Taking a car into Thailand from Cambodia

December 17, 2011 · 19 comments

We’ve been taking our car from Cambodia to Thailand for some years now for holidays and the process of getting it across the border and temporary importation is a simple one.

Taking a car into Thailand

*Please note that our experiences have always been at the border at Koh Kong /Khlongyai (Hat Lek).

What you will need:

  • Your car registration card (although some friends of ours travelled with a registration card in a Cambodian’s name; they just had a letter from the original owner).
  • Valid Cambodian driving license (I’m sure a valid one from your country would also do).
  • 800 Thai Baht for Thai car insurance.
  • Your passport (duh!)

The process:

  • Park your car outside the immigration office on the Cambodian side.
  • Get stamped out of Cambodia
  • Go to the Cambodian customs hut and show them your car registration card and license.
  • Drive across to the Thai side and park your car before the checkpoint
  • Go into the Thai customs booth and show them your car registration card and driving license – they will then fill in a large book and give you some forms.
  • Then go to the visa booths (on the left hand side at Khlongyai) and get your Thai visa
  • Show them your car temporary importation forms and they will fill in a another book.
  • They will then ask if you have car insurance. If you don’t (Cambodian insurance is not valid in Thailand) you need to purchase it. This is valid for a year so you can use it more than once. (cost 800B)
  • We have also been asked to pay about 50 Thai baht at this point for an admin fee.

That’s it.

The whole process, as long as you don’t arrive at the same time as a bus full of tourists, takes about 40 minutes.

And remember to drive on the left once you’re in Thailand.

Bringing the car back:

  • Hand in the forms on the Thai side
  • Drive to the Cambodian side
  • Say (if asked) that you have no contraband in the car
  • Get stamped in (if one multiple entry visa) or get new Cambodian visa.
Khlongyai Immigration Checkpoint

Khlongyai Immigration Checkpoint

How to extend your car’s importation documents in Bangkok

When you arrive in Thailand the customs officials at the border give you a one month temporary importation document.

But, what happens if you want to stay in Thailand longer – for example if you (like us) want to drive to Bangkok to have a baby?

The process for extension is also a simple one.

  • Go to the Port Authority of Thailand in Bangkok. Details here
  • Take your importation documents, passport and driving license
  • Go to building 8, floor 3.
  • There’s a small office at the back and there are a few English speaking Thai customs officials who can process your request.

You can only do this before the date of expiry I was told. I was also told that if I extended my tourist visa for another month I could also extend the car’s temporary importation documents too.

The ladies at this office were super helpful and efficient.

Anybody done this, had any issues or was it a breeze? Have I missed anything out? Leave any input in the comments below.


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  • Christopholdenburg

    Thats great advise you posted here. I plan to go by car from Phnom Penh to Thailand in a few days for family reasons. Only thing is at my Cambodinan driving licene is currently beeing renuewed, so I only have my national  one and a copy of the (expired) Cambodian . However, that should be fine. How long did  it take you go to bangkok ?

    • Anonymous

      Do you have a receipt showing you put the Cambodian license in for renewal.
      The Cambodian side is pretty unconcerned so I wouldn’t have thought it would be an issue. When you get the Thai side just show your home license, if they ask.

      You can get from the border to Bangkok in around 6 hours.

      Good luck!

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  • Rikitikitavi

    TAKING A CAR INTO LAOS
     Dear all,
       We got back recently from a road trip into Laos, and here is what you need to do it with a CAmbodian registered vehicle.
       Go to the main customs office on Norodom Blvd in PP, just south of Wat Phnom with your car, and ownership card. You need to get a stamp from the main reception then head round the back to the vehicle customs dept. You will need a letter of intent written in Khmer and addressed to the chief of customs laying out where you want to go (which country, not where in that place), this letter is easy to get, I got a uni student to do it for me on the spot (they will give you a template at the office). You will then be taken round a few offices to get some more impedimenta which takes about 2 hours. The documents will be ready for collection the following day. There is no payment of any kind which is amazing, and they will help you no end….I was blown away by the service there. I have dealt with many customs places regarding vehicles and this was easily the most painless.
       They told me that the same procedure is required to take a car to Vietnam, but I have not tried that yet.
        The crossing procedure into southern Laos from Cambodia could not be simpler, and took us about 30 mins. You need to buy Laos insurance at the border which was about 25usd and is valid for a year.
        Laos is a great country to drive in, and the northern areas are spectacular. Enjoy!
       Dom

    • Simon Oliver

      That’s great Dom – thanks so much for taking the time to post this. Very useful.

  • Thirith

    Dear All,
    Thanks for a very usefull information. I really interested to drive my own car, cambodia’s registration, into Thailand as well.

    But I do concern whether if the Thai traffic police will accept my Cambodian’s driving license? because I don’t have either Thai driving license nor International Driving license.

    Have you ever experience this with the Thai Traffic Police?

    Thank you and Best Regards,
    Thirith

    • Simon Oliver

      I have never been stopped by Thai traffic police so I can’t comment for sure.

      But I don’t see why it would be an issue driving a car in Thailand with a Cambodian license. Let me know if you have any issues so we can keep this post up to date.

      • Thirith

        Hi Simon,

        Thanks for your reply.

        I never drive a car in Thailand, but I planed to take my Cambodian’s register car into Thailand. and That’s what I am concern about.

        Just now, I found in theory from ASEAN web, http://www.aseansec.org/9874.htm (down the page to Local Transport), saying about this local transport agreement among ASEAN member.

        Again thank you for the very useful information and sharing.

        Br/Thirith

        • Simon Oliver

          Like I said I dont think you’ll have a problem. The first time we did it we were a bit nervous but were amazed how simple the process was.

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  • Johningoa

    Good Info. its the way i do it. 30 mins been the quickest 45 mins the longest. The only problem a freind had was the registration was not in his name and he had a receipt of buying it and no way would the let him over the border, I was with him and saw this happen first hand.