Says one motorcycle rental website in Vietnam: “Many travellers will not have a drivers license and are therefore driving illegally. Non-Vietnamese citizens are only permitted to drive in Vietnam if they hold a temporary Vietnamese driver’s license.” However, getting hold of a temporary license is not possible for short-term tourists as you need a visa that is for a stay of longer than three months in the country in order to apply for a local license. The Australian embassy in Hanoi says: “Vietnamese driving licenses are mandatory for all drivers of motor vehicles as well as for riders of motorcycles with a capacity of over 50cc. Vietnam requires you to get a Vietnamese license and a Vietnamese driving licence can only be issued to a foreign national in possession of a Vietnamese visa valid for 3 months or more. The British Foreign Office now says that UK IDPs are not accepted in Vietnam, and the Australian government says Australian-issued IDPs are not recognised in Vietnam. Despite it being enormously popular for motorbike touring, Vietnam does not recognise foreign licenses. Top of page Riding a motorbike in Vietnam You do not magically acquire this knowledge and training because you have flown to Southeast Asia on a plane.” For undergoing that training and passing to a satisfactory level, authorities will 'license' you to ride. From an insurance perspective it tells us you have been properly trained to use a motorcycle, that you understand how to make them go, and stop, and that you’ve been made aware of how to ride to avoid injury. “Getting a license isn’t just about avoiding a fine. Would you drive a car in your home country unlicensed? No? So don’t consider riding a motorbike in Cambodia, or anywhere else, unlicensed either. Essentially this will be a similar process to your home country, but it will all be in a language you most likely do not speak, for road rules you may not be familiar with, and it will eat into your precious holiday time. It varies, but you’ll probably need to sit a written test (in the local language) and supply supporting documentation with your local address. However, this approach isn’t all that convenient to do for short-term visitors. With the exception of Vietnam (more on there below) having done these two things will have you riding legally in Southeast Asia.Ī second approach is to get a license in the country you are travelling in. Then, once you are licensed, get an International Driving Permit (IDP) endorsed for motorbike riding. First, get a motorbike license in your home country. The most straightforward approach to ensuring you are covered is to take two steps. So before you read any further, remember: If you have no license, you don’t have any insurance either. You don’t have a motorbike license? Then chances are you don’t have insurance cover for when you are riding a motorbike in Thailand (or at home for that matter!). Just as a car license doesn’t cover you for driving a truck, it doesn’t cover you for riding a motorbike either. Most travel insurers will require that at a minimum you are licensed for the vehicle you are driving or riding. This is one of the easiest ways to see if a World Nomads policy is right for you. World Nomads has a very handy page titled “Am I covered by travel insurance if I’m riding a motorbike or scooter?” You can change the country to read the different policy qualifications. Read the small print thoroughly and see which of the above applies to you. Photo: Stuart McDonaldĪsk yourself: “Am I licensed to ride a scooter?” You’ll need to read the policy relevant to you to get the exact details, but broadly speaking, travel insurers will insist on one (or a combination) of the following:ġ) You must have a license to ride that is viewed as valid in the country you’re riding in Ģ) You must have a license to ride that is valid in your home country ģ) You must have a license to ride that is valid for the type of bike you are riding. Specific motorcycle riding coverage varies depending on a variety of factors, including the country you are riding in and the country you are from. And can you blame the insurers? Insurance requirements for motorcycling in Asia Without both of these things going on, your travel insurance most likely will not cover you. Secondly, you need to be careful: wear a helmet, stay sober and obey local road laws. Firstly, you need to be properly licensed. Making sure you are covered boils down to two things. If you are going to ride a bike, it is vital that you have travel insurance covering motorcycling in Southeast Asia. It isn’t all good news though-motorcycles are unfortunately far from the safest mode of transport.
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