Slow down, headlights on, hazard lights off while you're moving, and never drive into floodwater. That's most of driving in Malaysia in monsoon season. The rest is knowing which rain you're dealing with: days of steady downpour on the east coast from about November to March, or short, violent afternoon storms that flood city roads, especially around October.
Which rain, where, when
Malaysia is wet all year, but the pattern shifts with the seasons. Broadly, as the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) describes it:
| Period | Heaviest rain | On the road |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast monsoon, about November to March | Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang first, then Johor | One to three days of continuous rain at a time, often with floods and road closures |
| Inter-monsoon, about late September to October | The west coast states, including the Klang Valley | Afternoon and late-evening thunderstorms, with flash floods in low-lying streets |
Heavy showers happen outside these periods too, and an afternoon storm can stop KL traffic in any month. The start and end dates move a little each year, so go by MetMalaysia's announcements, not the calendar.
Musim tengkujuh, atau monsun timur laut, biasanya berlaku sekitar bulan November hingga Mac, dengan hujan paling lebat di Kelantan, Terengganu dan Pahang, kemudian di Johor.
Before an east coast drive between November and March
Kuantan, Cherating and the road further up can all be done in the wet months, but leave room in the plan. Long rain can flood and close roads, and sometimes a day indoors is the right call.
- Check MetMalaysia's warnings, on its website or the myCuaca app, the day before and the morning you leave.
- Check the MyPublic Infobanjir app from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage for flood levels, and the Public Works Department's disaster site for road closures.
- Fill the tank, and put water and snacks in the car in case you're held up.
- Ask your hotel now if you can arrive a day later should the roads close.
The route itself is in our guide to the east coast road trip from KL to Cherating, with notes on when the drier months make it easier.
In a downpour
A tropical storm can turn a clear road into a grey wall in a minute.
- Slow down early. Water cuts grip and spray hides the car in front, so leave at least twice your usual gap.
- Headlights on. Hazard lights stay off: JPJ and the traffic police both say they're for a stationary car after a breakdown or accident. On a moving car they drown out your indicators, so nobody can tell when you change lanes.
- Keep to the middle of your lane where you can, because water collects at the edges. Watch for motorcyclists slowing or stopping to shelter.
- If the steering suddenly goes light, you're aquaplaning, skimming on water. Ease off the accelerator, hold the wheel straight, and don't brake hard until you feel grip come back.
- Run the air conditioning to clear fogged windows. It's the quickest way in humid rain.
- If you can't see, pull off the carriageway somewhere safe, a lay-by or a petrol station, then put the hazard lights on and wait for the worst to pass.
Traffic slows in rain, so a city trip in a storm takes much longer than usual. KL traffic jam times explains how rain and rush hour stack up.
At a flooded road
In KL and the wider Klang Valley, a heavy afternoon storm can flood underpasses and low roads fast. The Malaysia Civil Defence Force is blunt about it: never drive through floodwater, especially when you can't tell how deep it is. Moving water is stronger than it looks.
- Don't go into a flooded road or underpass. Turn round and find another way, even if other cars are driving through.
- If water is rising around you, leave the car and get to higher ground. You matter more than the car.
- If the engine cuts out in water, don't try to restart it; that can wreck the engine. Get yourself out first.
- Call 999 if you or anyone else is in danger.
If you can wait somewhere safe and high, waiting is usually the best choice.
In a Grandpride rental
Pick the car for the weather. A higher SUV copes better with standing water and rough wet roads than a low sports car, so for an east coast trip in the wet months take one of the SUVs in our fleet, such as the Toyota Harrier from RM 600 a day, and save the supercar for the drier months.
Know your cover. Basic Cover is included, a Loss Damage Waiver lowers your excess, and Grandpride Protection+ takes it to zero for damage and theft. How water and flood damage are treated is CHECK: whether flood or water damage, including engine damage from driving through water, is covered under Basic Cover, LDW and Protection+, so ask before you book a wet-season trip. Car rental insurance in Malaysia explains the three levels.
If something goes wrong, get safe first, then call Grandpride on +6010 322 3223 CHECK: 24-hour breakdown and emergency number for rental customers outside showroom hours. Our guide to what to do after a car accident in Malaysia covers the police report and the rest.
Every rental includes 120 km a day. For the east coast, choose unlimited mileage. And the car stays in Peninsular Malaysia.
If you'd rather not drive in it at all, a Grandpride chauffeur can take the wheel; self-drive vs chauffeur sets out how to choose.
