Destinations / Cambodia
Driving in Cambodia as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Cambodia drives on the right; an IDP is commonly requested for foreign drivers, and traffic in Phnom Penh is chaotic and best approached cautiously.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Cambodia expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 117 (police), 119 (ambulance) |
| Top speed limit | 90 km/h highways (120 on new expressway) |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in KHR. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Helmets | Helmets mandatory for motorbikes. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| Documents | Carry passport, IDP and home licence. |
On the road in Cambodia
At the pump
Stations (Total, PTT, Caltex) sell EA92/EA95 petrol and diesel and are attendant-served; expect roughly USD 1.10-1.15 per litre for petrol, with cards accepted at branded city stations but cash needed in rural areas.
After a crash
Dial 112 (or 117/119 for police/ambulance); do not move vehicles after a serious crash and wait for traffic police, as a report is needed and at-fault foreign drivers are often expected to negotiate on-the-spot compensation.
Sources: cambodia.embassy.gov.au · tyremap.com · tollguru.com · cambodianess.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Cambodia?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Cambodia drives on the right; an IDP is commonly requested for foreign drivers, and traffic in Phnom Penh is chaotic and best approached cautiously.
Which translation format is used for Cambodia?
Cambodia uses the 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Cambodia ask for a translation?
Self-drive desks ask for an IDP; many tourists hire a driver or tuk-tuk.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Cambodia?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Asia
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.