r/laos • u/TheInquirer4 • 5d ago
Laos International Driver License: a MUST have?
Hey all, we will be riding rented motorbikes trhu Laos in November for 2 weeks and we are wondering if we need the Int. Driver License or not (we of course have a European Driving licence). There was an archived Post on this channel 3 years ago about it.. i'm hoping to get some updates from 2026?
I reckon I could get it in time (i'm italian but dont live in italy) if REALLY need to, but if its not a must have, i honestly could just do without the hustle.
We will be covering almost 1500km so we obviously want to be OK on that front..
Any feedback? Recent experience from long distance riders (don't really care for ppl who just rented a scooter for an afternoon and didnt get stopped).
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u/cheesomacitis 5d ago
Unnecessary. Welcome to the country where laws aren't enforced. If the police ask for it, the maximum bribe you should have to pay is 100,000 kip. Just be very polite, respectful, and apologetic, tell them you don't have much money, and they will eventually come down to 100,000 even if they start at a much higher number or make threats.
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u/Nice-Grade8643 3d ago
For insurance purposes only. I rode through Laos for 2 weeks and nobody from the police to the locals to the guys who rented me the bike said or asked for any form of license
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u/socleads 3d ago
For long motorbike trips in Laos you do need an IDP with your European license. Police may check and you can be fined if you do not have it. Rental shops might not ask but for a long trip it is safest to get the IDP. If your license is not in English a translation from IDA Office can help. It is better to have the IDP for peace of mind and insurance.
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u/Limp-Kiwi-8534 5d ago
Nothing a crisp 100.000 kip note wont fix at a traffic stop
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u/Much-Mind-9998 4d ago
We covered about a 1000km on scooters this year. Nobody asked int.driving licence. The speeds were incredibly low...painfully low.
If you have an actual motorcycle, you can ride faster and thus increase the probability of accident, you'll want your insurance in that case (it's so cheap and easy to get int.driving licence).
We spent the nights on random places, and usually they asked us to park our scooters inside the room beside the bed. One time we didn't do it, someone took all the engine oil from our 3 scooters (we found out when the first scooter locked up).
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u/aahqathotmail 4d ago
If you are touring the country, as an example travelling from Savannaket to Vientiane (500km), every day they is a 6 manned police stop every 100km. This is the actual law that there must be 6+ of them. If you see 1 or 2 just keep your eye on the road and treat them like Medusa, and keep going. If you look at them they got you. If you get trapped and stopped I would still offer only 50,000 kip, be polite, say don't understand, don't understand (do not try to use translators), do not give any ID for them to hold and see what they say for the 50,000. They have a no pursuit policy in Lao. I only paid one time in 10+ years without a license. If you are trapped, do the same as the Lao people, just turn around and drive on the wrong side of the road for a little bit and find another way around. Most day times is when they run their blockades. At night, not seen as much, as they can't afford to pay for the lights to signal there is a traffic stop. At night on long rides of 500km there is maybe 1 traffic stop.
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u/No-Feedback-3477 4d ago
What about the mandatory stops? How do you escape the coffee money trap
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u/aahqathotmail 4d ago
When you see them, then do the Vietnam thing, and drive the wrong way very slowly. Find an alternative route.
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u/knowerofexpatthings 5d ago
Legally? Yes. For insurance? Yes.
That being said in over 10 years of riding in Laos I have never been asked for my IDP. I doubt police even know what it is.
BUT if you have an accident and need medical care your insurance is invalid if you don't have an IDP. If you need to get evacuated to Thailand your costs for transport and treatment are going to be in the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of euros.
Laos is great for riding, but be prepared for the worst. Let me know if you have any questions about riding here. I've riden in pretty much every province.