Cross-border route

China Laos

Driving across the border

Yes — you can drive from China into Laos: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. Laos expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the internationally recognised format. Both countries drive on the right, so there is no change of driving side at the border. Plan your border crossing in advance and keep your passport, national licence and IDP together.

Get my permit for Laos Laos requirements

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance

FromChina

ToLaos

IDP in LaosStrongly recommended

Accepted formatLocal rules

Driving sideright (no change)

Currency in LaosLAK

Emergency number191 (police), 195 (ambulance)

Top speed limit90 km/h highways (110 on the new expressway)

China → Laos

Crossing the border

China and Laos share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.

Driving rules in Laos

Drive on the right.
Helmets mandatory for motorbikes.
0.05% alcohol limit.
Livestock and pedestrians on rural roads.

Once you're driving in Laos

Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.

Driving on a foreign licence

Laos is not a party to the main driving conventions, so a foreign licence plus an International Driving Permit is required to drive and to rent, and the IDP is the document police and rental agencies expect for any non-Lao licence.

Tolls & road charges

Laos has very limited tolling: the Vientiane-Vang Vieng Expressway charges a distance-based toll paid in cash or by card at booths, while ordinary national highways are free.

Parking in the cities

Parking is largely informal with no colour-coded meter zones; in central Vientiane you park in marked lots or roadside spaces, often paying a small cash fee to an attendant, and blocking traffic or temple gates risks fines or clamping.

Fines & camera enforcement

Police can stop drivers to inspect documents and issue on-the-spot cash fines for speeding, no helmet/seatbelt or licence issues; amounts are modest but informal, and rental firms commonly hold a deposit to cover any penalties or damage.

If you have an accident

Dial 191 for police (1623 for traffic police, 1195 for ambulance); you must stop and report any injury crash to traffic police, and note that foreign drivers involved in accidents can be barred from leaving the country until compensation is settled, so contact your embassy and rental insurer immediately.

Driving in the capital

In Vientiane the chaotic flow of motorbikes and scooters that filter from all sides, combined with frequent disregard of lane markings around the Patuxai monument roundabout, is the main hazard for foreign drivers.

Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · autourasia.com · internetlaos.com · idaoffice.org

Common questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from China to Laos?

Yes — Laos commonly asks foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their national licence. Laos recognises the internationally recognised format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.

Does the driving side change between China and Laos?

No. Both China and Laos drive on the right.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Laos?

In Laos, dial 191 (police), 195 (ambulance) for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 90 km/h highways (110 on the new expressway), but posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.

How do tolls and road charges work in Laos?

Laos has very limited tolling: the Vientiane-Vang Vieng Expressway charges a distance-based toll paid in cash or by card at booths, while ordinary national highways are free.

How quickly can I get an IDP for this trip?

International Driver Licence issues your digital IDP in as fast as 8 minutes, so you can have it ready before you set off.