The national speed limit in Malaysia is 110 km/h on expressways and 90 km/h on federal and state roads, with lower limits in towns, on dangerous stretches and wherever a sign says so. The sign always wins over the national figure. As at 2026, fixed AES and AWAS cameras run by JPJ catch speeding and red-light offences, and the summons goes to the car's registered owner.
The limits, road by road
The national limits come from the National Speed Limits Order 1989, made under Malaysia's road transport law.
| Road | National limit for cars | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Expressways (tolled highways) | 110 km/h | Lower limits, often 80 or 90 km/h, on steep, winding, windy or busy urban sections |
| Federal and state roads | 90 km/h | A lower 80 km/h has been applied during festive seasons |
| Town and city roads | Lower, as signed | Limits drop as you enter built-up areas, often to 60 km/h |
| Near schools and work zones | Lower, as signed | Temporary and time-based signs |
Heavy vehicles, buses and cars towing a trailer have lower limits of their own, so expect them to be slower than you.
On the expressways
On the North–South Expressway and the other expressways, 110 km/h applies unless a sign says otherwise, and plenty of signs do. Limits come down, typically to 80 or 90 km/h, on mountainous stretches, where crosswinds are strong and on busy urban sections. Read the overhead and roadside signs as you go rather than relying on the last one you remember; the camera enforces the signed limit, not the national one.
Mountain roads are much lower again. The climb to Genting Highlands is the one most visitors meet; our guide to driving the Genting road covers it.
AES and AWAS
AES (Automated Enforcement System) is the original network of fixed speed and red-light cameras, now run by JPJ, the Road Transport Department. AWAS (Automated Awareness Safety System) is the newer one, with wider camera coverage and number-plate recognition, and JPJ has been replacing older AES cameras with AWAS.
Both catch two offences: speeding past the camera, and running a red light at a monitored junction. Camera sites are public and the lists are published, but slowing down only for the cameras is a bad plan. The limits apply everywhere, and the police enforce them on the road too.
In 2025 the government announced point-to-point cameras that work out your average speed between two points, which would end the brake-for-the-camera habit altogether. As at 2026, check the latest news on whether, and where, they're running.
When a summons arrives
A camera summons goes to the car's registered owner, by its number plate. Under section 115 of the Road Transport Act 1987, the owner must tell the authorities who was driving at the time, and if they do, the driver becomes responsible.
JPJ's demerit system, KEJARA, adds points to the driver's record. The government's own guidance gives:
| Offence or total | Points or result |
|---|---|
| Speeding | 6 to 8 points |
| Running a red light | 10 points |
| Handheld phone while driving | 10 points |
| 20 points | Licence suspended for six months |
| 40 points | Suspended for a year |
| 60 points | Licence revoked |
Points are halved after a year with no new offence. A probationary licence is lost once its holder passes 20 points; our guide to Malaysian driving licence classes explains the P licence.
Camera summonses (AES and AWAS) are JPJ's: check and pay them on the MyJPJ app or JPJ's MySIKAP portal. Police summonses go through PDRM's MyBayar service. Our guide to checking traffic summonses online walks through each.
Compound amounts are set in law and printed on the notice. In June 2026 the Dewan Rakyat passed amendments to the Road Transport Act that include a higher maximum compound, so don't rely on an old figure.
In a rental car
Because the notice goes to the registered owner, a camera summons for a rental car reaches the rental company first, possibly after you've returned the car. How Grandpride handles it is CHECK: how camera and police summonses during a rental are handled, whether the renter is named as the driver to JPJ, how the compound is charged and whether an admin fee applies. Our guide to who pays traffic fines in a rental car explains how it generally works.
The way round the question is to stay within the limit for the whole rental. In a quiet, capable sedan like the BMW 3 Series, RM 1,500 a day, 110 km/h feels unhurried. In a supercar you'll reach it without noticing, so watch the speedometer; our supercar rental guide covers the rest of what to know before you collect one. Protection and mileage are explained on the rental page.
Asked often
Is 110 km/h the limit on every highway?
It's the national limit for expressways, but many stretches are signed lower, often 80 or 90 km/h. The sign applies.
I got a speeding summons in a rental car. What now?
The rental company receives it as the registered owner and deals with it from there CHECK: Grandpride's process for passing on summonses to the renter, and any admin fee.
Berapakah had laju di lebuh raya Malaysia?
110 km/j, kecuali di bahagian yang mempunyai papan tanda had laju lebih rendah.
Visiting from abroad? Malaysia driving rules for foreigners covers the other essentials, from licences to roundabouts.
