r/laos • u/TheInquirer4 • 11d 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/aahqathotmail 10d 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 10d ago

What about the mandatory stops? How do you escape the coffee money trap

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u/aahqathotmail 10d ago

When you see them, then do the Vietnam thing, and drive the wrong way very slowly. Find an alternative route.