Driving a Thailand registered car into Lao. Anyone done this recently?

[grain]

Next Nov I want to go to Pakse and 4000 Islands for approx 1 week. I'd like to drive my car from Ubon across into Lao, and return to Thailand the same way. I've never driven my car into Lao before but have taken it into Cambodia several times. It's my own car, registered in my name and I have the current documentation (blue book + insurance) So what's the procedure? Is it fairly straight forward (as it is for driving into Cambodia)? Anyway I need to know about in advance?

[flyingtlger]

You should have no problem as long as all your paperwork and insurance are up to date.

[stupidfarang]

You need to get paperwork from the Thai car department, where you pay your car tax, A car out passport. You need to buy car insurance on the Laos side of the border for the period the car is there.

 We were going to take our car but could not get an international driving license as I do not complete holding the Thai 5-year licence until July.

Many people just drive over on their Thai license, I was worried if I had an accident then insurance would not pay out.

Do be careful were you park, seen a car get clamped and the police did not release it until they were paid.

[grain]

1 hour ago, stupidfarang said:

You need to get paperwork from the Thai car department, where you pay your car tax, A car out passport. You need to buy car insurance on the Laos side of the border for the period the car is there.

 We were going to take our car but could not get an international driving license as I do not complete holding the Thai 5-year licence until July.

Many people just drive over on their Thai license, I was worried if I had an accident then insurance would not pay out.

Do be careful were you park, seen a car get clamped and the police did not release it until they were paid.

OK thanks, some useful info here. Now some further questions for you:

 

1) "the Thai car department, where you pay your car tax, A car out passport" Is this at the Thai border? What is the car tax? And how much is the car tax? How much does the car out PP cost?

 

2) I don't have an international driving license but do have a current Thailand D/L. So I believe that is legal for driving in Lao?

 

3) "Do be careful were you park" Careful where? At the border area or in Lao in general?

[paul1804]

8 hours ago, grain said:

Next Nov I want to go to Pakse and 4000 Islands for approx 1 week. I'd like to drive my car from Ubon across into Lao, and return to Thailand the same way. I've never driven my car into Lao before but have taken it into Cambodia several times. It's my own car, registered in my name and I have the current documentation (blue book + insurance) So what's the procedure? Is it fairly straight forward (as it is for driving into Cambodia)? Anyway I need to know about in advance?

Yes it is permissible but you realise they drive on the right side of the road in Laos. I am told it is a fairly straight forward procedure. 

[Chris BKK]

Any car with a Thai number plate will be stopped by Laos police and have to pay a bribe, almost standard

[Maejo Man]

40 minutes ago, Chris BKK said:

Any car with a Thai number plate will be stopped by Laos police and have to pay a bribe, almost standard

Utter rubbish! Never happened to me on the many trips I have driven into Vientienne from Udon, and never heard of it happening to others?  Where did you come by this little gem?

[grain]

3 hours ago, paul1804 said:

Yes it is permissible but you realise they drive on the right side of the road in Laos. I am told it is a fairly straight forward procedure. 

Same in Cambodia. Same in Vietnam. 

[brianthainess]

7 hours ago, grain said:

What is the car tax? And how much is the car tax?

It is that sticker on your windscreen. Or do you never pay road tax? 

[The Old Bull]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

It is that sticker on your windscreen. Or do you never pay road tax? 

You need the purple car passport ,you need your blue book to get that.Pay a bit for insurance when you get there.

[Guitar God]

On 3/2/2024 at 3:13 PM, Maejo Man said:

Utter rubbish! Never happened to me on the many trips I have driven into Vientienne from Udon, and never heard of it happening to others?  Where did you come by this little gem?

Not in my experience. Out of the last ten trips to Lao I’d had the cops try to shake me down for money many times. 
 

1-Driving with my headlights on at 5 pm. 
2- My tire touching the line before the crosswalk although three other Lao vehicles were all over the line. 
3-Not turning right at a stop light

4-Illegal parking, where there were Lao cars behind and in front of me in the same zone.  
5- Speeding while driving the same speed as Lao cars that weren’t stopped. 
 

If you’re a farang in Lao with Thai plates, just ask “how much?” when you’re stopped. 

[Sydebolle]

The car owner (holding the blue car registration book) needs to apply for an ITP (International Transport Permit); issued against a nominal fee and valid for a year at the Department of Land Transport (กรมขนส่ง). If the car is under finance, contact the finance company. 
Upon leaving the country for the first time, you need to get a bar code sticker into the ITP. Then you get a temporary export declaration - in duplicate - by the customs at the border post followed by a physical inspection to compare the paperwork with the car. This happens only on the very first time the car leaves Thailand. You have to return within 30 days or a fine of THB 1'000/day, max THB 10'000/incident applies. Why; don't know, it does not make sense but that's the way it is. 
Future exports require just the customs declaration form (in duplicate; as mentioned above). The ITP is valid for one year and can be extended for two more years, one year at a time. 
Apart from that, you need to complete:
TM2 - information of conveyance in duplicate (the duplicate is being handed over to immigration upon return)
TM3 - passenger list, listing all passengers EXCEPT the driver
TM4 - crew list, listing the driver
TM6 - arrival/departure immigration card, one each for every non-Thai; applies to land crossings only, i.e. if arriving/departing by air, this TM6 is obsolete. 
All these forms have to be issued in capital letters, signed with blue ink by either the car owner OR the person who has the power of attorney to drive the car (in case the car is under finance, this power of attorney needs to be issued by the finance company). If the car is in your wife's name and she is with you = fine; if you leave alone, she needs to issue a power of attorney with copy of house register and ID card. 

Sounds bureaucratic and, yes it is. I cross from Nong Khai to Vientiane every week hence I completed all the forms on the computer and just have to insert date and sign - and Bob's my uncle. 

Enclosed hereto please find the respective blank forms, don't forget TM2 in duplicate. If you fill it out once and you might hop off again in the future, then leave the date and signature open and run photocopies as you do not want to go and do this each and every time. And, do not be surprised, that nobody really looks at the forms and what is written on it but do not take chances. 

Hope that helps, otherwise contact me. 

In turn, what is the procedure into Cambodia and from all/which border posts when coming/returning to Thailand?

Cheers and good luck 😉 

Power of Attorney DLT.pdf

[Maejo Man]

12 hours ago, Guitar God said:

Not in my experience. Out of the last ten trips to Lao I’d had the cops try to shake me down for money many times. 
 

1-Driving with my headlights on at 5 pm. 
2- My tire touching the line before the crosswalk although three other Lao vehicles were all over the line. 
3-Not turning right at a stop light

4-Illegal parking, where there were Lao cars behind and in front of me in the same zone.  
5- Speeding while driving the same speed as Lao cars that weren’t stopped. 
 

If you’re a farang in Lao with Thai plates, just ask “how much?” when you’re stopped. 

Can I help it if you look like a drug dealer. There must be a reason why you are singled out and not me!

[grain]

4 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

The car owner (holding the blue car registration book) needs to apply for an ITP (International Transport Permit); issued against a nominal fee and valid for a year at the Department of Land Transport (กรมขนส่ง). If the car is under finance, contact the finance company. 
Upon leaving the country for the first time, you need to get a bar code sticker into the ITP. Then you get a temporary export declaration - in duplicate - by the customs at the border post followed by a physical inspection to compare the paperwork with the car. This happens only on the very first time the car leaves Thailand. You have to return within 30 days or a fine of THB 1'000/day, max THB 10'000/incident applies. Why; don't know, it does not make sense but that's the way it is. 
Future exports require just the customs declaration form (in duplicate; as mentioned above). The ITP is valid for one year and can be extended for two more years, one year at a time. 
Apart from that, you need to complete:
TM2 - information of conveyance in duplicate (the duplicate is being handed over to immigration upon return)
TM3 - passenger list, listing all passengers EXCEPT the driver
TM4 - crew list, listing the driver
TM6 - arrival/departure immigration card, one each for every non-Thai; applies to land crossings only, i.e. if arriving/departing by air, this TM6 is obsolete. 
All these forms have to be issued in capital letters, signed with blue ink by either the car owner OR the person who has the power of attorney to drive the car (in case the car is under finance, this power of attorney needs to be issued by the finance company). If the car is in your wife's name and she is with you = fine; if you leave alone, she needs to issue a power of attorney with copy of house register and ID card. 

Sounds bureaucratic and, yes it is. I cross from Nong Khai to Vientiane every week hence I completed all the forms on the computer and just have to insert date and sign - and Bob's my uncle. 

Enclosed hereto please find the respective blank forms, don't forget TM2 in duplicate. If you fill it out once and you might hop off again in the future, then leave the date and signature open and run photocopies as you do not want to go and do this each and every time. And, do not be surprised, that nobody really looks at the forms and what is written on it but do not take chances. 

Hope that helps, otherwise contact me. 

In turn, what is the procedure into Cambodia and from all/which border posts when coming/returning to Thailand?

Cheers and good luck 😉 

Power of Attorney DLT.pdf

Many thanks Sydebolle for all that very detailed information. Very much appreciated. I do own my car myself, it is in my name. My Thai partner will be traveling with me. There may be another couple, an Aussie with a Thai wife. But I don't see any need to include them in all the documentation. They can hop out the car and cross the border in the usual way and I'll met them after they have cleared immigration.

 

As for Cambodia. I've driven in several times in different cars at different points of entry. I entered 2 or 3 times from Trat to Koh Kong, and about 3 or 4 times from Surin to Siem Reap (via Osmach). The procedure is so simple compared to Lao. Last time I drove into Cambodia was probably about 1 year before the pandemic lockdowns, so unless there has been some changes, which I doubt, this is what one does.

 

At the Thai border there's an office that deals with motor vehicles, close to the office that does your passport. You need to get your exit stamp in your passport like usual, then go to the vehicle office with your PP and the car blue book. Fill in a form or 2, no charge that I can remember. Then you keep your copy of the vehicle export form as you'll need that when you return. All that took about 30 minutes last time I did it at Chong Chom. Then you drive down to the Cambodian border and do the same thing again. Fill in your forms for your PP to enter Cambodia and get your visa and pay the visa fee, then drive down a bit further to the vehicle office and show them your blue book and your form from Thailand and fill in some more forms there. Again I can't remember if I had to pay for this, I might have been asked for a tip and gave $5, can't remember. Then off you go.

 

Every time I drove into Cambodia I always returned via the same entry point. I was always asked by the Cambodians if I was coming back via the same border crossing and said that I was. I believe if you want to enter via one point and depart at another, then there may be extra forms. On this I'm not sure, but someone will no doubt post here soon explaining further. 

 

When it was time for me to return to Thailand I just drove back to the Cambodians and returned the form with them, got my PP stamped out, then drove to Thailand border and returned forms to them, did my PP and went home. Every time I drove into Cambodia it wasn't for long, usually we stayed about 1 week.

 

Hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to ask. 

[grain]

12 hours ago, Guitar God said:

Not in my experience. Out of the last ten trips to Lao I’d had the cops try to shake me down for money many times. 
 

1-Driving with my headlights on at 5 pm. 
2- My tire touching the line before the crosswalk although three other Lao vehicles were all over the line. 
3-Not turning right at a stop light

4-Illegal parking, where there were Lao cars behind and in front of me in the same zone.  
5- Speeding while driving the same speed as Lao cars that weren’t stopped. 
 

If you’re a farang in Lao with Thai plates, just ask “how much?” when you’re stopped. 

You say: Out of the last ten trips to Lao I’d had the cops try to shake me down for money many times

 

So did they actually shake you down or did they merely try? If you did have to pay them money, then how much did you pay? I saw a video on FB recently of cops in Vientiane trying to shake down a couple of backpackers on a rented mc, it was an attempt by the cops, the 2 European backpackers argued the toss with the cops and after a few minutes the cops told them to piss off. So I get the feeling the Lao cops try this mickey mouse stuff but if you hold your ground they drop it fast.

[Sydebolle]

18 hours ago, grain said:

Many thanks Sydebolle for all that very detailed information. Very much appreciated. I do own my car myself, it is in my name. My Thai partner will be traveling with me. There may be another couple, an Aussie with a Thai wife. But I don't see any need to include them in all the documentation. They can hop out the car and cross the border in the usual way and I'll met them after they have cleared immigration.

 

As for Cambodia. I've driven in several times in different cars at different points of entry. I entered 2 or 3 times from Trat to Koh Kong, and about 3 or 4 times from Surin to Siem Reap (via Osmach). The procedure is so simple compared to Lao. Last time I drove into Cambodia was probably about 1 year before the pandemic lockdowns, so unless there has been some changes, which I doubt, this is what one does.

 

At the Thai border there's an office that deals with motor vehicles, close to the office that does your passport. You need to get your exit stamp in your passport like usual, then go to the vehicle office with your PP and the car blue book. Fill in a form or 2, no charge that I can remember. Then you keep your copy of the vehicle export form as you'll need that when you return. All that took about 30 minutes last time I did it at Chong Chom. Then you drive down to the Cambodian border and do the same thing again. Fill in your forms for your PP to enter Cambodia and get your visa and pay the visa fee, then drive down a bit further to the vehicle office and show them your blue book and your form from Thailand and fill in some more forms there. Again I can't remember if I had to pay for this, I might have been asked for a tip and gave $5, can't remember. Then off you go.

 

Every time I drove into Cambodia I always returned via the same entry point. I was always asked by the Cambodians if I was coming back via the same border crossing and said that I was. I believe if you want to enter via one point and depart at another, then there may be extra forms. On this I'm not sure, but someone will no doubt post here soon explaining further. 

 

When it was time for me to return to Thailand I just drove back to the Cambodians and returned the form with them, got my PP stamped out, then drove to Thailand border and returned forms to them, did my PP and went home. Every time I drove into Cambodia it wasn't for long, usually we stayed about 1 week.

 

Hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to ask. 

 

Thanks, likewise, for your courtesy. One question remains - the insurance (which I did not touch in my yesterday's write-up). Laos requires car insurance, you can choose between various coverage packages and time frames; in my case I got a year-long coverage for +/- THB 1'200 or so. 
Is there something like that in Cambodia too; don't want to get skinned alive over a minor accident and no insurance 😉 Thank you 

[grain]

20 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

 

Thanks, likewise, for your courtesy. One question remains - the insurance (which I did not touch in my yesterday's write-up). Laos requires car insurance, you can choose between various coverage packages and time frames; in my case I got a year-long coverage for +/- THB 1'200 or so. 
Is there something like that in Cambodia too; don't want to get skinned alive over a minor accident and no insurance 😉 Thank you 

Insurance is not compulsory for Cambodia, I never had it for any of the trips I made. Whether it's available at the border as an option I don't know. Maybe someone else will know and give you the info.

 

BTW: after discussing taking a car into Lao with my wife I'm starting to go off the idea, it seems excessive rigmarole just for a one week trip, and it would be a one time only event, not something I'd be doing frequently. I do have a contact at Ubon city where I can safely leave my car for a few days, and we have done that in the past. So I think we'll just do that, then take the usual cross-border bus to Pakse. Pakse is small enough that you don't really need own transport to get about, and when we go to 4000 Is, there are organized travel/tour agents at Pakse, plus if there will be 4 of us we could look into booking a van just for ourselves. 

[stupidfarang]

On 3/2/2024 at 9:36 AM, grain said:

OK thanks, some useful info here. Now some further questions for you:

 

1) "the Thai car department, where you pay your car tax, A car out passport" Is this at the Thai border? What is the car tax? And how much is the car tax? How much does the car out PP cost?

 

2) I don't have an international driving license but do have a current Thailand D/L. So I believe that is legal for driving in Lao?

 

3) "Do be careful were you park" Careful where? At the border area or in Lao in general?

1) Local Thai Department of Land Transport

2) Need a car pasport that proves you own the car and it is not stolen and being taken to Laos to sell.

3) Not sure on the price of the car passport 50 to 100 baht maybe.

4) People do drive in Laos on just a Thai drivers license, I was being careful with having an International drivers license in case I had an accident and then the insurance would pay

5) Because I could not get a Intl license as have not had my thai 5 year license for a complete year, I did not take my car into Laos.

6) left my car in a secure parking compond on the left hand side of the road just before the Thai border checkpoint, cost 100 baht a day.

7) Car insurance you buy for Laos on the Laos side of the border at the office.

😎 parking illegally can lead to having the car wheel clamped, seen it happen in Luang Prabang, the police did not release the car until the local paid, they did give him a receipt. What is legal parking and what isn't I do not know in Laos.

 

[Sydebolle]

On 3/5/2024 at 10:18 AM, grain said:

Insurance is not compulsory for Cambodia, I never had it for any of the trips I made. Whether it's available at the border as an option I don't know. Maybe someone else will know and give you the info.

 

BTW: after discussing taking a car into Lao with my wife I'm starting to go off the idea, it seems excessive rigmarole just for a one week trip, and it would be a one time only event, not something I'd be doing frequently. I do have a contact at Ubon city where I can safely leave my car for a few days, and we have done that in the past. So I think we'll just do that, then take the usual cross-border bus to Pakse. Pakse is small enough that you don't really need own transport to get about, and when we go to 4000 Is, there are organized travel/tour agents at Pakse, plus if there will be 4 of us we could look into booking a van just for ourselves. 

 

It boils down to convenience and my wife and I love the absolute independence on a day-to-day basis. We like the place = we stay on, if we had it = we move on. The paperwork is done once and if you're organized, it boils down to a few photocopies. 

The South of Laos though is the most "civilized" part with roads and public transport. With a total number of four you might really opt for a minivan with driver, allows a swig or two of the excellent Beerlao Green (new stuff, worthwhile trying) for lunch. 

Your own vehicle is of more interest in the North and Northeast of the country, where the roads are seriously damaged - some of them to a status of destruction. Public transport, if available, sucks, overloaded unserviced busses racing through the provinces as if there is no tomorrow ..... I am getting too old for such "experiences" and hence use my 4WD truck, half the speed and absolute independence. 

Bon voyage through the South of Laos - yet another wonderful part of planet Earth, be it the Bolaven plateau upto Attapeu or the Southern-most provinces bordering Khonphapeng waterfalls ...... 

[grain]

5 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

 

It boils down to convenience and my wife and I love the absolute independence on a day-to-day basis. We like the place = we stay on, if we had it = we move on. The paperwork is done once and if you're organized, it boils down to a few photocopies. 

The South of Laos though is the most "civilized" part with roads and public transport. With a total number of four you might really opt for a minivan with driver, allows a swig or two of the excellent Beerlao Green (new stuff, worthwhile trying) for lunch. 

Your own vehicle is of more interest in the North and Northeast of the country, where the roads are seriously damaged - some of them to a status of destruction. Public transport, if available, sucks, overloaded unserviced busses racing through the provinces as if there is no tomorrow ..... I am getting too old for such "experiences" and hence use my 4WD truck, half the speed and absolute independence. 

Bon voyage through the South of Laos - yet another wonderful part of planet Earth, be it the Bolaven plateau upto Attapeu or the Southern-most provinces bordering Khonphapeng waterfalls ...... 

Cheers, I agree with you. I'll be looking into and see. It is definitely better to have your own vehicle. Thanks again. 

[kwilco]

On 3/2/2024 at 7:29 AM, Chris BKK said:

Any car with a Thai number plate will be stopped by Laos police and have to pay a bribe, almost standard

precovid - I drove in Laos form 2010 onwards and covered most of the country - the only time I payed a "fine" was once in Vientiane when I accidently went down a one way street - I paid te equivalent of 300 baht.

[Tomtomtom69]

On 3/4/2024 at 10:44 AM, Sydebolle said:

The car owner (holding the blue car registration book) needs to apply for an ITP (International Transport Permit); issued against a nominal fee and valid for a year at the Department of Land Transport (กรมขนส่ง). If the car is under finance, contact the finance company. 
Upon leaving the country for the first time, you need to get a bar code sticker into the ITP. Then you get a temporary export declaration - in duplicate - by the customs at the border post followed by a physical inspection to compare the paperwork with the car. This happens only on the very first time the car leaves Thailand. You have to return within 30 days or a fine of THB 1'000/day, max THB 10'000/incident applies. Why; don't know, it does not make sense but that's the way it is. 
Future exports require just the customs declaration form (in duplicate; as mentioned above). The ITP is valid for one year and can be extended for two more years, one year at a time. 
Apart from that, you need to complete:
TM2 - information of conveyance in duplicate (the duplicate is being handed over to immigration upon return)
TM3 - passenger list, listing all passengers EXCEPT the driver
TM4 - crew list, listing the driver
TM6 - arrival/departure immigration card, one each for every non-Thai; applies to land crossings only, i.e. if arriving/departing by air, this TM6 is obsolete. 
All these forms have to be issued in capital letters, signed with blue ink by either the car owner OR the person who has the power of attorney to drive the car (in case the car is under finance, this power of attorney needs to be issued by the finance company). If the car is in your wife's name and she is with you = fine; if you leave alone, she needs to issue a power of attorney with copy of house register and ID card. 

Sounds bureaucratic and, yes it is. I cross from Nong Khai to Vientiane every week hence I completed all the forms on the computer and just have to insert date and sign - and Bob's my uncle. 

Enclosed hereto please find the respective blank forms, don't forget TM2 in duplicate. If you fill it out once and you might hop off again in the future, then leave the date and signature open and run photocopies as you do not want to go and do this each and every time. And, do not be surprised, that nobody really looks at the forms and what is written on it but do not take chances. 

Hope that helps, otherwise contact me. 

In turn, what is the procedure into Cambodia and from all/which border posts when coming/returning to Thailand?

Cheers and good luck 😉 

Power of Attorney DLT.pdf

NOPE - You list the driver as well. I usually travel by myself, have driven my car out of the country to all 4 of Thailand's neighbors on nearly 100 occasions and always put my details down. 

[Tomtomtom69]

On 3/4/2024 at 3:43 PM, grain said:

Many thanks Sydebolle for all that very detailed information. Very much appreciated. I do own my car myself, it is in my name. My Thai partner will be traveling with me. There may be another couple, an Aussie with a Thai wife. But I don't see any need to include them in all the documentation. They can hop out the car and cross the border in the usual way and I'll met them after they have cleared immigration.

 

As for Cambodia. I've driven in several times in different cars at different points of entry. I entered 2 or 3 times from Trat to Koh Kong, and about 3 or 4 times from Surin to Siem Reap (via Osmach). The procedure is so simple compared to Lao. Last time I drove into Cambodia was probably about 1 year before the pandemic lockdowns, so unless there has been some changes, which I doubt, this is what one does.

 

At the Thai border there's an office that deals with motor vehicles, close to the office that does your passport. You need to get your exit stamp in your passport like usual, then go to the vehicle office with your PP and the car blue book. Fill in a form or 2, no charge that I can remember. Then you keep your copy of the vehicle export form as you'll need that when you return. All that took about 30 minutes last time I did it at Chong Chom. Then you drive down to the Cambodian border and do the same thing again. Fill in your forms for your PP to enter Cambodia and get your visa and pay the visa fee, then drive down a bit further to the vehicle office and show them your blue book and your form from Thailand and fill in some more forms there. Again I can't remember if I had to pay for this, I might have been asked for a tip and gave $5, can't remember. Then off you go.

 

Every time I drove into Cambodia I always returned via the same entry point. I was always asked by the Cambodians if I was coming back via the same border crossing and said that I was. I believe if you want to enter via one point and depart at another, then there may be extra forms. On this I'm not sure, but someone will no doubt post here soon explaining further. 

 

When it was time for me to return to Thailand I just drove back to the Cambodians and returned the form with them, got my PP stamped out, then drove to Thailand border and returned forms to them, did my PP and went home. Every time I drove into Cambodia it wasn't for long, usually we stayed about 1 week.

 

Hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to ask. 

 

All of that has changed now, post-Covid. I usually drive into Cambodia from one crossing and come back through a different one. No extra forms to fill out. Simple procedure for entry on the Cambodian side now. 

 

Insurance also available and will soon be made compulsory. 

[soi3eddie]

On 3/4/2024 at 3:44 AM, Sydebolle said:

The car owner (holding the blue car registration book) needs to apply for an ITP (International Transport Permit); issued against a nominal fee and valid for a year at the Department of Land Transport (กรมขนส่ง).

 

I am looking to take trips into Cambodia (motorcycle) and need to get the International Transport Permit (also called the vehicle passport I beleive). Can you, or anyone else, advise what is needed to get this?

 

I assume; Green registration book, Yellow house book - or do I need to get a residency certificate from immigration?, Passport (with annual visa extension). Anything else?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

[Sydebolle]

On 1/6/2025 at 9:48 PM, Tomtomtom69 said:

 

All of that has changed now, post-Covid. I usually drive into Cambodia from one crossing and come back through a different one. No extra forms to fill out. Simple procedure for entry on the Cambodian side now. 

 

Insurance also available and will soon be made compulsory. 

Now this becomes interesting. How do you leave Thailand into Cambodia at border post A and leave Cambodia through border post B? I was told that you have to:
- deposit your blue car registration book with authorities; the poster could not say if Thai or Cambodia
- insurance would not be possible (I found a way, complicated, through a insurance company in Phnom Penh

For how long do they let you into Cambodia and can you enter Cambodia from Thailand and leave Cambodia for Laos? Laos is a walk in the park; there I know exactly how that works. 

Thanks for eventual input on the catalogue of questions 😉 

 

[Sydebolle]

On 1/13/2025 at 9:57 AM, soi3eddie said:

 

I am looking to take trips into Cambodia (motorcycle) and need to get the International Transport Permit (also called the vehicle passport I beleive). Can you, or anyone else, advise what is needed to get this?

 

I assume; Green registration book, Yellow house book - or do I need to get a residency certificate from immigration?, Passport (with annual visa extension). Anything else?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

There I cannot help you but I know of people who did it with whom I can recheck.
- the green registration book is in your name Yes/No? 
- yellow house book; take it along yet I never ever had to prove any residence issues. The Cambodians do not care and have no clue what a yellow house book is all about. 
Let me know and I can recheck with some who just did it last month 

[soi3eddie]

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

There I cannot help you but I know of people who did it with whom I can recheck.
- the green registration book is in your name Yes/No? 
- yellow house book; take it along yet I never ever had to prove any residence issues. The Cambodians do not care and have no clue what a yellow house book is all about. 
Let me know and I can recheck with some who just did it last month 

 

Yes, green registration book is in my name. I beleive that I have to go the DLT in Thailand a get a vehicle passport. Any ideas on what is needed please?

 

 

[Sydebolle]

19 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

 

Yes, green registration book is in my name. I beleive that I have to go the DLT in Thailand a get a vehicle passport. Any ideas on what is needed please?

 

 

Reverting on this; shall check - maybe some other readers can feed in their knowledge/experience meanwhile 😉

[Tomtomtom69]

23 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Now this becomes interesting. How do you leave Thailand into Cambodia at border post A and leave Cambodia through border post B? I was told that you have to:
- deposit your blue car registration book with authorities; the poster could not say if Thai or Cambodia
- insurance would not be possible (I found a way, complicated, through a insurance company in Phnom Penh

For how long do they let you into Cambodia and can you enter Cambodia from Thailand and leave Cambodia for Laos? Laos is a walk in the park; there I know exactly how that works. 

Thanks for eventual input on the catalogue of questions 😉 

 

 

You've been told wrong or they were referring to the pre-Covid rules, which only ever applied to Koh Kong (not anywhere else). 

 

Nearly every trip I make, I leave through one border crossing and return through another (regardless of whether I'm heading to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia or leaving for Laos and then re-entering from Cambodia). Even pre-Covid, I would normally exit at one point and re-enter at another, the exception being Koh Kong (nowadays, I generally re-enter Thailand that way, but exit from another border). 

 

For Cambodia, you register your intentions through the Cambodian customs app (specifying the entry and exit points) and while Thai customs doesn't seem to care (except if returning through Ban Khao Din), it's best to inform Thai customs and tell them you're re-entering through a different border and check the paperwork for accuracy before leaving. If it's wrong, tell them to correct it and print again (you need to be able to read Thai though - as the critical information regarding re-entry borders is printed only in Thai, despite the form being bilingual otherwise). 

 

The rules have changed post-Covid and Cambodia has really improved it's system. It's definitely easier to drive your car to Cambodia compared to Laos (though Laos isn't difficult; you do need a car passport though).

 

For Cambodia, you can get 30 days, although it's up to you what you specify (the first time I entered under the new customs system from Ban Pakkard, I received 60 days without even asking). I don't know what the maximum is, either 60 or 90 days, probably. If there's any chance of spending more than 30 days outside of Thailand with your vehicle, you MUST inform Thai customs BEFORE departure. The only way of extending the Thai customs paperwork from outside of Thailand is to return to the border with your vehicle IN PERSON, which sort of defeats the whole thing. If you need to do that, you have to sign out of the country you've just come from, re-enter Thailand and do a new customs declaration to leave. Otherwise, if you don't do anything and stay away over 30 days, you simply pay a 1000 Baht fine upon re-entry. Doesn't matter how long you've been away for. 1000 Baht is the fine for Thai vehicles. It's 1000 Baht per day for foreign vehicles overstaying in Thailand, with a maximum of 10,000 Baht. 

 

Therefore, if you need 60 or 90 days, seek permission through customs in Bangkok or at the border when you're departing. Enter the maximum amount of time you need for Cambodia into app BEFORE entering (although in-country extensions are allowed, they take around 2 or 3 days to be approved). 

 

Cross-border insurance is available for Cambodia now. You purchase it online prior to entry, but it's not yet mandatory. According to a Khmer Times article, it will soon become mandatory, though when exactly is not known. 

 

Laos seems to only allow Thai cars entry for 15 days now; you can however extend this once in country, thus permitting 30 days or possibly longer (depending on how long you are allowed to extend for). Previously, you always received 30 days automatically when entering. 

 

Crossing the Cambodia-Laos border from Cambodia will be a very frustrating exercise if you aren't aware of the unlisted rules. You need your car passport and it needs to be stamped from the time you leave Thailand. You need to tell Thai and Cambodian customs of this requirement; it's not done automatically. Only some of the larger borders have the stamps on the Thai side; meanwhile all of them have the required stamps on the Cambodian side (go figure, Thai customs is way less organized these days than Cambodia). 

 

For crossings from Thailand to Laos via Cambodia, the best border to use for EXITING Thailand is Aranyaprathet/Poipet. Chong Sa-ngam/Choam is also good (though for anyone in that area, unless they want to see Preah Vihear and Stung Treng, you might as well head directly for Laos, entering at Chong Mek, which isn't too far away).

 

Chong Chom / O'Smach probably has these stamps too on the Thai and Cambodian sides, seeing it was always the most straightforward border crossing for vehicles in the past (haven't enquired as I haven't been there since 2022. Moreover, Cambodia has now moved customs twice; first from the hut 300m down the road from the border to a building over a km away in a back street and finally, back to the border where it should have been all along). 

 

Ban Khao Din, Ban Laem, Ban Pakkard and Hat Lek are not recommended as exit points if you wish to proceed to Laos, as Thai customs won't have the required customs stamps. Not only that, but Ban Laem and Ban Pakkard require a silly military form to be allowed to leave the country in your Thai registered vehicle (this is issued for free, but it's a silly bureaucratic requirement that requires extra time). 

 

It's easier in the other direction though (Laos to Cambodia), as you'll have the required stamps in your car passport already, seeing it is mandatory to present one to leave Thailand for Laos - thus crossing from Laos to Cambodia is the way to go. Once you're stamped into Cambodia, there's no real need to get the exit stamp from Cambodia and entry stamp from Thailand in your car passport anymore. I requested them, but struggled to get Thai customs at Hat Lek to co-operate. It was only thanks to the Cambodian helper being able to improvise that I was able to get any stamp. The head of customs was most unco-operative. 

 

In the Cambodia to Laos direction, it's mandatory, you're not entering Laos without these stamps.  

 

I realize that the vast majority of people wishing to drive to Cambodia from Thailand will return to Thailand, so no need to get too involved with the Cambodia-Laos direct crossing unless you really, really want to do it (like I did and have). 

[Tomtomtom69]

On 1/15/2025 at 12:03 PM, Sydebolle said:

There I cannot help you but I know of people who did it with whom I can recheck.
- the green registration book is in your name Yes/No? 
- yellow house book; take it along yet I never ever had to prove any residence issues. The Cambodians do not care and have no clue what a yellow house book is all about. 
Let me know and I can recheck with some who just did it last month 

 

Hope my previous reply wasn't too long, I wanted to cover everything. A few more points I'd like to make (again, a bit lengthy, but very important to note):

 

1. For ENTRY to Cambodia (EXIT from Thailand), Poipet is a good border, but be prepared for lengthy immigration queues on the Cambodian side, easily exceeding 45 minutes. There is no dedicated channel for drivers of vehicles (there is on the Thai side, but ONLY for drivers, not their passengers). Even if you've already got a Cambodian visa and have crossed this border before, expect to spend 2 hours here in total (Thai and Cambodian sides combined) - of which the Thai side might take only 15-20 minutes, if you have the TM2, TM3 and TM4 forms filled out in advance and all necessary photocopies provided, otherwise, maybe 30-45 minutes, if you need to fill out the forms on site and/or make additional photocopies of your car registration. The Cambodian side will easily take you 90 minutes. You need 3 (THREE) sets of copies of your passport front page, car registration, tax information page and amendments page. Make like 5 or more copies just to be safe, but 3 will be required by Aranyaprathet customs and immigration. All other checkpoints I've ever crossed at, only require one copy and I've crossed at nearly every land border Thailand shares will all neighboring countries (except for Mae Sai and Kanchanaburi...where I didn't take my car across, although I've crossed on foot or with a Burmese car and driver on multiple occasions). Not relevant now, since those borders remain closed to foreigners (the latter is closed even to Thais at the moment). 

 

2. Do NOT use Poipet/Aranyaprathet for re-entry into Thailand, unless one of the following applies: a) you're driving by yourself, since you can stamp in outside, avoiding the notorious upstairs immigration hall for foreigners; b) you're the driver but are traveling with Thai nationals as passengers (they get stamped inside but using the Thai queue); c) you're willing to wait for your foreign passengers at a mall or coffee shop in Aranyaprathet possibly for hours BUT make sure they are in possession of long-term Thai visas (LTR, non-B with work permit, non-O marriage with or without work permit or retirement visas). Aranyaprathet should NOT be used by anyone on a tourist visa, exemption, visa-on-arrival, is a national of a poor, third world country such as Nigeria, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka or who has any sort of "questionable" immigration history (regardless of nationality), as entry is very likely to be refused. Even visa-exempt Vietnamese, Filipino and Indonesian nationals should be careful here. Some stories suggest that there is a 1000 Baht VIP queue. If this rumor is true, then pay the 1000 Baht and you'll be good to go, even as a tourist. If you don't and you're not on a long-stay permit, you will almost certainly be refused entry and made to fly back to Thailand from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. Be warned. Aranyaprathet immigration is no joke. Has been this way since 2015. 

 

3. Ban Khao Din is a good border if you're leaving Thailand by car or motorcycle; as a border for exit and re-entering the same or if you re-enter, having exited at another border, provided the paperwork shows Ban Khao Din as the re-entry point. If not, customs will be upset and might try to force you to return through the border indicated on the form. It's a very friendly border, immigration-wise, hardly any people or vehicles will be crossing and it's only 50km south of Aranyprathet and maybe 70km from Poipet via the Cambodian road system. 

 

4. Do NOT use Ban Laem or Ban Pakkard for EXIT as there is that military form required, necessitating a 60km round-trip from Ban Pakkard (80km round-trip from Ban Laem) if you don't know about it beforehand and have to go back to get it. Cambodian customs, as of February last year, is 5km FROM the border at Kamrieng (Ban Laem) on the Cambodian side (unless they've since moved it), which makes it even more complicated. 

 

5. Do NOT use Ban Laem for re-entry into Thailand. Even though you'll be the only person with a car crossing and probably the only person in general, it may take immigration 45 minutes to stamp you in, because they'll keep bouncing you back and forth between the "health quarantine" channel (yes, health quarantine) where they stamp your car passenger documents. Customs is at another building 100m away. You'll also be told off if you park your vehicle anywhere but underneath the entry gate, even though you may be blocking Thai trucks from getting through. It's a very frustrating experience. 

 

6. Re-entry into Thailand via Ban Pakkard, after having exited Thailand elsewhere, is fine. Unlike Ban Laem, 22km to the north, it's relatively straightforward upon re-entry. Customs and immigration are located together and the military form isn't needed to enter. 

 

7. Hat Lek/Koh Kong is fine in either direction; it's very friendly, particularly on the Thai side. Beware the highway to Sre Ambel is under construction and parts of it are in poor condition (high clearance or 4WD vehicle or dirt bike highly recommended) BUT they're making tremendous progress, to the point that within 3 months, most of the mountainous section should be smooth tarmac and within 6-9 months, the whole project could be nearing completion. The contractor is Chinese (China Road and Bridge Construction Company).

 

8. Chong Chom/O'Smach and Chong Sa-Ngam/Choam are delightful border crossings, on both sides. Thai officials are particularly friendly here and especially at Chong Sa-Ngam. 

 

9. You may be required to show your driver's or motorcycle rider's license to Cambodian customs (also, upload a copy to the app). Ideally, you should possess a 5-year Thai license + IDP (though the IDP isn't expressly required, it's good to have) OR one from your home country + IDP (for example, US state license or Australian state license accompanied by the relevant 1 year 1949 IDP). 

 

10. Customs form MAY be requested to drive on the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway. I was asked to show it yesterday. First time this has happened; previously, I was never asked for it. Only cars and bikes with stickers, showing they are 500cc and above are allowed to travel on the expressway.