Rules for overlanding in Cambodia

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 13 April 2026.

Which licence you need

Car — Local law requires an International Driving Permit to be converted into a Cambodian licence before you drive a car here. The conversion costs USD 33 at a motor vehicle office and asks for your passport and a translation of the permit into English, made by a local agency and certified by the Italian embassy in Bangkok or the honorary consulate in Phnom Penh — check what applies to the licence you hold.
Motorcycle — A motorcycle above 125cc needs the same conversion into a Cambodian licence as a car. At 125cc or below, no driving licence at all is required in Cambodia.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Driving without a licence — Driving without a Cambodian-issued licence is punished very harshly: not only substantial fines, but in some cases confiscation of the passport and time in prison.
Rental vehicles — Cars and motorcycles are often rented out with poor safety guarantees, and chaotic traffic adds to the risk. The ministry suggests using vehicles driven by local drivers rather than driving a rental yourself.
Passport as deposit — Shops that rent out motorcycles routinely keep the customer's passport as security.
Insurance — Arrange cover before departure with a high ceiling, from EUR 200,000, including third-party damage and repatriation with a medical escort.
Roads — Most roads between the main cities are in good condition and still improving, but vehicles often run at night without lights and traffic is very undisciplined. Phnom Penh is heavily congested and chaotic at peak hours.

What catches travellers out

Drugs — Sentences for drug offences are severe and prison conditions harsh.
e-Arrival registration — Since 10 September 2024 everyone arriving by air must complete the Cambodia e-Arrival registration through the smartphone app in the seven days before arrival, in place of the old paper customs and stay forms. The app generates a QR code to show immigration, registration is compulsory even if you already hold a visa, and the visa can be applied for and paid inside the app.
Visa — A visa is required. The tourist T visa costs USD 30, lasts 30 days and can be extended by another 30, with online processing of about three working days. If you take it at the border, bring two passport photos with a white background to avoid extra charges, and check on the official e-visa site which land crossings are open.
Cash in dollars — US dollars are the foreign currency in normal circulation, in notes only, and change is often partly given in riel. Carry small denominations, although Visa and Mastercard ATMs are becoming common in the main cities.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 13 April 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Cambodia before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 13 April 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.