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[Ratsima]

We're planning to drive into Laos at Savannakhet and back into LOS at Vientiane. We have bilingual (Thai/English) drivers licenses and an International Transport Permit for the car. The Land Transport offices in both Korat and Mukdahan have told us that we don't need to get English language (Roman alphabet) license plates for the car if we're only going to Laos. However, we've found a few Thai language web sites on which travelers have posted that such a license plate is required for entry of the vehicle into Laos.

Does anyone know for sure? If we need one we'll have to delay our trip as it supposedly takes three weeks to have the license made.

TIA

[keestha]

And what about other requirements to drive the car into Laos, such as insurance? And can you just use a Thai drivers licence in Laos?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Ratsima, on 2009-01-31 09:35:01, said:

We're planning to drive into Laos at Savannakhet and back into LOS at Vientiane. We have bilingual (Thai/English) drivers licenses and an International Transport Permit for the car. The Land Transport offices in both Korat and Mukdahan have told us that we don't need to get English language (Roman alphabet) license plates for the car if we're only going to Laos. However, we've found a few Thai language web sites on which travelers have posted that such a license plate is required for entry of the vehicle into Laos.

Does anyone know for sure? If we need one we'll have to delay our trip as it supposedly takes three weeks to have the license made.

TIA

I crossed the bridge to Savannakhet last February in a Thai licensed van, no problem. In may crossed the bridge at Nong Khai in a Thai licensed pickup, no problem.

Therefore, no problem....

Mac

[Ratsima]

thanyaburimac, on 2009-01-31 10:25:27, said:

I crossed the bridge to Savannakhet last February in a Thai licensed van, no problem. In may crossed the bridge at Nong Khai in a Thai licensed pickup, no problem.

Therefore, no problem....

The rules requiring the Roman alphabet license plate went into effect 11 June 2008, which is after both your February and May trips. So, it may be a problem....

I'd really like to hear from someone who actually drove into Laos after the rule went into effect.

To answer Keestha's question: You can use a Thai DL in Laos as long as it is one of the newer, bilingual (Thai/English) licenses. You can buy minimal car insurance at the border. Your Thailand policy is not good in Laos. (At least ours isn't.) You need to get an International Transport Permit for the vehicle at the Land Transport office where your vehicle is registered.

[Ratsima]

So, no one as a clue as to whether or not the English language license plate is required in Laos?

I'm getting a little nervous here as we're schedule to depart on Wednesday and I don't look forward to being turned away at the border....

[technocracy]

Roman Alphabet plate in Laos?!?!?!

Eh?

Never seen one and never heard of it - sure the 'law' didn't go into effect on the 1st of April?

There is no end of Thai, Chinese and Viet plated cars over here.

Lao cars don't have a roman alphabet plate so I don't understand why it's a requirement! May be they mean Vietnam?

[Ratsima]

^Thank you for posting. I feel much better.

Here's what the English language plates look like:



The following link is to a Thai language PDF document from the Thai Department of Land Transport that explains the rules under the "Greater Mekong Subregion Cross-Border Agreement. It also explains how the Thai license plate characters are to be transliterated into English letters.

Greater Mekong Subregion Cross-Border Agreement

[GayGordon]

You need nothing of the sort, we have driven in many times and all thats needed is the book in your name, in fact we have NEVER been asked for insurance either,.last visit 3 weeks ago, first 10 years ago,.

[Ratsima]

GayGordon, on 2009-02-01 08:59:15, said:

You need nothing of the sort, we have driven in many times and all thats needed is the book in your name, in fact we have NEVER been asked for insurance either,.last visit 3 weeks ago, first 10 years ago,.

In other words, another "law" that is simply ignored....

[GayGordon]

technocracy, on 2009-02-01 07:36:59, said:

Roman Alphabet plate in Laos?!?!?!

Eh?

Never seen one and never heard of it - sure the 'law' didn't go into effect on the 1st of April?

There is no end of Thai, Chinese and Viet plated cars over here.

Lao cars don't have a roman alphabet plate so I don't understand why it's a requirement! May be they mean Vietnam?

IF you get into Vietnam a temporary plate is given to you,

[technocracy]

Ratsima, on 2009-02-01 08:27:07, said:

^Thank you for posting. I feel much better.

Here's what the English language plates look like:



The following link is to a Thai language PDF document from the Thai Department of Land Transport that explains the rules under the "Greater Mekong Subregion Cross-Border Agreement. It also explains how the Thai license plate characters are to be transliterated into English letters.

Greater Mekong Subregion Cross-Border Agreement

woah! Never seen one of them! I think the police here would probably pull you over for having one!!

Seriously it sounds like some half-arsed attempt to make some kind of standard between countries which has never been enforce after they realised the stupidity of it!

[abdulrahman]

woah! Never seen one of them! I think the police here would probably pull you over for having one!!

Seriously it sounds like some half-arsed attempt to make some kind of standard between countries which has never been enforce after they realised the stupidity of it!
[/quote]

Me neither!And I drive to the PDR regularly.But nice plates(if they exist).
Would be useful to know the requirements for driving a Thai licensed vehicle to the neighboring countries.
Lao,Cambodia,Vietnam,Malaysia,Singapore,Myanmar(O.K.Myanmar not).Can someone pin it?I know already some,but not all!

[asia_pilot]

Ratsima, on 2009-01-31 12:20:55, said:

You need to get an International Transport Permit for the vehicle at the Land Transport office where your vehicle is registered.

Can someone tell me what is this called in Thai ?

[JimsKnight]

Never even heard of this one. AFAIK I thought it was at the border you get these done.
But I'm interested as well, do tell

[asia_pilot]

 128883956_L.jpg   23.04K   20 downloads

Seems like this is like a little passport for your car with pages for antry and exit stamps. I have attached the application form and will go to the department of land transportaion tomorow.

Well post my experiance after the application.

Edited by asia_pilot, 2009-02-11 11:16:27.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

asia_pilot, on 2009-02-11 11:12:49, said:

128883956_L.jpg

Seems like this is like a little passport for your car with pages for antry and exit stamps. I have attached the application form and will go to the department of land transportaion tomorow.

Well post my experiance after the application.

We cross over to Laos at Huey Khon, Nan, on Monday 8 Feb, Thai driver permit, regular Thai plates, not a problem. Visited Xieng Hon & Hong Sa for a couple days, back to Thailand Wednesday afternoon. Lao insurance bought on the Lao side, obviously, cheap.

Mac

[Ratsima]

We're back from our trip as well. English language plates definitely not required. In fact, we saw only one set the whole time and that was on the bridge driving back from Vientiane.