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Car hire in Laos
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Driving in Laos on an Australian licence
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Yes - Australians need an International Driving Permit for Laos.
An International Driving Permit is required. Very few visitors drive themselves here and there is little reason to.
Drives on the rightOpposite to Australia
Minimum age 18For most hire companies
$35-$65Typical daily hire
IDP required1949 Geneva Convention
Is hiring a car in Laos worth it?
Use the railway and hired drivers instead. Self-driving in Laos is rarely the right call.
Typical daily hire runs $35-$65.
Where to hire a car in Laos
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. A row labelled "Featured partner" holds a paid position at the top of the table. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
What Australian drivers need to know in Laos
- Renting a scooter without a motorcycle endorsement voids most Australian travel insurance, and Vang Vieng is where those claims come from.
- Guesthouses commonly hold your passport as scooter security. Offer a cash deposit instead - handing over a passport is how disputes escalate.
- The Boten-Vientiane railway is fast, cheap and comfortable, and covers the main tourist route better than any road.
- Mountain roads in the north are slow, winding and best not driven after dark.
Driving without the permit here means driving uninsured. Australian policies exclude claims from driving without a valid licence for that vehicle in that country, and in Laos the International Driving Permit is part of being validly licensed. A car licence does not cover a scooter - riding one needs a motorcycle class on your Australian licence as well as the permit, and scooter accidents are the most expensive claims Australians make in this region.
You can only get an International Driving Permit in Australia, before you fly - the state motoring clubs issue them for about $49 and it takes a fortnight to be safe. How to get one, and where it works.
More Laos essentials
Laos visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Laos
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Laos eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Laos travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Laos money and cards
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Laos airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Laos travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Laos
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: International Driving Permit: which countries Australians need one for
How these comparisons are made
Licence and permit rules come from the destination's road authority and the Australian motoring clubs that issue International Driving Permits, and each page states whether an IDP is legally required, required in practice by hire companies, or genuinely not needed - three different situations most sites blur into one. Read the full editorial policy.
Planning Laos?
We will send you the Laos guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.