Private vehicle leasing hasn’t taken off yet in Malaysia, but if you don’t want to buy a vehicle, long-term hire is an option. A number of car rental companies will rent vehicles on monthly or yearly contracts as well as the usual daily or weekly rates, and the longer the contract, the better the rate. Although there’s not much flexibility in the market, you may get a better deal from a local company rather than a multinational.

Usually all costs are included in the rental rate, including insurance, maintenance and recovery services, but coverage from a small company may not be as comprehensive. The selection of vehicles available may be limited and choice may be restricted to just one or two vehicles in each category. Be aware that many hire companies will not allow you to drive their cars over the border to Thailand or Singapore, so check before heading off on a road trip.