of the laws and registration requirements that may apply to your experiences on Airbnb. These pages include summaries of some of the rules that may apply to different sorts of activities, and contain links to government resources that you may find helpful.

Please understand that these information pages are not comprehensive, and are not legal advice. If you are unsure about how local laws or this information may apply to you or your Experience, we encourage you to check with official sources or seek legal advice.

Please note that we don’t update this information in real time, so you should confirm that the laws or procedures have not changed recently.*

I’m planning to drive my guests to and fro my Experience in Malaysia? Do I need a licence or registration to allow me to do this?

Yes. Aside from having the appropriate driving licences, the provision of ground transportation as part of a tour could potentially result in that vehicle being considered as a tourism vehicle.

The provision of tourism vehicles as a business is regulated in Malaysia. If you are providing ground transportation and you charge a fee for such transportation or such transportation is bundled together as part of the “tour package”, then you will be viewed as a tour operating business and any transportation provided must be an excursion vehicle that is licensed by the Land Public Transport Commission (“SPAD”). Please refer to our information page on Guiding Tours in Malaysia for more information on when you will be considered a tour operating business.

Pursuant to the Land Public Transport Act 2010, tourist excursion vehicles can only be excursion buses or “hire and drive” cars for tourists. This means you can’t use any other types of vehicles except those that have been approved by the SPAD.

As for the SPAD license, SPAD categorises the types of tourism vehicles into excursion busses and hire and drive cars for tourists. The Land Public Transport Act 2010 sets out a number of conditions and statutory conditions which may be attached to the issuance of this license. These includes things such as maintaining the vehicle in a fit and serviceable condition and ensuring the safety of passengers on board.

Here is an example where you are likely to be regulated:

• I am a foodie and I want to bring fellow foodies around my neighbourhood for a food tour. I will be driving them to several food stops as part of the food tour.

Here is an example where the laws are less clear whether you will be regulated:

• I am organising a barbeque at my house and I will be driving my guests from a certain location to the barbeque.

If you are unsure as to whether your Experience requires the licences set out above, it would be a good idea to check with the SPAD or the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia or speak to your lawyer to make sure you are following the laws.

Note that you may attract criminal liability including financial penalties and/or jail for carrying out the abovementioned activities without the requisite licences.

My Experience involves going to a couple of separate venues, which are not walking distance from each other. I want to provide transportation between the two venues. I plan to order a licensed taxi or Uber or other licensed form of transportation. Do I need a specific licence to allow me to do this?

No. You will not require a licence in order to book transportation with a licensed transport provider if you are merely making on the spot bookings instead of chartering transport, and if you do not charge for this service.

Is there anything else I should think about?

If your Experience will involve combining transportation with another activity (for example, providing a guided tour of the city using your car), please take a look at our other information sections such as Guiding Tours in Malaysia to work out if any other rules might apply to your activity.

*Airbnb is not responsible for the reliability or correctness of the information contained in any links to third party sites (including any links to legislation and regulations).