Obtaining Laos Driving Licence

[johnnort]

Any info please! My Thai wife, as do I but that's no problem, has a full Thai Driving Licence. We are to live in France for a while and it is necessary for her to have a European licence. The International Licence obtained from Bangkok is only valid for 6 months in France as she has a Carte de Sejour (12 months otherwise). Normally she has 12 months to exchange a foreign licence to a French licence; however, Thailand has not signed the universal treaty governing this and so Thai licences are exempt. Some people here will now state, "rightfully so" but the quality of driving has nothing to do with this treaty or exchange.

Laos has signed this treaty however, so my question is: Has anyone any knowledge or experience in obtaining a Laos driving licence even if it is exchanging the Thai licence. A quick solution is required with cash available. Are there 'helpers' waiting outside the government offices? And what office building do we visit in Vientiane. Once this is obtained she can then exchange it to a French licence.

Taking a test in France is a non-starter as it is very complicated and neither my wife nor I have any knowledge of the French language.

Thank you!

[johnnort]

Apologies for the duplication. There was a malfunction on posting the first time!

[Asiate]

You can only get a Driver License in Laos when You have a valid Work Permit .....

[colinthailand20005]

The test in France is complicated for a reason, they drive like nutters there just like Bangkok if not more so and the penalties for driving badly and accidents are much worse than here in Thailand, you would be better of doing things the correct way, including her learning the french language, the French people generally shun the English language and if you wife was to be involved in an accident or encounter any problems would you not want her to be prepared?

Hardly any country will exchange the Thai licence if any.

[LanxangBillybob]

The test in France is complicated for a reason, they drive like nutters there just like Bangkok if not more so and the penalties for driving badly and accidents are much worse than here in Thailand, you would be better of doing things the correct way, including her learning the french language, the French people generally shun the English language and if you wife was to be involved in an accident or encounter any problems would you not want her to be prepared?

Hardly any country will exchange the Thai licence if any.

You can obtain a Laos driver's license at the Ministry of Transportation across from Pratu Xai. It will be the first building directly through the gate with the guard at it. There will be a counter to the left. Have your wife show them her Thai license and tell them she would like a Laos driver's license. She may have to pay around 35,000 kip or more. If for some reason they won't give her one, her other option is to take a driver's test. Not hard but time consuming. Keep in mind that Thai drivers come into Laos everyday and use their Thai driver's license. Hope all goes well.

[hgma]

Whats the problem???

I drive almost on a monthly schedule to laos stopped numerous times

A lao license please......n other words........20.000 kip.

that's all.........

got a EU drivers license and a Thai one.

i pay up and go.....cautiously !!!!!!!!!!!

Thank God the Nakhon bridge is ready n november.

The test in France is complicated for a reason, they drive like nutters there just like Bangkok if not more so and the penalties for driving badly and accidents are much worse than here in Thailand, you would be better of doing things the correct way, including her learning the french language, the French people generally shun the English language and if you wife was to be involved in an accident or encounter any problems would you not want her to be prepared?

Hardly any country will exchange the Thai licence if any.

You can obtain a Laos driver's license at the Ministry of Transportation across from Pratu Xai. It will be the first building directly through the gate with the guard at it. There will be a counter to the left. Have your wife show them her Thai license and tell them she would like a Laos driver's license. She may have to pay around 35,000 kip or more. If for some reason they won't give her one, her other option is to take a driver's test. Not hard but time consuming. Keep in mind that Thai drivers come into Laos everyday and use their Thai driver's license. Hope all goes well.