Which Laos & Cambodia boarders allow Thai vehicle in?

[Pha Nga Nist]

Hi all,

Got the International license plates for the car, car is registered under my name, issued car passport and I have my Thai driving license.

Plan to enter Laos and Cambodia and was wondering which boarders will allow me to drive my car into the mentioned countries.

Also, do I need to issue any other approval/do anything else in order to cross the boarder with the car?

Thank you very much for your assistance!

[RubbaJohnny]

Refine your question,local border allows cars but not bkes

[Pha Nga Nist]

I'll be driving a suzuki Caribian.

[Loeilad]

as far as Laos is concerned, you can take a car in very easily over any of the bridges and a few other land crossings...just about any with a road.

You will need you "purple book' the car passport - I think that is a particular requirement for Laos.

You won't need the number plates.

I had a problem with number plates - my local DoLT supplied me with a set for Malaysia.....unfortunately they didn't have the Changwat on the plate, they just said Thailand so they were just scrap metal as far as Malaysia was concerned. However, as they will put stick-on ones on for you at the border for a very small cost, the originals weren't needed in the first place.

Take your car docs....blue book insurance etc....you may need to show the blue book.

At Laos the border, get you passport visa first and then go to the various windows to get you car through.....it isn't difficult and they will show you where to go next if you are confused.

On entering Laos, you will need to purchase Laos insurance - this is available for 2 weeks or one month and costs about 200 or 300 baht. Most crossings you can get it there and then.......if they are closed it is quite likely your hotel will get a man / woman to come to you with the necessary forms.

Fuel tends to be more expensive in Laos and it can be dirty, so minimise the amount you put in and don't let the tank run too low.

[Loeilad]

PS - please report back on how you got on in Cambodia...I haven't been there yet, but keep wanting to go to Siem Reap.

[Sydebolle]

Limitations in Laos is on people and not the vehicle. International plates help if you carry on into Vietnam or Myanmar; special permits needed but impossible to get with Thai-language plates.
Border crossings not issuing visa on arrival are Pakxan (opposite Buengkan) and Pudu (Uttaradit). Best is to use well-used points like Chong Mek/Vang Tao (Ubol/Champassak), Mukdahan/Savannakhet, Nakorn Phanom/Thakaek, Nongkhai/Thanalaeng, Thali/Kengtao, Houay Khon/Muang Ngern or Chiang Khong/Houay Xay - all in relation to Thailand.

Ensure all papers are on hand as originals and don't forget the insurance on the Lao side. Last time I saw a (Thai) car owner getting fined on the way OUT for not being able to produce insurance which, as mentioned earlier on, is a few hundred Baht. If you cross more often then take a one-year policy; is less than a thousand Baht.

[Jip99]

PS - please report back on how you got on in Cambodia...I haven't been there yet, but keep wanting to go to Siem Reap.

I have friends who regularly visit Siem Reap via the Chong Chom border.

Straight forward I believe but I think there is an issue in not being able to insure a Thai vehicle.

[paulhen]

Do not overlook the fine of 1,000 baht per day by Thailand if your Thai registered vehicle is out of the country more than 30 days. It seems Cambodian law does NOT recognize Thai drivers licences, only international ones as you need to buy insurance there as I have experience with first hand (fine and insurance).

[recom273]

Do you have a full 5 year driving license ?

A one year temp is not a recognised international driving permit ( or in leu of )

[jimmysjo]

as Laos is concerned, you can take a car "in very easily over any of the bridges and a few other land crossings"

You can, but I wouldn't call it very easiily. The paperwork on the Thai side use to take about two hours, running from one booth to another to get different stamps. About the same as it took to leave east Germany during the bad old times. One hour in and two hours to leave. East Germany that was. On the Laos side ot is much faster. Same when coming back into Thailand, easy to leave Laos but a lot of paperwork to enter Thailand.

Entering Laos without changing the registration plates is no problem. They do not care at the border. How it is when driving in Laos without changing the number plates I don't know. I have always changed them outside the hotel in Vientiane the first evening there.

That is my experiance after going there over the frienship bridge a number of times anyway.

Going south, very little traffic and good roads. The biggest hazard is the cows sleeping in the middle of the road.

Going north used to be hell as the roads were of such bad quality.

But it was about two years ago. Maybe they have fixed the roads north from Vientiane by now.

[paulhen]

I have 5 year Thai and had a valid Canadian one. Any insurance coverage null and void if driver is not licensed in accordance with Cambo law. My insurer is Asia Insurance, Phnom Penh. Only one year policy available, or was.

[dotpoom]

as far as Laos is concerned, you can take a car in very easily over any of the bridges and a few other land crossings...just about any with a road.

You will need you "purple book' the car passport - I think that is a particular requirement for Laos.

You won't need the number plates.

I had a problem with number plates - my local DoLT supplied me with a set for Malaysia.....unfortunately they didn't have the Changwat on the plate, they just said Thailand so they were just scrap metal as far as Malaysia was concerned. However, as they will put stick-on ones on for you at the border for a very small cost, the originals weren't needed in the first place.

Take your car docs....blue book insurance etc....you may need to show the blue book.

At Laos the border, get you passport visa first and then go to the various windows to get you car through.....it isn't difficult and they will show you where to go next if you are confused.

On entering Laos, you will need to purchase Laos insurance - this is available for 2 weeks or one month and costs about 200 or 300 baht. Most crossings you can get it there and then.......if they are closed it is quite likely your hotel will get a man / woman to come to you with the necessary forms.

Fuel tends to be more expensive in Laos and it can be dirty, so minimise the amount you put in and don't let the tank run too low.

Very useful information....thanking you.

[recom273]

I have 5 year Thai and had a valid Canadian one. Any insurance coverage null and void if driver is not licensed in accordance with Cambo law. My insurer is Asia Insurance, Phnom Penh. Only one year policy available, or was.

Then you have no problems.

The poster above is correct, it's a bit of a struggle to get in to Laos.

First stamp out of Thailand, get the paperwork done for the car at immigration, then take that to customs.

Total cost 120b I think.

I got to say, the guys at Chong Mek are spot on - great service.

Then to laos, get some guy to write your reg in a book, 40b .. Get a visa, next customs with your Thai documents - 200b then insurance then take that to the checkpoint to get it all validated with a rubber stamp ( 2 minutes ).

Be prepared to stumble about a little and people ask you questions in Laoatian language which you are suddenly supposed to speak.

Total 2 hours, but once you are logged in the system it's quicker the next time.

Getting back into Thailand isn't an issue, it's just a matter of going back through the checkpoint handing your customs paperwork back, stamping your passport out, then logging your vehicle out ( written in a book ) then Thailand, handing your immigration papers in for the vehicle, stamping yourself back in, hand your customs papers ( temp export ) and your off.

Quicker thank standing in the foot traffic queues sometimes.

[bazza40]

Fuel tends to be more expensive in Laos and it can be dirty, so minimise the amount you put in and don't let the tank run too low.

When you say dirty, do you mean contaminated with water, or visible dirt?

[Loeilad]

I have 5 year Thai and had a valid Canadian one. Any insurance coverage null and void if driver is not licensed in accordance with Cambo law. My insurer is Asia Insurance, Phnom Penh. Only one year policy available, or was.

Then you have no problems.

The poster above is correct, it's a bit of a struggle to get in to Laos.

First stamp out of Thailand, get the paperwork done for the car at immigration, then take that to customs.

Total cost 120b I think.

I got to say, the guys at Chong Mek are spot on - great service.

Then to laos, get some guy to write your reg in a book, 40b .. Get a visa, next customs with your Thai documents - 200b then insurance then take that to the checkpoint to get it all validated with a rubber stamp ( 2 minutes ).

Be prepared to stumble about a little and people ask you questions in Laoatian language which you are suddenly supposed to speak.

Total 2 hours, but once you are logged in the system it's quicker the next time.

Getting back into Thailand isn't an issue, it's just a matter of going back through the checkpoint handing your customs paperwork back, stamping your passport out, then logging your vehicle out ( written in a book ) then Thailand, handing your immigration papers in for the vehicle, stamping yourself back in, hand your customs papers ( temp export ) and your off.

Quicker thank standing in the foot traffic queues sometimes.

I regularly drive in and out of Laos. It can take less than 30 minutes to clear....... As said if you have crossed before it takes less time. ..... and much depends on the number of people at the crossing and how long it takes to get your VOA for Laos. My quickest coming into Thailand was LESS than 35 minutes from Savannakhet centre to the Big C in Mukdahan.

On the Thai side don't forget you need departure arrival card and there is and export/re-entry document for the car - fill in 2 of these. You keep one for re-entry - (I'm told if you lose that it costs 80,000 baht to get it sorted!?) The Laos side will also issue a document for the car.

At certain times - holidays/ weekends you might e asked to pay an "overtime" charge of about 20 baht.

I've never had a language problem at the border - Loas and Thai are very similar and most Laos officials on the border understand Thai and some English.

footnote - I love driving in Laos......the rules of the road are no better than Thailand but, in general, the speeds are slower (due to the dreadful condition of many roads?) and it is, in general, much lighter. The concept of a rush hour is virtually unknown except possibly for Vientiane. Be prepared for some roads to be completely blocked by construction or landslip etc etc....I've never had to turn around yet but had to wait a couple of hours for the work to finish. I have a 4WD and have been very grateful for that at times.

[recom273]

Wow ! Amazing ! 30 minutes .. I didn't realize it was a race, I would have ran it or stood at the window tapping my fingers.

All I can say is, at the Chong Mek border which is a dusty building site of multiple locations - it took 2 hours, a pretty similar experience to the other poster who mentioned a similar timeframe.

[Loeilad]

Wow ! Amazing ! 30 minutes .. I didn't realize it was a race, I would have ran it or stood at the window tapping my fingers.

All I can say is, at the Chong Mek border which is a dusty building site of multiple locations - it took 2 hours, a pretty similar experience to the other poster who mentioned a similar timeframe.

Don't be silly! Your post implied that was the norm....as someone who has not crossed at Chong Mek but about half a dozen other crossings several times each, I'd suggest that your figure of 2 hours is not to be generally expected....obviously it will vary wildly due to various factors, but once you have crossed the first time it becomes a lot quicker....if it takes that time every time at that border, I'd suggest you try another crossing.

Vientiane can - as I said - get crowded at times but the Loei crossing, Chiang Rai and Nan (dusty and remote) crossings have been almost deserted for me on some occasions.

[Loeilad]

Yes - BTW - you are allowed into Loas for 1 month, but check on the form in case they have stipulated less.

Also you can only be out of Thailand for one month.....a ridiculous law "fines" you 1000 baht per day up to 20000 after that.........can't see rhyme nor reason for this regulation.

[Loeilad]

Fuel tends to be more expensive in Laos and it can be dirty, so minimise the amount you put in and don't let the tank run too low.

When you say dirty, do you mean contaminated with water, or visible dirt?

Take your pick - does it really matter if it is invisible or not?

[salty14]

PS - please report back on how you got on in Cambodia...I haven't been there yet, but keep wanting to go to Siem Reap.

Seems like Chong Chom is the best option from what others are saying.. Have you tried it yet? I'm keen to do the trip but it's just the insurance issue that concerns me. Can anyone comment on whether insurance is available at the border? I know 'Paulyen' has said he could only get a 1 yr policy through PP.. Anyone else know whether this is the case?