Yes get it done thru a travel agent for $30- $35

Cool, cheers for that Sounds simple enough

Or go to a driving school, eg Sovatapheap which is underneath Java on Sihanouk Blvd. Even though it's a driving school, most don't need you to do a test, just to have a photocopy of your current foreign licence. Last time I got mine done I sent a messenger, didn't even need to turn up to Sovatapheap in person. Price is correct, $30 to $35.

BC

Seems like the main thing to wrap my head around on this is the whole switching from driving on the left to driving on the right... that I am not exactly looking forward to!

LOL, driving on the right?? That's optional!!

Apparently they'll start to check licenses more systematically very soon, they say it's the next step after helmets/mirrors and speed limits checks...

Does anyone know how to get a proper license without having one before (either international or from another country)?
I guess this goes through a driving school, any kind of test required or is it just about paying?
Is it the same license to drive 125cc and 250cc bikes?

thanks,

Lag

You can probably get one without a current licence by asking nicely or paying an extra $5-$10, though depending on the school they may ask you to take a test (which they can then charge you extra for).

Yes, the car licence lets you drive motos too. You might be able to get a cheaper licence that only lets you ride motos, though...

BC

2 years ago I went out and got my driving license for $35.

I have never EVER been stopped but then I stick to the two rules of a) not running red lights and b) not going down one way streets.

Why even bother getting a license ?. I have realised finally that obeying rules like getting a license is for newbies. The longer you live here the longer you realise that a carton of cigarettes or cash will sort out any road infringement.

I am not encouraging people to break or ignore the laws but in reality............

I went and got my windows tinted on the weekend and my mechanic said " police now making problem if you do driver and passenger windows". I did them anyway and yesterday I actually stopped and asked a cop for directions. Do you think he cared about my windows ?

THE KID

Well, dunno... guess not then. But where they rolled down cos it was a warm day like? If they be out of sight they be out of mind innit, whats all the details there?

One may ask about how many fags you provided whilst getting them directions too!

Hereabouts we very rarely get warm days...

@KK I don't have a licence anymore because it expired and I don't drive these days... but I got one originally so that I'd be covered by insurance when/if the big accident with my name on it arrives. If i was driving regularly I'd probably get one again with that in mind. 'Cos unlike the coppers, the insurance claims dude can actually make a bundle of cash by checking whether you've got a licence or not.

BC

Aye, kinda gathered that from your suggested MSN website for local weather... I'll be packing me woollies and thermal long-johns for sure

I guess KK would actually want his tinted windows up to prevent the snow glare

Ive had awful problems with khmers these last ten days,actually since I stripped a piece of wood off pol pots grave marker and oh a chunk off one of ta moks columns at his house at aanglong veng.
And a picked up a burnt roofing nail from the market at preah vihear where those dastardly thai are trying to steal our land.
Dont they know that only khmer are allowed to steal land?
Anyway these what do you call them?
Trinkets,mementoes,tailsmen...
As far as the licence thing goes,maybe you shouldnt bother.
But unlike that khmer kid I have been stopped twice in two days in the black tacoma with plates road tax everything.
I have not really stopped,I just wave them aside.
At the olympic market yesterday trying to buy a battery for the corolla and this old copper is brandishing a laminated copy of the road code and wont let me go.
I wind my manual window down and he comes around to the side so i accelerate,the old copper pokes me in the neck with his stick.
This morning I drove straight through the copper on monivong.
I have a licence,insurance and road tax-dont try to shake me down.
I now have enough khmer to say that i work for the australian embassy and they will have a big problem over this-hopefully i will never have to use it.

Actually....yeah....to the OP.....forget what i said. I remember now I got my license so that I would be covered with my Australian Health policy if I had a bike accident ( i have car and bike licenses ) and now that I drive....I wouldn't have been able to get INFINITY on my Porsche
without a license.

GET A LICENSE !

THE KID

How's that buggy going anyway? Better suited to roads in the Penh than that old low slung Lamborghini you used to get around in, I bet...

I got a Cambo driver's license for $40 @ Lucky Lucky Motorbike on Monivong.

For my moto? Decided to go street legal when I bought a new moto. (A bit harder if buying used.) Generally when you're dealing with bureaucracy it's faster to have an expediter / fixer. Can speak/write Khmer but I wanted this process done with a minimum of fuss.

I brought a family friend for assist and a proper license plate took 2 days. It's a good feeling to be 'street legal'. Nowadays the cops are docking people for not having helmets or wing mirrors. This is a welcome change, though I'd like to see the law applied equally to all (landcruisers?).

I've asked one of my staff to hunt down a book of Khmer traffic law, which could be handy in the longer run. Last I recall, there was an English translation @ 'Crossing Cambodia' blog.
http://crossingcambodia.blogspot.com/

Yes, there's an English translation there, though it's not highlighted as such. On the right hand side, the group of links headed "Cambodian Traffic Law and You" are actually links to the different sections of the translated land law, not editorial blog posts.

You can get the real deal from the Ministry of Interior website in both Khmer and English PDFs: go to http://www.interior.gov.kh/other_doc.asp?id_doc=1
It's called the "Land Traffic Law".

BC

there is a different licence for Car and Motorbike. You can drive bikes up to 125 cc (or is it 100 cc?) with the car licence (B), but for bigger bikes you should have a bike licence (A2). I have both.
I have been stopped by cops sometimes, they never asked to see my licence

I left if a bit late to get IDP (International Driving Permit) from my own country. Do I have to have one or can I just buy a Cambodia driving licence ? I only have a full car licence with provisional bike licence up to 125cc. Will that be a problem when buying a driving licence or will I get it "upgraded" to a full motorbike one? Not that I want to drive anything but 50cc moped in PP... Unless they are more expensive than more powerful ones, say 100cc. It's only if I wanted to drive something bigger later and a police decides he needs a bit of extra cash.

No need for an IDP. Not sure about the "upgrade" of a bike license though. If I remember correctly, that was no issue when getting my license.

I was quoted $350 to get my license here.. something smells fishy. Any tips on where to go so I don't get ripped off would be appreciated.