A probationary driving licence, better known as the P licence or PDL, is only valid for two years. Once that probation period ends, you are expected to convert it to a competent driving licence (CDL) if you want to keep driving legally.
Many new drivers only remember this when they spot the expiry date on their licence, or when the MyJPJ app shows that their licence is no longer active. If that sounds familiar, do not panic. What you need to do depends on how long ago your P licence expired.
What is a P licence?
The P licence is the probationary licence you receive after passing your driving tests. It lets you drive on your own, but it comes with extra rules during the two-year probation period. According to the government’s official portal, a PDL holder must convert to a CDL within one year once the two-year probation is over, and the PDL itself cannot be renewed after that point. You can read the official summary on MyGOV.
While you are on probation, you are expected to:
Display the P sign on the vehicle you are driving.
Follow all traffic rules.
Avoid offences that add demerit points under the KEJARA system, as a P licence can be cancelled once a probationary driver collects too many points.
When can you convert your P licence to a CDL?
JPJ allows you to apply for a CDL within seven days before your probation period ends. The application window then stays open for one year after your PDL expires. Both rules are stated on JPJ’s CDL application page.
For example, if your P licence expires on 20 October, you can apply for your CDL from 13 October. If you miss that date, you still have until 20 October of the following year to convert it through the normal process.
The safest approach is to apply as soon as the seven-day window opens. You avoid a gap in your licence, and you do not risk forgetting about it for months.
Ways to convert your P licence
1. Through the MyJPJ app
Since 17 February 2025, eligible PDL holders can convert their P licence to a CDL in the MyJPJ app without going to a JPJ counter, as reported by The Star. You log in, choose the CDL application menu, select how long you want the licence to be valid for, and pay the fee online. The app then notifies you of the application status.
Once approved, you can use the digital licence in MyJPJ. If you are new to the app, our guide to using the MyJPJ app explains how to set it up.
2. At a JPJ office
You can also apply in person at a JPJ state office or branch. Bring your original MyKad. If someone applies on your behalf, they need a copy of your MyKad plus their own identification. JPJ also states that you must not be blacklisted, so settle any outstanding summonses first if you suspect there is a problem.
Your P licence has expired: what to do next
1. It expired a few days or months ago
If your P licence expired less than a year ago, you are still within JPJ’s window to convert it. Apply for your CDL through MyJPJ or at a JPJ office as soon as possible.
Do not drive in the meantime. A driving licence must be valid for you to drive on the road, and an expired one does not count. Our article on how to renew your driving licence explains the fines for driving with an expired licence.
2. It expired almost a year ago
If you are close to the one-year mark, treat it as urgent. Once the one-year window closes, you can no longer convert your PDL through the normal application, and you will need to go through JPJ’s appeal process instead.
3. It expired more than a year ago
A P licence that has expired for more than one year cannot be converted through the normal process. You must submit an expired driving licence appeal to JPJ. You can apply online through the JPJ website or in person at a JPJ state or branch office. For manual applications, bring a copy of your MyKad and a copy of your driving licence.
JPJ says you can check the result 14 days after you apply, and the decision rests with the JPJ Director-General. Here is what each outcome means:
If the appeal is approved: you are exempted from the Part 1 test, but you still need to sit Practical Tests II and III.
If the appeal is rejected: you have to apply for a driving licence through the normal procedure, as a new applicant would.
So an expired P licence does not automatically mean starting from zero. Submit the appeal first and wait for JPJ’s decision.
Can you renew an expired P licence?
No. A P licence is not renewed in the same way as a CDL. After the two-year probation period, it has to be converted to a CDL. If you do not convert it within one year after it expires, you will need to appeal to JPJ.
How much does it cost to convert a P licence to a CDL?
JPJ lets you choose a CDL validity period of one to five years. A Class D car licence for five years would therefore cost RM150. Non-citizens pay higher rates, so check the JPJ fee page if that applies to you.
How to avoid letting your P licence expire
Check your licence expiry date in the MyJPJ app.
Set your own phone reminder for a week before the expiry date.
Apply for your CDL within the seven days before your PDL expires.
Do not leave it until the last day of the one-year window.
If more than a year has passed, file an appeal with JPJ straight away.
Quick summary
Situation
What to do
PDL still in probation
Wait until you are eligible to apply for a CDL
Within 7 days before the PDL expires
Apply to convert to a CDL
PDL expired less than 1 year ago
Apply for a CDL within the allowed period
PDL expired more than 1 year ago
Submit an expired driving licence appeal to JPJ
Appeal approved
Sit Practical Tests II and III as instructed by JPJ
Appeal rejected
Apply for a driving licence through the normal procedure
Conclusion
An expired P licence is easy to fix if you act early. As long as it has not been more than one year since your PDL expired, you can still convert it to a CDL through MyJPJ or at a JPJ office. If more than a year has passed, your next step is an appeal to JPJ.
Once you have your CDL, it is a good time to review the rest of your driving paperwork. Our P licence car insurance guide explains how your licence status affects your cover, and you can check your road tax on the BJAK road tax page. If your car insurance is also due, compare quotes from multiple insurers with BJAK.
If your P licence (PDL) expired less than one year ago, you can still apply to convert it to a competent driving licence (CDL). You can apply through the MyJPJ app if you are eligible, or at a JPJ office.
How long is a P licence valid for?
A P licence is valid for a two-year probation period. After that, you need to convert it to a CDL to keep driving legally.
When can I convert my P licence to a CDL?
JPJ allows you to apply within seven days before your probation period ends. The application window stays open for one year after the PDL expires.
Can I renew an expired P licence?
No. A P licence is not renewed like a CDL. After the probation period, it must be converted to a CDL within one year of expiry.
What happens if my P licence expired more than a year ago?
You can no longer convert it through the normal process. You need to submit an expired driving licence appeal to JPJ online or at a JPJ office. If the appeal is approved, you skip the Part 1 test but must sit Practical Tests II and III.
How much does a CDL cost for a car licence?
For Malaysian citizens, a Class D CDL costs RM30 for each year of validity. You can choose a validity period of one to five years.
Nabil Farhan· · 6 min read
