Driving in Laos

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Fri 28 Sep 2018 21:07
Driving in Laos - Metropolis.

Hi everyone,

I just wondered if with the collective motoring knowledge on this forum, somebody might know of a cheap car rental company in Laos?

I'm a fan of local companies that offer older cars, typically previous gen Camry's, Vios and the like, as these work out much cheaper. For Laos it seems they only allow the rented pickups/4x4s for out of city travel and seeing as we'll be travelling from Luang Prabang to Vientiane it'll have to be one of those. I appreciate most on here won't know, but there's usually someone :)

Thanks

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Sat 29 Sep 2018 07:56
Driving in Laos - expat

In most countries like Laos it is almost as cheap to hire a car with a driver as it is to rent. Ask at your hotel about getting someone to drive you. They will know plenty of drivers and they will make sure it is someone OK because they don't want you coming back complaining. The biggest benefit in getting a driver is that if there is an accident it is nothing to do with you. No night in jail, no demands for bribes. Accidents are very common in third world countries so it is well worth considering.

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Sat 29 Sep 2018 20:12
Driving in Laos - oldroverboy.

In most countries like Laos it is almost as cheap to hire a car with a driver as it is to rent. Ask at your hotel about getting someone to drive you. They will know plenty of drivers and they will make sure it is someone OK because they don't want you coming back complaining. The biggest benefit in getting a driver is that if there is an accident it is nothing to do with you. No night in jail, no demands for bribes. Accidents are very common in third world countries so it is well worth considering.

We go to Jordan (amman) to see yrb's family and get a local driver if we want for the day. no problems, parking or driivng, just easier to do. on the Kings Highway and the Desert highway there are frequent checks. Many years ago, I unwittingly drove down the old military road alongside the irsaeli border (with my 87 year old Auntie..) it was interesting at the checkpoints at each end, but they let us through. It doesn't cost a lot more for a driver, just remember to feed him as well...

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Sun 30 Sep 2018 00:19
Driving in Laos - jthan

I've never been into Laos, but I have travelled on the other side of the Mekong quite a few times and occasionally driven. Doing so, I'm always mindful of the stories that any accident is the farang's very expensive fault.

But I'm also mindful that my worst ever road experience was in a privately hired Toyota Commuter with a recommended driver who seemed to have a suicide wish. They can work long hours and take crazy chances.

No easy answer (unless you have friends/family to take you around) but faced with the choice, I'm not sure that I'd necessarily take the professional driver.

I guess - but do not know - that things might be similar north/east of the Mekong. Perhaps the roads might be quieter? All I know is that there are a lot more Peugeots!

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Tue 2 Oct 2018 20:31
Driving in Laos - Metropolis.

Thanks all of you, I'm reluctant to hire a local driver for the reasons outlined by jthan. Whilst it's a risk not knowing the roads or even local driving style, frankly i'd rather the locals were driving cars around me, not the one i'm sitting in!

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