I thought this might be worth a pin as it concerns taking your Thai car OUT of Thailand it it seems this is often asked.

This is all my experience in the past 10 months

Misconceptions!!

• The purple book u obtain from the vehicle dept is ONLY good/valid for Laos, It is NOT accepted in Cambodia,
• You cannot obtain insurance for a Thai registered car in Cambodia.
• Legally u are required to possess a Cambodian drivers license to drive in Cambodia.but no one cares
• all countries you do not need an idp and a good 5 year Thai license ( or any license) will do

OK; got that all out of the way,

NOW my experience.

Legally your car is only giving 30 days outside of Thailand but i an many people i know have never had any trouble coming back in if your over that ( one time i had my car in Cambodia 8 months)

Laos

Obtain your PURPLE car registration book from the transport office ( where u redo ur yearly registration ) cost 50 baht, takes on day

I have taken my thai car into Laos twice ( last trip was July last year and heading back up this July) u NEED the purple book, its really only a translated copy of your Blue book.

Your car info will be entered into a computer when you exit Thailand and you must keep this with you at all times.

You are required to buy insurance for Laos ( cost me 700 baht for 3 weeks ) and if you are stopped and do not have it, your in trouble

You get a 30 day visa on arrival for $35 ( if American) BUT ur car only is allowed in for 15 days which i am told can be extended.

http://i1119.photobu...rplecarbook.jpg

Cambodia

I have entered 3 times via Trat/Koh Kong ( 2008,09,10). If you try to enter at Pailin or Poi Pet you will be turned back

Koh Kong;

U are /told to pay 100 baht/day for every day your car will be in Cambodia ( i usually tell them 3 days) at the small customs booth, its outside right next to immigration on the right side and are told your only allowed to drive in Koh Kong Provence.. You are then issued a red plastic plate which u are supposed to display on ur dash. I drove all over Cambodia an never had any trouble nor did anyone know about the red plate

Visa on arrival $20

Have been stopped twice; fined once in PP ( $5) once in SHV ($20) They did not car about anything other than getting their fine. Do not give them your license as than the fine will be more to get it back. In Shinoukville had a really good talk in perfect English with the Officer that stopped me and explained if he was working alone the fine would have been $5 but he had 3 other officers with him.

In 2011 and than last July 2012 i entered via Osmach ( south of surin) and will be using this entrance in July this year. I stopped at the Cambodian customs, ( its a small shackk about 100 meters down the road) and had to wake the customs guy up both times and he said no problem just come back and exit here ( i exited via Poi Pet both times)

You will hear various stories about it can not be done, it can.

Malaysia

You need to have a letter from the transport dept in English ( the purple book is not used) to drive into Malaysia 50 baht, one day ( drove down to Penang in March) you then buy insurance at the border ( 800 baht 1 month) an than get a customs form. You also need english stickers ( 200 baht for two) of ur Thai plates which will be done by the same place you get your insurance ( its on the right hand side about 50 meters after your pass into Malaysia.
plates for then front an back of your car. NOTE your car can only have a max 50% tint on your windows. Mine were 28% an it took me 15 minutes
being nice before he let me in.

gasohol 91 was 10 baht/lt cheaper!!!

Having ur own car is a sheer joy in Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia and outside of PP there
is little traffic ( other than the PP-Shv road) Roads up northern Cambodia are very good an travel is easy/ Gas about 10% higher than Thailand

Roads in Laos up north are bad to worse, seldom got out of third gear!! The road form Luang Prabang to Vientiane is great an smooth but who knows after a hard rainy season how they will be.. Northern Laos is absolutely Beautiful and ideal for car or motorcycle travel.

This July will be heading to the Plain of Jars. Gas about 15% higher than Thailand

I have only driven to Penang an it was an easy 2 hour trip on great roads.

For Laos and Cambodia Only trouble is passing because your driving on the "other" side of the road.

This has some great info on taking Motorcycles out of Thailand

Motorcycle travel

Moved to motoring Forum

Interesting. Thanks for taking the time to type it up.