Crossing to Laos with Vehicle

[MysteryX]

I'm thinking of doing a road trip later this year, Naan province and then perhaps crossing to Laos by car?

 

Can you cross into Laos with your vehicle, or is there specific paperwork that needs to be done, or any costs?

 

I'd need to first ask for a re-entry permit and pay for Laos visa; but no clue about vehicle.

[Puchaiyank]

Your car must have it's own passport...not sure if it needs a bank account or has to file a TM30 when reentering Thailand...

[MysteryX]

13 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

Your car must have it's own passport...not sure if it needs a bank account or has to file a TM30 when reentering Thailand...

Ya that's what I thought

[KhunBENQ]

From the hearsay and what I read here:

You need that "purple book" to be applied for at the DLT plus a "T" sticker that you get there.

Before passing the border some kind of temporary insurance is needed?

Driver needs to hold a standard 5yr Thai driving license (no idea about foreign licenses).

Are you the owner of the car?

 

The question appears regularly.

This recent thread seems to contain valuable info:

 

[tomtaylor1]

Hi All, have taken my car many times, yes you can take it Via Nan.

As said you will need a blue passport book for your motor, obtained at The DLT offices.

Take your passport, drivers registration book, insurance, if the car is on finance or rented will need their permission.

Insurance is available once you have passed the check points, but not on Sundays, you can buy it for a few weeks or a year.

Regards

Tom

[MysteryX]

Oh so the car does actually need its own passport. But no TM30?

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, MysteryX said:

Oh so the car does actually need its own passport. But no TM30?

It needs a TM2 - Transport Motor-vehicle To(2) and from Laos.

[NanLaew]

7 hours ago, tomtaylor1 said:

Hi All, have taken my car many times, yes you can take it Via Nan.

As said you will need a blue passport book for your motor, obtained at The DLT offices.

Take your passport, drivers registration book, insurance, if the car is on finance or rented will need their permission.

Insurance is available once you have passed the check points, but not on Sundays, you can buy it for a few weeks or a year.

Regards

Tom

The car passport is purple.

 

How do you manage with the Thai DL colour blind test BTW?

[sabaijai]

On 9/3/2019 at 3:24 PM, tomtaylor1 said:

Hi All, have taken my car many times, yes you can take it Via Nan.

As said you will need a blue passport book for your motor, obtained at The DLT offices.

Take your passport, drivers registration book, insurance, if the car is on finance or rented will need their permission.

Insurance is available once you have passed the check points, but not on Sundays, you can buy it for a few weeks or a year.

Regards

Tom

Do motorcycles need  similar blue/purple book or is the regular Thai green book sufficient? Has anyone crossed this particular border (Huay Kon, Thailand, to Muang Ngoen, Laos) into Laos by motorcycle recently? 

[jackdd]

42 minutes ago, sabaijai said:

Do motorcycles need  similar blue/purple book or is the regular Thai green book sufficient? Has anyone crossed this particular border (Huay Kon, Thailand, to Muang Ngoen, Laos) into Laos by motorcycle recently? 

At some point last year they changed the rules, i got this information in person from the Thai customs officer at the Nong Khai crossing at the beginning of this year:

Small motorbikes are not allowed to drive from Thailand to Laos anymore at all.

Officially Big bikes are only allowed as part of a tour, requiring a Laos Tour guide / company to be involved.

He told me that he let's the bikes leave Thailand as usual, some seem to be able to enter Laos, some are turned away at Laos and soon come back to him.

He couldn't give me details, but i assume for a price they let you into Laos (if you come without a booked tour), i don't know what the price is.

A motorbike passport is not required, just the green book in your name.

Edited November 15, 2019 by jackdd

[giddyup]

On 9/3/2019 at 10:36 PM, NanLaew said:

The car passport is purple.

 

How do you manage with the Thai DL colour blind test BTW?

Maybe cheats as I do?

[Don Mega]

 

Is it Laos that does not allow dark window tint ?

[sabaijai]

On 11/15/2019 at 8:39 PM, jackdd said:

At some point last year they changed the rules, i got this information in person from the Thai customs officer at the Nong Khai crossing at the beginning of this year:

Small motorbikes are not allowed to drive from Thailand to Laos anymore at all.

Officially Big bikes are only allowed as part of a tour, requiring a Laos Tour guide / company to be involved.

He told me that he let's the bikes leave Thailand as usual, some seem to be able to enter Laos, some are turned away at Laos and soon come back to him.

He couldn't give me details, but i assume for a price they let you into Laos (if you come without a booked tour), i don't know what the price is.

A motorbike passport is not required, just the green book in your name.

 

Thank you for the info.

[JoePai]

Bikes must be 250cc and above

[canthai55]

3 hours ago, Don Mega said:

Is it Laos that does not allow dark window tint ?

Malaysia definitely. They have a meter - fail and they wait as you remove it