New driving license procedure for foreigners

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pczz
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New driving license procedure for foreigners

Post by pczz »

Apparently the law changed recently and if you want to renew your 1 year khmer license you now have to visit the Department of Public Works and transport in the far north outskirts of the city, although there is apparently an office in Sihanoukville according to a recent Facebook post. Agents cannot do it for you. I tried all the usual including Lucky and they cannot help anymore.
So i trotted off at 7 am this morning and arrived at the ministry at 8. Staff opened up at 8.30 and first step they quickly check your papers and then send you across the carpark for an eye test. They check your weight and height by asking you what they are and fill in a few forms and relieve you of $2.50.
Step 2 back to the office to have all your papers checked, about 6 times and then you are given a piece of paper to take to the Wing office in the car park and pay $7.25. Bring back the receipt and wait for the new license to be printed.
So what do you need?
1 YOU MUST HAVE a current valid license for your country of origin. if it has expired you will not get your khmer licesne renewed and they will tell you to go book a test. A German guy and 2 Philippinos were turned away while i was there because their licenses had expired
2 You need a photocopy and original of your passport id page and your visa page with 6 months visa still to run. I had 5 months and they were ok with that, but if you have less you may have a problem. There is a free photocopy machine in the same block as the eye test
3 Photocopy and original of your driving license from your home country. This must be in Khmer or English. if not they will make you get it translated at your embassy. Having said that a Czech guy explained that there was nowhere in Cambodia to get a translation, and they let him get away with it, so up too you.
I was not asked for a lease or any form of proof of address, they just used the address on the old license.
Someone else asked if they still needed a license for a 125 and the desk clerk said no-one needs one, including foreigners
All in all it took around 4 hours plus traveling time. An hour of that was wasted waiting for staff to turn up for work, which they did eventually, and a delay when the printer ran out of ink so not so bad as i was expecting.
If you want to take the test you will get a 10 year license depending on your age. I think license expire when you reach 66 or around that age so check before you do it.
Also if you want to take the test, or it is your first application to swap your home country license for a khmer 1 year license you now HAVE TO provide a lease and a residence certificate from the Sangkat where you live. Mine was a renewal so they didn't ask for any proof of address.
Finally, if you don't have a Khmer to take with you, one of the agents called Kim is often there and she speaks perfect English and knows everyone in the office. if you want her to hold your hand she can be contacted on 092256388 or 081 820 388. She was the only agent there when i went and the office staff don't speak much English
willyhilly
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Re: New driving license procedure for foreigners

Post by willyhilly »

That all sounds pretty reasonable, they are quite efficient at that place. Poor Lucky Lucky missing out again, they may have to start a motor cycle rental business or something.
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beaker
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Re: New driving license procedure for foreigners

Post by beaker »

How would a person have a valid unexpired who has been here for many years or is that only needed for the first time Khmer license ?
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Bitte_Kein_Lexus
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Re: New driving license procedure for foreigners

Post by Bitte_Kein_Lexus »

beaker wrote:How would a person have a valid unexpired who has been here for many years or is that only needed for the first time Khmer license ?
Unless you did the exam back then, you've simply "transferred" your own license to a Cambodian one. If you never did the exam and your home license is expired, then I'm guessing you'll have to do the test. Anyways, that procedure is what I did a bit over a year ago. Same prices and quite transparent.
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beaker
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Re: New driving license procedure for foreigners

Post by beaker »

Bitte_Kein_Lexus wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2017 7:12 am
beaker wrote:How would a person have a valid unexpired who has been here for many years or is that only needed for the first time Khmer license ?
Unless you did the exam back then, you've simply "transferred" your own license to a Cambodian one. If you never did the exam and your home license is expired, then I'm guessing you'll have to do the test. Anyways, that procedure is what I did a bit over a year ago. Same prices and quite transparent.
So was it a test in english ?
I didn't take the exam but I've had khmer license for 6 years or so and if i go before it expires then I still need to take the test ?
"i'm the one who has to die, when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way i want to"
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epidemiks
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Re: New driving license procedure for foreigners

Post by epidemiks »

Good summary. Aligns with my experience in September, apart from this:
pczz wrote: 1 YOU MUST HAVE a current valid license for your country of origin. if it has expired you will not get your khmer licesne renewed and they will tell you to go book a test. A German guy and 2 Philippinos were turned away while i was there because their licenses had expired
If you are renewing your Khmer licence, you do not need to show a licence from your country. At least I don't recall showing them my Australian licence, though it is still valid. The lady at window 3 next to the anti corruption poster, who seems to be some kind of gatekeeper, will take cash for paperwork discrepancies, ad I witnessed.
My previous Khmer licence had expired in 2014. They renewed it without any questions.

Fourkinnel
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Re: New driving license procedure for foreigners

Post by Fourkinnel »

Hmm. My visa will only have 3 months left on it when my DL needs renewal. I would have thought that as long as its not a tourist visa you should be ok. What about the folk who reckon they are only getting 3 months EB visa now/ Not allowed a further licence? :|
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PSD-Kiwi
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Re: New driving license procedure for foreigners

Post by PSD-Kiwi »

epidemiks wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2017 11:43 am Good summary. Aligns with my experience in September, apart from this:
pczz wrote: 1 YOU MUST HAVE a current valid license for your country of origin. if it has expired you will not get your khmer licesne renewed and they will tell you to go book a test. A German guy and 2 Philippinos were turned away while i was there because their licenses had expired
If you are renewing your Khmer licence, you do not need to show a licence from your country. At least I don't recall showing them my Australian licence, though it is still valid. The lady at window 3 next to the anti corruption poster, who seems to be some kind of gatekeeper, will take cash for paperwork discrepancies, ad I witnessed.
My previous Khmer licence had expired in 2014. They renewed it without any questions.
Rules have changed, even for renewing your Cambodian DL you have to provide your valid foreign DL...if you’re foreign DL is expired then you have to go through the testing process.

It’s all bound to change again though.
epidemiks
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Re: New driving license procedure for foreigners

Post by epidemiks »

PSD-Kiwi wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2017 1:43 pm
epidemiks wrote: Wed Dec 06, 2017 11:43 am Good summary. Aligns with my experience in September, apart from this:
pczz wrote: 1 YOU MUST HAVE a current valid license for your country of origin. if it has expired you will not get your khmer licesne renewed and they will tell you to go book a test. A German guy and 2 Philippinos were turned away while i was there because their licenses had expired
If you are renewing your Khmer licence, you do not need to show a licence from your country. At least I don't recall showing them my Australian licence, though it is still valid. The lady at window 3 next to the anti corruption poster, who seems to be some kind of gatekeeper, will take cash for paperwork discrepancies, ad I witnessed.
My previous Khmer licence had expired in 2014. They renewed it without any questions.
Rules have changed, even for renewing your Cambodian DL you have to provide your valid foreign DL...if you’re foreign DL is expired then you have to go through the testing process.

It’s all bound to change again though.
I guess a lot's been changing in recent months! At least doing the test will get you a 10 year licence.. right?
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Re: New driving license procedure for foreigners

Post by darayd »

Thanks for this, it will be really useful
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