To Cambodia By Car. What Documents Needed?

[MichaelMaruschke]

I want to go with our passenger car (company car registered in Thailand) from Thailand to Cambodia for about 2 weeks. What extra documents (except of Cambodia Visa) do I need to bring in and out the car? Any first hand experience?

[Langsuan Man]

Do a search here and you will find that the opinions are divided on whether or not you can legally drive a Thai registered car in Cambodia. The consensus is that there are some border crossings where you can do it, but once in Cambo you are on you own dealing with the police

It appears that the major stumbling block is car insurance

[MichaelMaruschke]

Thanks for the information. I am aware that we will be "on our own" once dealing with the Cambodian police in Cambodia. However, what documents are needed to cross the border? And which are the border crossings where it might work?

Sorry, I cannot find other related topics. Can you provide links? THANKS

[Langsuan Man]

Thanks for the information. I am aware that we will be "on our own" once dealing with the Cambodian police in Cambodia. However, what documents are needed to cross the border? And which are the border crossings where it might work?

Sorry, I cannot find other related topics. Can you provide links? THANKS

Here are two, I am sure there are more, use the Advanced Search option

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/564950-thai-registered-car-into-cambodia-done-it/?hl=driving+to+cambodia#entry5894428

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/616731-travel-in-cambogia-with-thai-car/?hl=driving+to+cambodia#entry6086348

[Sydebolle]

Dont do it. There is a legal, albeit costly, way by using Asian Trails or Diethelm Travel; both in Phnom Penh. They need tons of paper and you're faced with a costing of USD 800 as they have to send a delegate to the point of entry and to the point where you exit Cambodia. So much to ASEAN.
For the costs and the headache you can opt for something more comfy and cheaper as we did it. We drove to Pakse/Lao PDR and took the plane to Siem Reap/Cambodia. From there it was taxi driven all the way via PNH, Kratie, Rattanakiri (the crater-round lake) to the Krong Kalor (border point with southern Laos). After visiting the Phophapeng Waterfalls the Cambodian registered car took us to Pakse-airport from where we on our own again. Hustlefree, easy and cheaper.

Without proper entry into Cambodia you're exposed to highway robbery of the finest art by the boys-in-brown overthere; they've learnt extremely well and fast from the Thai brothers, I clue ya!

[samran]

Tried to do it a few years back and couldn't.

First we needed a Cambodian DL to legally drive there.

Secondly we couldn't get a right hand drive vehicle insured in Cambodia. Given this latter one, it was a no brainer...

[Tomtomtom69]

Tried to do it a few years back and couldn't.

First we needed a Cambodian DL to legally drive there.

Secondly we couldn't get a right hand drive vehicle insured in Cambodia. Given this latter one, it was a no brainer...

It's easy to get a Cambodian DL. You'll need a few dollars (around $40-60 depending on how long you want to wait) copies of your Cambodian visa and passport front page, your national driver's license from any country and an agent to handle the paperwork for you. Most motorcycle or car rental agencies can handle the application for you as can many hotels and guesthouses though the latter often charge more. However, this option will almost certainly require a car-less visit to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap first.

Alternatively, you could either drive a Lao registered car using Europcar into Cambodia from Vientiane or Pakse via Stung Treng or hire a Cambodian vehicle locally through AVR in either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. And yes, I am talking about self-drive. However, Cambodian rental vehicles can't cross the border, only Lao ones can.

On my last trip to Cambodia, I spotted one Thai car in Phnom Penh and another local right hand drive car but Thai cars are indeed rare in Cambodia. Generally you'll only see Thai trucks and then only near the Thai border (and probably now the Thai cross-border buses operating between Bangkok and Phnom Penh/Siem Reap) but otherwise only Vietnamese and Lao cars are generally spotted inside Cambodia and even these are rare.

[Jay Sata]

And if you think driving in Thailand is a nightmare just imagine what it is like when your steering wheel is on the blind side in Cambodia. If you've been there you'll know the roads are poorer and the drive even worse than the land of smiles.

[Jay Sata]

Congratulations.

Looking forward to reading your full report as I'd love to do the road trip from Mukdahan to Danang.

[MichaelMaruschke]

Great. I am also looking forward to your full report!

[otherstuff1957]

Indeed! I would like to drive to Siem Reap next year. Driving is a much more interesting way to see a country IMHO.

[phuketrichard]

look forward to the report,

I am heading up form Phuket to Mae Sot-Mae Hong Son- Chaing Khong, cross over to Laos- Luang Namtha and up to the Chinese border than down to plain of Jars,

Back to Vientiane ( was there last year with car) re enter Thailand, follow the river and enter Cambodia as Osmach,

down to Phnom Phen via Siem Rep and on to Svay Rieng so the gf can visit family before heading back to PP- Battamabag0 cross at Poi Pet an dback to Phuket,

pretty much a repeat of last years trip except adding Mae sot/Mah hong son rather than head right up to Chaing Khong and this year adding Plain of Jars and up to the Chinese border

Agree with edh; all my years of driving in laos and Cambodia with my thai car never had any trouble an when the car had trouble everyone was very helpful.

Northern laos i fantastic with ur own vehicle.

[phuketrichard]

i know the road as last year went from Chaing Khong to Meng Sing-Luang Prabang- Vietainne- Savanekhet

We are driving north from Oudom Xai to the Chinese border as heard it is a beautiful drive,

also will try an get into Long Tieng south of the Plain of jars, during the Vietnam war the most secret palce on the earth.

Where is ur wife's homestay??

[Tomtomtom69]

I am heading up form Phuket to Mae Sot-Mae Hong Son- Chaing Khong, cross over to Laos- Luang Namtha and up to the Chinese border than down to plain of Jars,

adding Plain of Jars and up to the Chinese border

Agree with edh; all my years of driving in laos and Cambodia with my thai car never had any trouble an when the car had trouble everyone was very helpful.

Northern laos i fantastic with ur own vehicle.

so please do not miss to say hello or more at my wife's homestay to share some experience...!

please be prepared the part between udom xai and luang pra bang - there are 80 kms (houaylin - pakmong) not too good - we made it incl. many stops on a very scenic and interesting road in 6 hours!

the only traffic are all the chinese with the brandnew SUV's and trucks loaden with the rest of the laotien rain-forest and cement-articles and local busses - to visit the chinese border - for us was this time no reason...and no need

many years ago was a great adventure...but as we cannot yet cross the border with our own cars (the laos and thai gov lets the chinese cars in....a big shame...) or only in an expensive way with tour-operators etc. etc.

and do not miss to visit NONG KIEW and a boattrip on the OU-river upriver...!

Lao cars can also enter China quite easily. Thai cars, not sure...if on a tour, definitely yes. Otherwise, I have no idea but there should be some sort of reciprocal agreement, otherwise it isn't fair, as you say.

[Jay Sata]

Fantastic report.

I'm hoping to do a similar trip flying a small aeroplane this year.

best regards

Jay