Comparison
PSV vs GDL — which vocational licence do you need?
Malaysia has two main vocational driving licences, and mixing them up is common — especially for van drivers, because the same van can fall under either licence depending on what is inside it. The rule is simple: passengers = PSV, goods = GDL.
| PSV — Public Service Vehicle | GDL — Goods Driving Licence | |
|---|---|---|
| Carries | Paying passengers | Goods / cargo for a business |
| Typical drivers | Taxi, e-hailing, van & mini-bus (passengers), bus & coach | Lorry, box truck, goods van, pick-up used commercially |
| Classes | D (car / van / mini-bus), E (bus) | B2, D, E rigid, E articulated (by vehicle weight) |
| Medical | JPJL8A — at application and every renewal | JPJL8A — same system |
| Course | 6-hour PSV theory course | Vocational course for the GDL class |
| Validity | 1 year | 1 year |
| Issued by | JPJ | JPJ |
Real situations — which licence?
| Situation | Licence | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You drive Grab with your own sedan | PSV D | Paying passengers in a car |
| You drive a school van | PSV D (van) | The passengers decide it — not the vehicle shape |
| You deliver parcels in the same model of van | GDL D | Goods, no passengers for hire |
| You drive a tour coach | PSV E | Bus class by weight, passengers for hire |
| You drive a 5-tonne lorry for a logistics firm | GDL E (rigid) | Heavy goods vehicle |
| Your job mixes airport transfers (passengers) and cargo runs | Both PSV and GDL | Each trip type needs its own licence — drivers do hold both |
| Food delivery on a motorcycle (p-hailing) | Neither | P-hailing has its own arrangement; it is not PSV or GDL work |
Can you hold both?
Yes. Many professional drivers hold PSV and GDL together — each sits on your licence record alongside your CDL, each with its own one-year validity and JPJL8A medical requirement. If your work genuinely crosses over, holding both is cheaper than arguing about a load manifest at a roadblock.
Need PSV? Start with the eligibility checker and the application guide.