Is it possible to rent a car in Thailand and drive into Laos?

[andypli]

is it possible to rent a car in thailand and drive into laos

[dirtydog]

Wouldn't imagine any renter would agree to that, for all they know you might sell it once you get to Lao.

[Thetyim]

When you cross the border they check that you are the owner or have the owners permission.

[daveboy]

I always rent a car when I'm over and its not allowed under a rental contract.

[BobR]

Certainly not a daft question. Too bad Thailand cannot work out simple agreements with it's neighbors that would allow people to drive rented or financed cars across the border while still protecting the property rights of the rental companies and finance companies.

[BarnacleBill]

Agree with DD. After all this is Thailand!

[AntRobertson]

I suspect DD's probably right but might be worth your time checking with some of the bigger rental agencies. They may even have reciprocal offices in Laos (although not likely, but still for the sake of a phone call/website visit...).

[blackgang]

When you cross the border they check that you are the owner or have the owners permission.

This is exactly what happens, and I would not want to take my car over there anyway.
And why should Laos do anything to help Thailand,
It was Thailand that had the USA build air bases here and bomb Laos and Cambodia and had troops in there with the Hmong during Viet Nam conflict with USA.

[Thetyim]

might be worth your time checking with some of the bigger rental agencies.

Agreed.
There is no legal problem with taking a rental car to Laos, I would guess that it is an insurance problem.
If you pay extra for Laos insurance they might give you permission.
Budget used to allow it but I think they have stopped it now.

[andypli]

thanx for the replys,does'nt sound promising, what about renting a car in laos

[Thetyim]

I don't think self drive is available, you have to rent with driver

[Stinky]

Too bad Thailand cannot work out simple agreements with it's neighbors that would allow people to drive rented or financed cars across the border while still protecting the property rights of the rental companies and finance companies.

It would be a surprise to me if they did manage to get a deal like that together.

It would need to be reciprocal and I would very much imagine cars would go missing all over the place.

It would be just like all of the Germans who lost their cars to the Polish car thieves any time they ventured into Poland.

The Polish police would do nothing to help the Bosch get their cars back, even if the car had been fitted with satellite tracking and subsequently found by the German owner

Once the car had been sold on even the Polish courts would say that the car was legally bought in Poland so all bets are off and poor old Box Head gets to walk home anyway.

I think it's a fair bet that he same would happen here

[Loy Toy]

If you are really serious about attempting the OP question call John at "QCars" Pattaya (Jomtien) and he can arrange exactly what you propose to do.

No idea about the costs but I know he has arranged such rentals before.

[MeMock]

You can rent a car (self drive) in Laos but it is about double the price then in Thailand.
I just arrived in Laos this afternoon but it was in my own car.

[Mr Earl]

thanx for the replys,does'nt sound promising, what about renting a car in laos

I rented an nice 4dr 4wd Ford truck in Vientiane. It wasn't cheap, but if you're sharing the expense with someone It's not bad.

Check into gt-rider.com for a bunch of excellent recourses on travel in Laos.

Driving in Laos is different from Thailand. They're left hand drive. The roads aren't as good. There are many more bicycles and scooters running around without mirrors.
In the mix are a bunch of NGO assholes driving $50,000.00 SUV's. They drive like a bunch of raped apes.

The drive from Vientiane to Luang Prabang is well worth all the hassles.