Taking motorbike from Thailand to Laos

[Kommissar123]

I was wondering if some of you ever took your own motorbike from Thailand into Laos via the Mukdahan/Savannakhet border crossing? I have two questions in particular:

1. Is any special documentation required from the DLT in order to do so?

2. Will the Laos site make trouble when trying to enter with a Thai-issued temporary motorcycle driving license only?

Will be in Laos only for vacation for two weeks and return to Thailand (with the bike) via the same border.

Thanks in advance.

K.

[DILLIGAD]

If I can add to number 2 " or no licence plate at all (New bike)???"

[fullcave]

Tons of threads on this subject. Try the search function..

[Briggsy]

0. (?) Yes, I have. but not at Savannakhet.

1. No

2. No

Plenty of info on GT rider forum.

You could not take your bike in to Laos at Mukdahan but you could leave there. The situation is fluid though. Consider entering at land borders e.g Nan, Loei, Ubon.

Edited July 20, 2015 by Briggsy

[papa al]

Read in TVF some months ago that bikes are not allowed to cross into Laos at Suvannaket.

Maybe have to pay 1000B to have truck take you across.

Not sure.

Crossing the border near Ubon==>Pakse is EZ.

[cumgranosalum]

I would like to ask the same question really.

I have taken my car into Laos many times. It requires the purple book, the car passport.

I would now like to take my Yamaha Nouveau (110cc) into Laos over the bridge to Savannakhet.

The bike has a green book in my name insurance for Thailand etc,

Do I need a purple book the bike?

[cumgranosalum]

OP = can you supply details of the bike? Is it a standard 100 to 125 cc or is it a bigger touring machine?

I'm trying to find out if locals or foreigners on both Laos registered and Thai registered small machines are allowed across and whether there is any fast-track system for these smaller bikes?

[Kommissar123]

It's a Honda 250cc.

[Briggsy]

You need to temporarily export your bike. It is straightforward. You must take the original green book. The Thai authorities will not issue vehicle passports for motorbikes and they are not required.

As I said earlier, GT rider forum has tons of info specifically on this subject. Just google it.

However, if you wish to enter Laos on your bike, you probably will NOT be permitted to enter at Mukdahan/Savannakhet. You need to go to a land border, e.g. Chong Mek / Pakse in Ubon province.

[cumgranosalum]

You need to temporarily export your bike. It is straightforward. You must take the original green book. The Thai authorities will not issue vehicle passports for motorbikes and they are not required.

As I said earlier, GT rider forum has tons of info specifically on this subject. Just google it.

However, if you wish to enter Laos on your bike, you probably will NOT be permitted to enter at Mukdahan/Savannakhet. You need to go to a land border, e.g. Chong Mek / Pakse in Ubon province.

actually the GT Rider site is pretty unnavigable for that sort of stuff and I got a p/w problem - it wouldn't recognise my P/W ad locked me out....as I use a p/w recorder it is fairly clear the problem is with that site.

what interests/puzzles me though is the restriction you think exists on bikes over the Savannakhet bridge...is there any reasoning behind this?

I need to cross this bridge a lot soon and the motorbike would be ideal, crossing elsewhere would not be an option.

[DILLIGAD]

I cannot say where, but I heard the same rumours about the bridge at Savanaket being only good for exit and not entrance into Laos

[Briggsy]

Again if you google it, you will find there were big arguments between Thailand and Laos over Thais running back into Thailand on their bikes after being wanted by Laos police. It was a very long saga but the result was bridge entries (Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Chiang Rai) were banned or heavily restricted for ENTRY by bikes into Laos.

It was an order from Laos Immigration.

[Kommissar123]

The problem seems not so much to be the proper paperwork, but rather finding a border crossing that will let you through with the bike.

From what I hear, the 4 friendship bridges are generally not allowing motorbike crossings (especially bikes less than 125cc), although some may make exceptions for larger bikes. Not exactly reliable or encouraging information, but it is what it is. The only options are: Find a border crossing that allows you take your bike across or 2. Leave your bike at the border, lock it up, do your job in Laos and return later.

[papa al]

Again if you google it, you will find there were big arguments between Thailand and Laos over Thais running back into Thailand on their bikes after being wanted by Laos police. It was a very long saga but the result was bridge entries (Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Chiang Rai) were banned or heavily restricted for ENTRY by bikes into Laos.

It was an order from Laos Immigration.

If the problem is Thais running back into Thailand,

...do they just blow through the frontier checkpoints?...

why hassle riders going into Laos?

Why is it an issue at a bridge crossing versus non-bridge crossing?

[Briggsy]

Again if you google it, you will find there were big arguments between Thailand and Laos over Thais running back into Thailand on their bikes after being wanted by Laos police. It was a very long saga but the result was bridge entries (Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Chiang Rai) were banned or heavily restricted for ENTRY by bikes into Laos.

It was an order from Laos Immigration.

If the problem is Thais running back into Thailand,

...do they just blow through the frontier checkpoints?...

why hassle riders going into Laos?

Why is it an issue at a bridge crossing versus non-bridge crossing?

1. Yes, root of problem was Thai riders riding straight through Laos exit points and then being allowed back into Thailand with no Laos exit documentation.

2. You misunderstand. The Laos' problem is not with riders in general but with Thai officials facilitating Thais to break the law in Laos and then freely run back into Thailand. When co-operation and trust breaks down between cross-border officials and departments, border crossings are restricted and the people that suffer are in this case the motorcyclists.

3. Don't know. But that was the decision of the Laos immigration. Bridges out for entry.

With a bit of research, there is a lot more material on this on the net. This is quite an old story now being going on for quite some time.

[AllanB]

Papa Al you did a tour of Laos a few months back, what was your route and crossing procedure?

We (me and the missus) are planning a tour of the Laos mountains later this year on my NV400 following your apparent hassle free trip on your CBR150.

My wife speaks Laos so that should help, but isn't that bold and may just accept "no" for politeness sake.

Looking at the map the terrain looks good, we crossed Laos on a bus to get to Vietnam earlier this year and it certainly looks the place to go.

By the way we just did a tour of 10 countries in Europe and I have never seen so many bikes, during a crossing of the central Pyrenees a group of 100+ bikes went passed us like a swarm of bees. With that growth in popularity I hope it spreads to Thailand. What was also surprising was the age of the riders, many of them old gits like me.

[jpb1963]

Allan did you do the Laos trip? any issues with border crossing?

[recom273]

I did the trip last month, but I rode through Chong Mek / Pakse, no hassle at all really - just a little time consuming, as the Thai I customs woman said because it's my first time, it took 2 hours in all.

I have a 5 year Thai license and the bike is in my name.

I left Surin about 7.00 AM and got to pakse for lunch and then after a spot of lunch and arrived in savannakhet at sundown.

If the bike isn't in your name, then you will need some paper from the DLT. You can download the form from Rideasia. If the bike is in your name then you just need to take your green book.

Temp license, I can't comment.

I would say take more than a few copies of your book / passport / etc

I didn't know I could go out over the bridge, I went out through Chong Mek after spending a night in Pakse.

Thai immigration and customs were spot on with their service both going out and coming back.

I think with 200b for immigration, 40b for laos customs, 150b for insurance, Thai and Laos customs took other fees I think it worked out at 700b + $35 for visa.

GT-rider has all the info you need, the only thing is that Pakse immigration is being rebuilt, the info is a little out of date, so you need to stumble about and ask where to go and what to do next.

Edited October 22, 2015 by recom273

[recom273]

OP = can you supply details of the bike? Is it a standard 100 to 125 cc or is it a bigger touring machine?

I'm trying to find out if locals or foreigners on both Laos registered and Thai registered small machines are allowed across and whether there is any fast-track system for these smaller bikes?

At Pakse there didnt seem to be a fast-track system .. the whole process is kind of sluggish, depending on the number of people, the customs / immigration Thai-side all wanted to chat and was very relaxed.

Laos side, man, they still write details in big books, the customs & insurance forms were all hand-written.

I know what you mean, like in Malaysia, bikes just zoom through after another stamp on their border pass, even with big bikes you apply for an ICP that can be anything up to a years validity .. I expected to see cross border traffic, in and around Pakse - but I saw nothing, very few private vehicles crossing over, maybe articulated trucks are exempt.

But anyway, not really useful info, you can only use a bridge - Nong Khai - is 1000B or something for an escort across, Savanakhet - approx 1000B for a truck to carry it over, and you still need to do your temp export paperwork.

Edited October 22, 2015 by recom273

[papa al]

So, on mocy:

1. Crossing into Thailand, no prob.*

2. Crossing into Laos at land-x, no prob.

3. Crossing into Laos @ bridge will likely be B1000 in a pickup truck.

.?....?.

Unclear if/how displacement factors in.

*last January papa crossed L to T at that northernmost crossing.

A bridge crossing.

I was the ONLY person crossing at that time.

Never-the-less, the Laos exit official made me stand in line (of one) for five or ten minutes before acknowledging me.

Power tripping.

An extra 1000 baht mystery fee (Laos Kip equivalent)

was assessed and a pick-up truck with hazard lights

lead me across the rio.

papa VIP!

[kbelyeu]

Any updates to being able to cross by motorbike in Mukdahan or is it still banned?

 

Kurt

[recom273]

Any updates to being able to cross by motorbike in Mukdahan or is it still banned?

 

Kurt

Bikes have never been allowed to ride over the bridge from Mukdahan > Savannakhet.

There is always a guy at the bridge with a pickup touting for business at the area where you buy bus tickets who will take your bike over in his truck.

However, with the new possible ruling then it's unsure if trucking the bike over is still an option, maybe riding through Pakse might be a better option.

[DILLIGAD]

Bikes have never been allowed to ride over the bridge from Mukdahan > Savannakhet.

There is always a guy at the bridge with a pickup touting for business at the area where you buy bus tickets who will take your bike over in his truck.

However, with the new possible ruling then it's unsure if trucking the bike over is still an option, maybe riding through Pakse might be a better option.

Agree. Think the guy wants 1000b for the inconvenience too!


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[AllanB]

We are planning another trip to Laos later this year and my impression is that Loei is the best crossing to use up here. You even can cross with a 110cc Wave and it is a quick/easy process.

 

Got this info from a Thai couple on a Wave while touring in Laos and had it confirmed by Dee, my local dealer mechanic and also Thai friend of mine.

 

So that's my plan with our 200cc Lifan Cross, which I may take up on the back of my truck, though I worry about parking it there for 2 weeks. 

 

We are going to take a bike tour to the border crossing soon, to get things checked out.

[Briggsy]

I have crossed from Loei into Laos. It was an excellent crossing.

[DILLIGAD]

My friend was refused access into Laos a week ago (CB500x) at Mukdahan/Savanakhet.


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[Briggsy]

Thanks for the update.

 

This means the very long standing Laos policy (It's a Laos ministerial order) of no bikes entering Laos on the bridges from Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom and Chiang Khong remains unaltered.

 

Was your friend testing the policy and just trying to see what happens or was he unaware? Because this has been the case for many years now.

Edited August 28, 2016 by Briggsy

[DILLIGAD]

Thanks for the update.

 

This means the very long standing Laos policy (It's a Laos ministerial order) of no bikes entering Laos on the bridges from Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom and Chiang Khong remains unaltered.

 

Was your friend testing the policy and just trying to see what happens or was he unaware? Because this has been the case for many years now.

He was testing it but pre-warned. It was his first time so (understandably) wanted to see for himself first hand.


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[recom273]

On August 28, 2559 BE at 8:15 AM, DILLIGAD said:

My friend was refused access into Laos a week ago (CB500x) at Mukdahan/Savanakhet.


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Where in the process was he refused ? 

 

Was he refused access to the bridge by bike by Thai immigration / customs ? Which was a given.

Was he refused access to the bridge on the back of a vehicle. 

Was he refused access to Laos by Laos immigration after trucking the bike over ?

 

What did he end up doing ? Im off up there in a week, I fancy a change from riding across to Ubon / Chong Mek.

[DILLIGAD]

He left the bike in a covered parking facility. I cannot confirm 100% as I wasn't there but understand Thai immigration informed him that he wouldn't be allowed over the bridge by Laos Border police. The option of a truck was mentioned but refused that as he thought it was a silly price.(1000b?????)


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