Before you start

A valid foreign driving licence, and an English or French translation certified by your embassy if it is in neither
A passport with a current visa (at least 15 days remaining)
A residence letter from your Commune/Sangkat chief
A basic medical fitness certificate

Step-by-step

1
Work out whether you need Type A, Type B or both
Type A covers motorcycles and Type B cars, and they are separate exchanges with separate fees — 40,000 riel and 120,000 riel respectively. In Siem Reap most residents ride, so Type A is the one that actually matters. Decide before you queue.
OnlineWho: YouMinutesFree to decide
2
Get the Sangkat residence letter
Your Commune/Sangkat office issues a letter confirming where you live, and your landlord's cooperation makes it easy. Siem Reap landlords in Wat Bo and Sala Kamreuk are used to this; landlords further out may not be. Ask before signing a lease.
In personWho: You (with your landlord)Same day to a few daysSmall administrative fee
3
Have your licence translated and certified by your embassy
Siem Reap has no embassies, so a certified translation means a consular appointment in Phnom Penh, a postal process, or an honorary consul if your country has one here. Sort this before you start anything else — it is the long pole.
In personWho: YouDays to weeksEmbassy fee
4
File at the Provincial Department of Public Works and Transport
The Ministry's provincial office in Siem Reap handles licence exchanges, as do the Provincial One Window Service units. The mall service counters people mention online are Phnom Penh locations. Bring three 4x6cm white-background photos, your medical certificate and everything above.
In personWho: YouA morning to a few days40,000 riel (Type A) / 120,000 riel (Type B)
5
Ride like the roads are what they are
Cambodia's road fatality rate is among the region's highest and the temple roads mix coaches, bicycles, livestock and unlit motorbikes after dark. Wear a real helmet you bought yourself, avoid riding at night on National Road 6, and check that your insurance does not exclude motorcycles — many travel policies do.
In personWho: YouOngoingA good helmet, USD 30–60
6
Diary the annual renewal
The Cambodian licence issued on exchange is valid for one year. Set the reminder the day you collect it — an expired licence is easy money for a traffic stop and a straightforward way to void an insurance claim.
In personWho: YouAnnualRenewal fee

Documents you’ll need

Original foreign driving licence
Embassy-certified English or French translation, if needed
Passport with a valid visa (15+ days remaining)
Commune/Sangkat residence letter
Medical fitness certificate
Three 4x6cm photos, white background

Things most newcomers don’t know

There is no embassy in Siem Reap, which turns the certified translation into a trip.

The licence exchange requires a translation certified by your embassy or consulate, and every embassy is in Phnom Penh. Residents either combine it with a capital trip, use a postal or courier process where the embassy allows it, or pay a local agent to handle the whole exchange. Knowing this in advance saves a wasted morning at the provincial office.

Source: community-reported / MPWT exchange requirements

The mall driving-licence counters everyone mentions online are in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia's Ministry of Public Works and Transport runs convenient service counters inside Phnom Penh's Aeon Malls, and most English-language guidance describes those. Siem Reap residents use the Provincial Department of Public Works and Transport or a Provincial One Window Service unit instead. Same process, different building, and worth confirming opening hours before you go.

Source: MPWT service-centre network; community-reported

Most travel and health policies exclude motorcycle accidents unless you hold the right licence.

In a town where nearly every foreign resident rides a scooter, this is the exclusion that bites. Insurers commonly require a valid licence for the category of vehicle — often including a motorcycle endorsement from your home country — and a helmet. Riding on a car-only licence can void the claim on the single most likely accident you will have here.

Source: insurer policy documents; consular travel advice

The road to the airport is now a real journey, and it changes how you plan travel.

Siem Reap–Angkor International opened 45–50km east of town in October 2023, replacing an airport six kilometres from the centre. Transfers run 60–90 minutes and cost around USD 30–40. Early-morning departures now mean leaving in the dark on National Road 6, and residents increasingly compare that against the road or bus to Phnom Penh.

Source: Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport opening, October 2023

Common mistakes to avoid

Turning up at the provincial office without an embassy-certified translation
Going to Phnom Penh's mall counters expecting to find an equivalent in Siem Reap
Riding a scooter on a car-only licence and voiding your insurance
Forgetting the Cambodian licence expires after twelve months
Underestimating the airport transfer and missing an early flight

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.