Renting Scooters in Vietnam: Are You Insured?
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 01 May 2026
Read on for everything you need to know about renting a scooter legally in Vietnam, including international license requirements, fines, travel insurance, types of vehicle and more.
Are you contemplating an iconic motorbike odyssey along the length of Vietnam? Or maybe renting local scooters in Vietnam and cruising the steamy rice paddies, untouched beaches, dense jungles and small villages? It’s the dream of many, riding around this region of southeast Asia on two-wheels. It was ours for many years, until recently, when we finally made it happen!
The issue with this fantasy is that renting scooters in Vietnam technically requires a license.
In Vietnam, around 95% of registered vehicles are scooters or motorcycles. For visitors to the country, scooter rental in Vietnam offers greater flexibility and is the backpacker-favourite low-cost form of transport. The problem is, more and more tourists are riding illegally, making police checks more common, with more uninsured accidents appearing in the news all the time (with corresponding GoFundMe pleas).
Here, we explain (hopefully simply) who can rent a motorbike or scooter in Vietnam legally, including some of the pitfalls, license requirements and necessary paperwork. We’ve also talked about travel insurance companies that will cover you without a valid license. This is written from the perspective of a U.K. citizen but can be applied worldwide.
Note | in Vietnamese legal terms, there is no difference between a scooter and motorbike, only the engine size really matters. For the rest of this article, we’ll call all these two-wheeled vehicles scooters.
IN THIS GUIDE //
Renting Scooters in Vietnam
WHY RENT A SCOOTER IN VIETNAM?
TYPES OF SCOOTER IN VIETNAM
WHY HAVE A VALID MOTORBIKE LICENSE IN VIETNAM?
– INSURANCE FOR SCOOTER RENTAL IN VIETNAM
– POLICE FINES FOR SCOOTERS IN VIETNAM
WHAT SCOOTER LICENSE IS NEEDED?
– VIETNAMESE SCOOTER LICENSE
– CONVERTING YOUR HOME DRIVING LICENSE TO A VIETNAMESE ONE
– USING YOUR HOME LICENSE IN VIETNAM
TYPES OF INTERNATIONAL DRIVERS PERMITS FOR VIETNAM
– WHICH IDPS ARE VALID IN VIETNAM
– HOW TO GET AN IDP
– COUNTRIES THAT HAVE SIGNED THE 1968 IDP
– ENDORSEMENT STAMPS ON AN IDP
– HOW TO GET A MOTORBIKE ENDORSEMENT STAMP
DOES TRAVEL INSURANCE COVER SCOOTERS IN VIETNAM?
FINAL THOUGHTS – RENTING A SCOOTER IN VIETNAM
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SUMMARY: HOW TO RENT SCOOTERS IN VIETNAM LEGALLY
You need:
⬩ An ASEAN driving license that explicitly allows you to ride the relevant sized scooter
or
⬩ A license from your home country that explicitly allows you to ride the relevant sized scooter
*and* one of the below:
⬩ A 1968 IDP with the ‘A1’ motorbike endorsement stamp (for any bike below 125cc)
or
⬩ A 1968 IDP with the ‘A’ motorbike endorsement stamp (for any sized bike)
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WHY AVOID THE TAM COC BOAT TOUR | 7-DAY VIETNAM ITINERARIES
Why Rent a Scooter in Vietnam
Vietnam is an ideal biker destination. With bustling, dynamic mega-cities full of history and commotion to cliff-hugging mountain towns, steeped in clouds with endless backdrops; the hazy, feverish roads will captivate you. Roaming through sleepy villages, skirting rice paddies and cosmopolitan café-lined beaches; all of this and more is accessible on a scooter.
Here are some reasons to consider riding a two-wheeled vehicle in Vietnam:
Flexibility | renting a scooter in Vietnam allows a certain amount of freedom and independence to travel at your own pace.
See more | it gives the opportunity to avoid tour groups at popular sites and see a world that you’d normally drive past on a sleeper bus.
Cost | daily and monthly rates on scooters are extremely affordable in Vietnam. It’s a backpacker favourite for a reason!
Local | two-wheels is the local Vietnamese way to get around – so why not do as the residents do?
Fun | straight up – riding a scooter in Vietnam is fun.
RENTING SCOOTERS IN VIETNAM: FOR NON U.K. NATIONALS
This post has been written from the perspective of a U.K. citizen who holds a full ‘A’ class motorbike license. Although obtaining licensing documents, taking tests and bike categories might vary between countries, the principles written here are global:
– Insurance policies are mostly standard worldwide.
– How Vietnam views your foreign driving license is the same for all nationalities.
– International driving permits are a global agreement and apply to every country who signs up.
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RELATED | HA GIANG LOOP: A COMPLETE GUIDE
Types of Scooter in Vietnam
There are various options for scooter rental in Vietnam. Some types are only available through specialist motorcycle agents (more expensive), whilst other budget-friendly ones are commonly rented via every business around, including your guesthouse. Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki are the main brands available for motorcycles and scooters in Vietnam.
Engine size | for scooter rental in Vietnam, the most important thing to note is the engine size, no matter the type of bike. The majority will have an engine capacity between 110-125cc. Larger engine sizes are available but far less common.
Smaller scooters | we almost always end up with a 125cc engine and have never seen anything below 100cc. You’ll likely find more automatic and semi-automatic scooters available for rent than manuals in Vietnam. We almost exclusively used automatics.
Why it’s Important to Have a Valid Motorbike License
Many tourists visit Vietnam without a valid license for a scooter rental and treat it like a lawless land. It is easy to rent a two-wheeled vehicle without any kind of license, as often Vietnam scooter rental companies generally only require a deposit of cash or identification/passport.
Although tourists and residents ride unlicensed all across southeast Asia, it’s a pretty bad idea as a visitor, particularly if you do not have experience. It’s also sometimes a question of selfishness – just because you can, doesn’t mean you should (this statement is valid for many things in tourism, to be honest).
For example, how would you feel about an inexperienced tourist riding or driving unlicensed in your home country? We’ve heard various responses to this query, so I guess it is a question of perspective.
This post isn’t about telling you not to do something or being critical of tourists’ decisions. If you choose to ride without a license and insurance, we hope you are safe and have a great time! However, it is worth being educated on the laws and the related risks.
Valid Insurance for Scooter Rental in Vietnam
There are GoFundMe cases constantly popping up all over southeast Asia caused by scooter rental accidents involving uninsured and often inexperienced riders.
It is rare for any insurance policy to cover you if you are doing something illegal. I would hope this goes without saying, but this includes using motorised vehicles of any kind, like scooters. If you are not legally riding in a country, your health insurance will not pay for treatment, surgery, medication or in the extreme, repatriation (unless you go with a particular insurance company we found).
It’s your call, but Vietnam is not the easiest or safest place to rent a scooter, even with experience. Accidents are not uncommon.
Police Fines for Renting Scooters in Vietnam
You can be fined in Vietnam, or even have your scooter impounded, if you do not have the correct scooter license. This is particularly problematic in touristy places like Ha Giang.
As of 2025, Vietnam law states that under section 3 of Article 18 in Decree 168/2024/ND-CP, the fine for “drivers of two-wheeled motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of up to 125 cm3” without a valid driving license is two to four million Vietnamese Dong (£55 to £110). Additionally, the fine for “drivers of two-wheeled motorcycles with a cylinder capacity of over 125 cm3” without a valid driving license is six to eight million Vietnamese Dong (£165-£220).
Other things to consider if you want to ride legally in Vietnam:
⬩ Helmets – these are a legal requirement
⬩ Traffic violations, like speeding, running traffic lights – these can result in fines, just like in any other country
PLANNING A VIETNAM TRIP?
Have a quick peek to see if any of our northern Vietnam posts might be helpful.
Destination info:
Learn the truth about the Tam Coc Boat Tour
Explore the dramatic karst rocks of Ninh Binh
Don’t miss these 11 things off your first-time Hanoi itinerary
How to cruise Halong Bay on a budget
Read about how to ride the Ha Giang Loop independently
Why you should avoid Sapa’s Cat Cat Village
Planning guides:
An entire one Month Vietnam trip budget for backpackers
Three 7-day Vietnam itinerary routes, perfect for shorter trips
What to expect and how to book Vietnam sleeper buses
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What license is Needed to Legally Rent a Scooter in Vietnam?
There are two options to legally rent scooters in Vietnam – getting a Vietnamese scooter license or using your home driver’s license.
Getting a Vietnamese Scooter License
The first option involves getting a Vietnamese scooter license, if you are eligible to apply for the test. There are three Vietnamese Scooter classifications as of rule changes in 2025:
⬩ For an engine size of up to 50cc you do not need a motorcycle license in Vietnam.
⬩ A Vietnamese A1 license is needed for engine sizes above 50cc up to 125cc.
⬩ A Vietnamese A2 license is needed for engine sizes above 125cc.
Only certain visa-holders are eligible to apply for a Vietnamese scooter license. Unfortunately, since 2020, Vietnam has required any scooter license applicant to be on longer than a three-month visa (almost all tourists visit on a max of three month visas/visa waivers or less).
To obtain a Vietnamese scooter license, you will need to take a written exam, which is only in Vietnamese, plus pass a practical test.
Converting Your Home License to a Vietnam Driving License
If you are staying in Vietnam on a visa valid for under three months, then you cannot convert your home driver’s license to a Vietnamese one. This means that generally, you can only do this if you are a foreigner who resides, works or studies in Vietnam.
Using your Home License to Rent a Scooter in Vietnam
The second (and most common) option to legally ride a scooter in Vietnam is to have a valid motorbike license from your home country and an accompanying international driving permit (IDP). This is the only option that most tourists have.
There are three main types of IDP available, however only one in currently legal in Vietnam.
Types of International Driving Permits For Vietnam
There are three international driving permits. Each one is named for the United Nations Road Traffic Convention of that year:
⬩ The 1926 Paris International Convention
⬩ The 1949 Geneva International Convention
⬩ The 1968 Vienna International Convention
The 1926 and 1949 IDP are valid for one year and the 1968 IDP is valid for three years, or until the expiry of the driver’s license.
Different countries have each signed certain conventions, so it is possible that some of these licenses will not be available in your home country.
Which IDPs are Valid in Vietnam
Unfortunately, having an IDP doesn’t automatically mean you are legal to ride a scooter in Vietnam.
On the 20th August 2014, Vietnam signed the 1968 Vienna Convention. As such, Vietnam does not recognise the 1926 one-year IDP or the 1949 one-year IDP.
How to get an IDP for Vietnam
An IDP must be issued in the same country as the home driver’s license. It is not possible to obtain an IDP on arrival in the destination country, in this case, Vietnam.
In the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, residents who are aged 18 and over with a full driver’s license can buy an IDP for £5.50. As of April 1st 2024, you can no longer buy an IDP from the Post Office. Instead these are only available from certain shops that have PayPoint.
The 1926, 1949 and 1968 IDPs all cost the same – just tell the employee which one you need. Check when your license is filled in that they have stamped all the relevant boxes. You can also have one of each license simultaneously. Full details are available through the U.K. government driving abroad page.
For other countries, you will have to check with the relative governmental department for how to get your IDP and the costs. Prices and processes vary hugely across the world!
Which Countries have Signed the 1968 IDP?
You can check on the United Nations Convention of Road Traffic to see if your home country has signed the 1968 IDP convention.
The Vietnamese decree/circular No. 48/2014/TT-BGTVT states that foreigners who wish to drive in Vietnam shall:
b) Be permitted to operate the types of vehicles written on the international driving license without having to replace it with a Vietnam driving license if that person already has an international driving license issued by a competent authority of a member state of the Convention on Road Traffic 1968.
For example, as of April 2025, the United States, Australia and Canada have not signed the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic.
If your country hasn’t ratified the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, then you are not legally able to ride a scooter in Vietnam.
Any citizen of a country who has only ratified the 1926 or 1949 IDP Conventions on Road Traffic will have to convert their license to a Vietnamese license to satisfy Vietnam’s laws.
Endorsement Stamps on an IDP for Vietnam
An endorsement is a stamp in the IDP for a particular category of motor vehicle. It determines what vehicle(s) you are permitted to use with your license.
For two-wheeled scooters, the 1968 IDP differentiates between ‘A’ and ‘A1’ endorsements. The ‘A1’ endorsement on the IDP applies to scooters up to 125cc and ‘A’ is any size of scooter.
How to get an Endorsement Stamp
In the U.K. and Northern Ireland, to get a motorcycle endorsement on the 1968 IDP, it is necessary to have passed an A1, A2 or full A motorbike license. For more information on what you need to take the tests, check out the U.K. government licensing page.
A compulsory basic training (CBT) certificate is not valid for use as a driver’s license in Vietnam and will not get a motorbike endorsement stamp on an IDP.
An A1 and A2 license are both considered the same in Vietnam and allow you to ride a bike with a 125cc engine.
We did not see any 50cc scooters in Vietnam (for rent or otherwise) during our travels in Vietnam. Whilst these may be available somewhere, realistically you will not be able to ride a scooter in Vietnam legally without at least an A1 motorcycle endorsement on your 1968 IDP.
Does Every Insurance Policy Cover Riding a Scooter in Vietnam?
While we cannot know what is covered by every insurance policy across the world, our (reasonably extensive) investigations for our own insurance found that cover for scooter accidents in Vietnam will fall under three likely scenarios:
⬩ The policy does not cover renting scooters at all
⬩ The policy covers local riding of a scooter but not as your primary form of transport
⬩ The policy covers renting scooters/motorbikes without caveats (as long as you are riding legally)
⬩ One company provided coverage for any rider no matter their license status.
Small print | it is worth checking the small print in detail. World Nomads, for example, a very popular backpacking insurance company, will not cover you for ‘motorbike touring’ or ‘when using a motorbike as your main mode of transport abroad’. If you were touring Vietnam from south to north or the Ha Giang loop, for example, this company would not cover you for any accidents.
Price | well known companies like World Nomads offer some of the most expensive policies we have ever seen and many companies require crazily priced add-ons to cover scooter rental.
Note | if you are intending to ride as a pillion passenger, check your insurance documents carefully to ensure you are covered under all scenarios.
Note | the only company that we have found to insure unlicensed riders is Genki. They are highly reputable and reliable. Check them out if you are intending to ride without the proper paperwork – it’s best to be safe in the event of an accident.
We’ve used Outbacker Insurance as U.K. citizens. They have been so amazing and prompt with all our queries – we fully recommend them and have used them for three consecutive years (until 2025, because we turned 40 and tragically they have an age limit). They cover any motorbike usage in Vietnam as long as you’re legally allowed to ride.
OTHER COUNTRY’S MOTORBIKE LICENSE RULES
These licensing rules apply to other countries in southeast Asia too, like Thailand (although Thailand does not recognise the ‘A1’ license, so you must have an ‘A’ endorsement stamp).
Note | if you hold an ASEAN license, you do not need an IDP to accompany your valid home motorbike license.
Some countries have agreed to more/different IDP conventions, but fundamentally, you need exactly the same documentation as Vietnam.
No matter what country you ride in, you need to be legal under local laws for your insurance to be valid and to not incur fines from law enforcement (unless you go with Genki!).
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Where to Next?
Renting a scooter in Vietnam almost seems like a rite of passage for any southeast Asia backpacker. No destination in this region is more associated with scooters than Vietnam.
Riding illegally is always a touchy subject, though, with two main camps of people. The first adamantly stands behind the fact that if the rental company will give you a bike, then why not? The second are the law-abiding people who are maybe a little less risk averse. We are in that second category and specifically spent time getting a bike license to be able to ride abroad (we don’t ride in the U.K.).
Our personal take is that unless you have experience, you shouldn’t ride in a foreign country, especially Vietnam, purely because you may hurt an innocent bystander. It’s a tricky place to learn and most scooters we rented were in a seriously sketchy condition (to say the least).
If you’re an experienced rider with a motorbike license from somewhere like the USA, Canada, Australia or anywhere that cannot obtain a 1968 IDP, I feel for you, hard. It sucks. If you’re going to ride anyway – get some insurance with Genki, then at least if something happens you won’t have an trouble with emergency healthcare. We’ve written a bit more about the company on a Vietnam travel insurance post.
We hope this article has helped you figure out the licensing rules in Vietnam, and wish you a genuinely amazing time on your trip, whether you ride a scooter in Vietnam or not!
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