Hi,
There seems to be some confusion as to whether foreigners can apply for a 5 or 10 year Cambodian licence. Some people say no, you can only get a 1-year extension at a time (which I have been doing since first getting a Cambodian licence in 2010) and others have stated that they were able to secure 5 or 10 year licences by doing a practical and theory test. I asked about this a few years ago at a driving school, was told I could go through them and get a 5-year licence issued but never found the time to do so, especially with my regular travel and at the time I wasn't based in Cambodia either but was working in Vietnam and later Thailand, so I couldn't be bothered waiting 2 weeks for an appointment with a driving school to do the test.
Can someone please clarify the following information, based on what I've been able to gather, and from various threads here on Khmer440.com:
1) What type of visa do I need to be on, in order to apply for a Cambodian licence? Does it have to be a business visa? If so, does it need to be extended to 1-year yet, or can I apply before extending?
2) Who do I contact regarding a driver's licence extension? I have been getting 1-year extensions, with my latest one having just expired last month. I understand I would need to contact a driving school? Or just go to the ministry?
3) Are the practical driving and theory tests absolutely necessary, even if you already hold valid foreign driver licences and a recently expired Cambodian one? How much time is necessary to put aside for this procedure, just one afternoon?
4) When does the licence get issued, straight away, or do you have to wait a month like in the case of the 1-year licences? If necessary, can I pay extra to receive the licence straight away (which is standard procedure in most other countries in the world, including Thailand and China, not sure why Cambodians need a month to issue a licence)?
5) Do I need to bring my own car to the testing center, do they provide one or does the driving school provide one?
6) Is the licence valid for 5 years initially and then 10 years after that or can it be 10 years straight away?
7) How much do I have to pay? US$240/US$250? Or what does it depend on?
Thanks for all your responses.
Cambodian 5 or 10 year driver's licences
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black69wolf69 wrote:Hi,
There seems to be some confusion as to whether foreigners can apply for a 5 or 10 year Cambodian licence. Some people say no, you can only get a 1-year extension at a time (which I have been doing since first getting a Cambodian licence in 2010) and others have stated that they were able to secure 5 or 10 year licences by doing a practical and theory test. I asked about this a few years ago at a driving school, was told I could go through them and get a 5-year licence issued but never found the time to do so, especially with my regular travel and at the time I wasn't based in Cambodia either but was working in Vietnam and later Thailand, so I couldn't be bothered waiting 2 weeks for an appointment with a driving school to do the test.
Can someone please clarify the following information, based on what I've been able to gather, and from various threads here on Khmer440.com:
1) What type of visa do I need to be on, in order to apply for a Cambodian licence? Does it have to be a business visa? If so, does it need to be extended to 1-year yet, or can I apply before extending?
Not sure so just get a business visa to be sure. Why do you not want to extend it to 12 months if you are getting a 10 year licence!
2) Who do I contact regarding a driver's licence extension? I have been getting 1-year extensions, with my latest one having just expired last month. I understand I would need to contact a driving school? Or just go to the ministry?
You will need a contact at the ministry where they do all the test and paperwork. Agencies cannot do it for more than 1 year
3) Are the practical driving and theory tests absolutely necessary, even if you already hold valid foreign driver licences and a recently expired Cambodian one? How much time is necessary to put aside for this procedure, just one afternoon?
The tests and theory are not necessary but you will need to have a contact otherwise you will have to do the theory (multiple choice) and practical, driving around a set course. It will take a whole day because the Khmers go in the AM with the barang in the afternoon which are mainly Chinese. If you have a contact they will help you with the theory and even let you pass the practical...
4) When does the licence get issued, straight away, or do you have to wait a month like in the case of the 1-year licences? If necessary, can I pay extra to receive the licence straight away (which is standard procedure in most other countries in the world, including Thailand and China, not sure why Cambodians need a month to issue a licence)?
Just recently they changed the license (and vehicle ID card) to a cheaper paper one so you will get it issued straight away.
5) Do I need to bring my own car to the testing center, do they provide one or does the driving school provide one?
You will be assigned to a driving school (or your contact will sort it out) if you do any actual driving but the ministry will provide a car, manual or auto, on the day
6) Is the licence valid for 5 years initially and then 10 years after that or can it be 10 years straight away?
No 10 years then 10 years after that at a cost of about $12.50 from the ministry
7) How much do I have to pay? US$240/US$250? Or what does it depend on?
$400, or $40 a year which is pretty good I think
Thanks for all your responses.
No I do not have a contact to share thanks.
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YTP I think the price you are quoting is the old price - I think now it is much cheaper. I was quoted something like $15 for the motorbike test. I think the car may just be a little more expensive.
I don't have and links to refer to - just memory of what I was told at the ministry.
I don't have and links to refer to - just memory of what I was told at the ministry.
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Thanks very much for answering all my questions, it seems to be clear now. I didn't specifically ask for a contact to help me get through this procedure, but I find it strange that you're not willing to share yours?
However, if all that this contact can do is help you pass an already easy driving and practical test, I'll happily pass. I'm sure some helpful official looking for some extra lunch money from a barang would try to be extra helpful, even if I don't ask for it.
Though I could always enlist the help of a good Cambodian friend of mine to help with translation and the bureaucracy if need be.
Finally, I'm puzzled by why they are going back in time by issuing an older paper version of a driver's licence rather than the plastic ones. Even if it means they can be issued faster though that doesn't make any sense - in Thailand they have a machine at every transport office that can issue plastic licences within minutes and this has been the case for years. Even back in 2010 they were able to issue Cambodian licences within 3-4 days at most and they were plastic credit card sized. Yet in 2017, Cambodia is rejoining the 70s by going back to paper licences. That's kind of weird, but just a curiosity more than anything.
However, if all that this contact can do is help you pass an already easy driving and practical test, I'll happily pass. I'm sure some helpful official looking for some extra lunch money from a barang would try to be extra helpful, even if I don't ask for it.
Though I could always enlist the help of a good Cambodian friend of mine to help with translation and the bureaucracy if need be.
Finally, I'm puzzled by why they are going back in time by issuing an older paper version of a driver's licence rather than the plastic ones. Even if it means they can be issued faster though that doesn't make any sense - in Thailand they have a machine at every transport office that can issue plastic licences within minutes and this has been the case for years. Even back in 2010 they were able to issue Cambodian licences within 3-4 days at most and they were plastic credit card sized. Yet in 2017, Cambodia is rejoining the 70s by going back to paper licences. That's kind of weird, but just a curiosity more than anything.
Dunno, I paid $400 in 2016 for a 10 year one and as the op was asking for advice from people who have actually gone through the process I was just telling him my experiences.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote:YTP I think the price you are quoting is the old price - I think now it is much cheaper. I was quoted something like $15 for the motorbike test. I think the car may just be a little more expensive.
I don't have and links to refer to - just memory of what I was told at the ministry.
pew, pew, pew, pew!
Just regarding the one year price, it's $50 a year, or at least it's what I paid. Our Khmer delivery driver renewed the same time as me and he paid $35 for the year. That was a car licence which covers a 125cc and under motorbike.
Didn't as for the 10 year price, sorry.
Didn't as for the 10 year price, sorry.
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I did mine at the ministry and it cost $12.50 for motorbike - 1 year. I believe car is same/similar.AE86 wrote:Just regarding the one year price, it's $50 a year, or at least it's what I paid. Our Khmer delivery driver renewed the same time as me and he paid $35 for the year. That was a car licence which covers a 125cc and under motorbike.
Didn't as for the 10 year price, sorry.
The $50 is the agent price (though a steep one at that). Don't understand why your Khmer driver would be getting a 1 year license...
I should have mentioned I paid a fixer to do everything for me so I didn't have to leave work for the day (a lot more expensive). Picked up my documents, took the photos, had them printed, etc.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote:I did mine at the ministry and it cost $12.50 for motorbike - 1 year. I believe car is same/similar.AE86 wrote:Just regarding the one year price, it's $50 a year, or at least it's what I paid. Our Khmer delivery driver renewed the same time as me and he paid $35 for the year. That was a car licence which covers a 125cc and under motorbike.
Didn't as for the 10 year price, sorry.
The $50 is the agent price (though a steep one at that). Don't understand why your Khmer driver would be getting a 1 year license...
For our driver we include provisions in our driver's pay to cover his licence every year, so he renews a year at a time.
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I don't think a 1 year license is available for locals. Sounds like he might be diddling you. Have you ever seen this 1 year license?AE86 wrote:I should have mentioned I paid a fixer to do everything for me so I didn't have to leave work for the day (a lot more expensive). Picked up my documents, took the photos, had them printed, etc.ផោមក្លិនស្អុយ wrote:I did mine at the ministry and it cost $12.50 for motorbike - 1 year. I believe car is same/similar.AE86 wrote:Just regarding the one year price, it's $50 a year, or at least it's what I paid. Our Khmer delivery driver renewed the same time as me and he paid $35 for the year. That was a car licence which covers a 125cc and under motorbike.
Didn't as for the 10 year price, sorry.
The $50 is the agent price (though a steep one at that). Don't understand why your Khmer driver would be getting a 1 year license...
For our driver we include provisions in our driver's pay to cover his licence every year, so he renews a year at a time.
^^My wife deals more with the Cambodian paperwork and document side of things (for obvious reasons), not me, however I just asked her about the licence and I made a mistake in what I said here.
So anyway, I don't know how long his renewal is good for as my wife doesn't know. He's also not from Phnom Penh so he had to send out his licence to a fixer as well, so that probably added a bit to the price as well.
So a bit of lost in translation here, we renew the "licence" on our truck once a year, not our driver's licence. That was completely my mistake, I thought we paid for our driver's to get their driving licence.AE86 wrote: For our driver we include provisions in our driver's pay to cover his licence every year, so he renews a year at a time.
So anyway, I don't know how long his renewal is good for as my wife doesn't know. He's also not from Phnom Penh so he had to send out his licence to a fixer as well, so that probably added a bit to the price as well.
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Alright, just looked at his licence. 10 years.AE86 wrote: So anyway, I don't know how long his renewal is good for...
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