albatross710
Established Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2004
- Posts
- 3,765
I’m considering doing some motorbike touring during an upcoming trip to Vietnam and wanted to clarify the licensing and insurance situation.
I know many Australians have traveled there and done motorbike tours on various bikes, but the legalities can be confusing.
Licensing:
No local license is required for bikes under 50cc.
For bikes 50cc-175cc, you need either a Vietnamese license or an International Driving Permit (IDP).
However, Vietnam does not recognize IDPs from Australia or the USA, which complicates things.
Despite this, many motorbike rental shops will happily rent bikes (especially under 150cc) to Australians without checking for a local license.
Travel Insurance Concerns:
Qantas Travel Insurance (QTI) states that the rider must be licensed in the country they are riding in, which could be a dealbreaker for my annual policy.
Covermore only requires the rider to be licensed for motorbikes in their home country, but like all policies, it also separately states the general condition that travelers must comply with local laws and regulations.
Given that Vietnam doesn’t recognize Australian IDPs, this creates a gray area when it comes to insurance coverage.
For those who have done motorbike tours in Vietnam, how have you navigated the travel insurance and licensing issue? Are there any specific insurers that offer coverage despite the licensing gap?
Would love to hear your experiences!
I know many Australians have traveled there and done motorbike tours on various bikes, but the legalities can be confusing.
Licensing:
No local license is required for bikes under 50cc.
For bikes 50cc-175cc, you need either a Vietnamese license or an International Driving Permit (IDP).
However, Vietnam does not recognize IDPs from Australia or the USA, which complicates things.
Despite this, many motorbike rental shops will happily rent bikes (especially under 150cc) to Australians without checking for a local license.
Travel Insurance Concerns:
Qantas Travel Insurance (QTI) states that the rider must be licensed in the country they are riding in, which could be a dealbreaker for my annual policy.
Covermore only requires the rider to be licensed for motorbikes in their home country, but like all policies, it also separately states the general condition that travelers must comply with local laws and regulations.
Given that Vietnam doesn’t recognize Australian IDPs, this creates a gray area when it comes to insurance coverage.
For those who have done motorbike tours in Vietnam, how have you navigated the travel insurance and licensing issue? Are there any specific insurers that offer coverage despite the licensing gap?
Would love to hear your experiences!
