Taking A Car Into Cambodia And Touring The Country

[Nick33]

I have read the only previous posting which covered taking a car registered in the UK into Cambodia. One reply said he could the other said he couldn't and that was in 2008. I and three friends are thinking of taking a car bought and registered in Thailand into Cambodia and then doing a tour of the country. The first and most obvious question is - is it safe? If it is what documents do we need besides the registration document and the owners driving licence?

We are also looking to enter the country through Kap Cheong just south of Prasat, Surin - has anyone travelled that route recently? If we cannot take the car can you get a taxi from the border to Phaang, Samrong, Chongkal, Kralanh then down to Siam Reap and if so how much should we expect to pay? We would then like to take the lakes down Tonle Sap to Phnom Penh - has anyone done that or is it better to stick to a taxi?

If we can take the car, which we would prefer, how safe is it to drive around and tour the country? We are more concerned with trouble that we may get from the police or the authorities than roving bands of Cambodians.

We would then like either by car or taxi to head south for the beaches and spend sometime on the coast re entering Thailand heading for Trat.

Any advice or guidance would be much appreciated.

[goldfinger]

no insurance will cover your car in cambodia.

plan your trip with bus, taxi and/or plane.

you will have much more fun(and your car is still in Thailand when you come back)

(tonle sap is not a must, but do Angkor wat instead(2-3 days)

Edited July 8, 2010 by goldfinger

[aussiebrian]

I did this trip 2 years ago by my Thai registered motorcycle, for one month, fantastic with your own transport. You can look me emalebrian on youtube and watch a small video I made. I felt it was safe but a bit like the wild west. Not too much trouble taking a vehicle in. Just make sure you have all the right papers. I went in Via Poipet, then rode 1st to Siam Reap, worst road I have ever traveled on. But I believe it is now remade and perfect. Most main roads there were great.

[Rooo]

Wrong , wrong wrong.

I came back from Cambodia last month. Contrary to all advice, YOU CAN"T take your Thai registered car in at the border. I spoke at length with the Cambodian official. They showed me the paper work required. You must obtain paperwork / permit from the Ministry of Tourism in Phnom Pehn. Had to leave the car at the border car park & catch a taxi into Siem reap.

So unless posters have taken their Thai registered car in the last 2 months, PLEASE don't give wrong advice like I was given.

[imaneggspurt]

Wrong , wrong wrong.

I came back from Cambodia last month. Contrary to all advice, YOU CAN"T take your Thai registered car in at the border. I spoke at length with the Cambodian official. They showed me the paper work required. You must obtain paperwork / permit from the Ministry of Tourism in Phnom Pehn. Had to leave the car at the border car park & catch a taxi into Siem reap.

So unless posters have taken their Thai registered car in the last 2 months, PLEASE don't give wrong advice like I was given.

Also insurance can be obtained in phnom penh ,.you can also get it at the other side of the poi pet border , but you have to get through first, Edited July 10, 2010 by imaneggspurt

[imaneggspurt]

Wrong , wrong wrong.

I came back from Cambodia last month. Contrary to all advice, YOU CAN"T take your Thai registered car in at the border. I spoke at length with the Cambodian official. They showed me the paper work required. You must obtain paperwork / permit from the Ministry of Tourism in Phnom Pehn. Had to leave the car at the border car park & catch a taxi into Siem reap.

So unless posters have taken their Thai registered car in the last 2 months, PLEASE don't give wrong advice like I was given.

Entered at koh kong last month , no problem ,i assume you are talking about poi pet ? ,its know as the worst port of entry, however i have been through there twice, ,but never again

[wayfarer108]

No problem taking car or motorcycle across at Ko Kong.

[aw1]

Also Cambodian's dislike Thai's, you run a risk of getting your car scratched or damaged if it has a Thai plate on it.............

[ARGUSEYE]

I've met some Thais who entered with their cars in Koh Kong, then wanted to exit in Poipet, - - no such luck, they made them return via Koh Kong.

Motorcycles seem to be a different story, I've entered and exited Cambodia several times in Poipet and Koh Kong. Just don't bother to go to the customs, proceed looking innocent, and through you are!

[Rooo]

Please let us know if you had any problems.

Thank you.

[samran]

when I was at Koh kong last year there were very clear signs at the border on the paperwork needed to take the vehicle across. Quite a few Thai cars were on the Cambo side, though only at the Casino.

We planned a trip to Cambo over Christmas. I found it impossible however to get insurance. Depending on the insurer, they wouldn't wouldn't insure right hand drive cars, or those being driven by non-Cambo licensed holders. And beleive me I rang every one of the insurers listed in the capital.

[zzaa09]

no insurance will cover your car in cambodia.

plan your trip with bus, taxi and/or plane.

you will have much more fun(and your car is still in Thailand when you come back)

(tonle sap is not a must, but do Angkor wat instead(2-3 days)

Sound advice, as taxis are a much better value all around. One could even arrange a long-term {3-4 weeks?} taxi hire and driver....go from here to there, and back again, in your convenience.

[golfman]

I am about 40 km from the border and we tried to drive our Thai registered van into Cambodia. We were told at the Thai border that they would not let us through without the ownership papers proving that the car is not financed by a Thai bank. We didn't have the paperwork so we turned around.

I met 2 Americans on motorcyles registered in Thailand today without any paperwork on the bikes (bikes are not registered in their names) but they seem to think they will get through. I wish them luck and maybe they will get through.

There is a car park on the Thai side run by the casino and they have a 24 hour security guard. We opted not to use because we have a lot of gear inside our van and are worried about theft.

True about no insurance. In the end, we decided that it was not worth the effort.