· SOUTHEAST ASIA · CAMBODIA ·
How to Rent a Tuktuk in Siem Reap, Cambodia: A Detailed Self-Driving Guide
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 16 Feb 2025
If you’re curious to see if renting a tuktuk in Cambodia is for you, this detailed post includes costs, road rules, refuelling, road safety, parking, logistics, some reality checks and more, so you can plan the perfect trip!
Until relatively recently, self-driving in Cambodia was a no-go for people outside of the ASEAN region. However, since 2020, renting a vehicle in one of southeast Asia’s most underrated countries has become a legal and efficient way to get around the country.
In July 2024, our acquaintances over at tuktukrental.com (who we rented a tuktuk in Sri Lanka with) started a tuktuk rental service in Siem Reap – providing visitors with the ideal way to get around the city, the adjacent legendary temples and further afield. So, obviously, we jumped at the opportunity to spend two weeks driving a temperamental three-wheeler around Siem Reap, Angkor Wat and beyond!
Cambodia is, (along with Laos), one of the most exhilarating southeast Asian countries, with few tourists, overtly welcoming residents, and an astonishing history – yet many miss it off their itineraries. Here, we detail why you should visit and, more importantly, why getting around Siem Reap (and the entire country) in your very own rental tuktuk is the perfect method of transport!
For supplementary information (or just for a laugh), check out how our adventures went when we spent a month travelling Sri Lanka in a tuktuk!
IN THIS GUIDE //
Tuktuk Rental in Cambodia
WHAT IS A TUKTUK?
WHY RENT A TUKTUK IN SIEM REAP?
WHAT LICENSE IS NEEDED?
IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE A RENTAL TUKTUK IN CAMBODIA?
WHAT ARE ROADS LIKE IN SIEM REAP (AND CAMBODIA)?
CAN YOU SELF-DRIVE A TUKTUK AROUND ANGKOR WAT?
ARE TUKTUKS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE?
HOW TO REFUEL A TUKTUK IN CAMBODIA
NAVIGATING AROUND CAMBODIA
PARKING A TUKTUK IN SIEM REAP
TUKTUKS, MONKEYS AND FOOD
IS TUKTUK RENTAL EXPENSIVE IN SIEM REAP?
WHO WE RENTED FROM
WHY RENT FROM TUKTUKRENTAL.COM
REALITIES OF DRIVING A TUKTUK IN CAMBODIA
THINGS TO PACK
FINAL THOUGHTS
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WHAT IS A TUKTUK?
The modern day tuktuk is a motorised three wheeled vehicle with a semi-open chassis that is kind of based around a motorbike. They are predominantly used for transport in both urban and rural areas in India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and many other countries around the world.
Origins | the origins of the tuktuk are somewhat disputed. Some consider a motorised vehicle, similar in design to the tuktuk, patented by 1886 by Carl Benz as the proto-tuktuk. Others consider the ‘Mazda-Go’ as the first true tuktuk, which was rolled out in Japan in 1931 as an upgrade to traditional rickshaws.
Growth | since the 1930’s the use of tuktuks spread from Japan to nearby countries such as Thailand initially, before extending further abroad. Nowadays, tuktuks are found in many countries all over the world, such as Spain, Italy (under the guise of the Piaggio Ape) and Cuba, to name a few. For a time, they were even used by the United States Postal Service!
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RELATED POST | TUKTUK ADVENTURES IN SRI LANKA
Why Rent a Tuktuk in Siem Reap?
I mean, I’ve said it before, but do it for the crazy adventure and the hilarious stories! There are also more sensible reasons for renting a tuktuk in Cambodia:
⬩ Having your own transport provides flexibility and independence
⬩ The price is right – renting a tuktuk is very affordable
⬩ Capacity – they can take up to four people (if you’re squashed or have small children), which is much more suitable than a bike for an adventurous group
⬩ Tuktuks are just super fun and hilarious
⬩ Kids will love it
⬩ You can go further afield and explore more of Cambodia
⬩ Angkor Wat’s ruins are easily explored with a self-drive tuktuk
⬩ Tuktuks are reasonably easy to drive
⬩ You only need a standard driving license from your home country (no motorbike license required)
⬩ Some of Cambodia’s tuktuks are super comfy – we had a Bajaj Maxima and it was crazy spacious, enough space for four people
⬩ Provides much better protection from the rain and sun than riding a motorbike
⬩ They are much safer than a motorbike
⬩ Cambodia is mostly flat and tuktuks hate hills. It’s a perfect combination
⬩ With an estimated 100,000 tuktuks on the road in Cambodia, you’ll be getting around like a resident
5% OFF YOUR TUKTUKRENTAL.COM BOOKING
If you’re already sold on a Cambodian tuktuk rental and know it’s definitely for you, then consider using tuktukrental.com. They’re the absolute best, have a socially minded-ethos, employ fantastic staff, and by using our link, they’ll give you a 5% discount.
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What License is Needed to Rent a Tuktuk in Cambodia?
To legally rent a tuktuk in Cambodia, you must possess a standard car license and valid 1949 international driving permit (IDP) (if you do not hold a license from one of the 10 ASEAN countries).
An IDP can be obtained from your home country for a nominal fee (in the UK they cost £5.50).
When we picked up our rental tuktuk, we had to upload a copy of our IDP as part of the process.
Can You Ride a Scooter or Motorbike in Cambodia?
If you do not hold a motorbike license, then you are not legal to ride a scooter or motorbike in Cambodia with an engine size above 125cc. Even if you ride a 125cc scooter (or smaller), you may not be covered by your insurance, so check this in advance.
We’ve driven a motorbike in various locations around Cambodia and didn’t see rental bikes under 125cc, but lots were exactly 125cc.
Also, Siem Reap is definitely not a place to learn to ride a scooter abroad for the first time, so ensure you have experience riding if you decide to. Having said that, Siem Reap is one of our favourite places in the world to ride a scooter or motorbike, so consider this option if you’re comfortable. Have a look at our post on renting a scooter in Siem Reap for more information.
We wouldn’t recommend biking cross-country on a scooter though!
TUKTUKS – AT A GLANCE
Year | the first tuktuk was built 1931
First country to have tuktuks | Japan
Also known as | auto-rickshaw, three-wheeler
Number in Cambodia | estimated around 100,000
Name | the name originates from the sound the original engines made
Hilarious | Miss Thailand won ‘Best Costume’ in the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant wearing a tuktuk themed dress
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RELATED POST | VISITING BATTAMBANG’S BAT CAVES
Is It Safe to Drive a Tuktuk in Cambodia?
Yes, we would consider it safe to drive a tuktuk in Cambodia (and driving in Siem Reap and around Angkor Wat is particularly straightforward). As with any country, drive carefully, don’t speed or do anything silly and it is totally fine.
⬩ Typically, a tuktuk is far safer than riding a motorbike. They are, however, a little less safe than driving a car (logically).
⬩ Tuktuks operate at pretty low speeds in general – you’d be hard-pressed to ever go beyond 50-60 kilometres an hour.
⬩ Roads and drivers in Cambodia are not particularly fast either so you won’t have many people speeding past you at 120+ kilometres an hour.
⬩ Despite the mildly hectic nature of Cambodian roads, we never saw a single accident involving a tuktuk, scooter or car while there. We found most roads around Siem Reap to be reasonably quiet (there’s obviously traffic at certain times of day, but it’s all rather civil compared with somewhere like Bangkok!).
⬩ The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Cambodia is reasonably low, at 0.05%, which is the same as France and lower than the United Kingdom’s limit of 0.08%. We’d highly recommend not having anything at all, though.
Risk of Tuktuk Crime in Cambodia
It’s extremely rare that anything would happen to you, your possessions, or your tuktuk while in Cambodia, or Siem Reap specifically.
We can only write about our personal experiences, but we never felt worried about leaving our tuktuk anywhere, and rarely even did up the rain flaps (although we visited in the January dry season, so rain wasn’t a major issue).
Being in an open, exposed vehicle technically puts passengers or drivers at increased risk from theft. It’s never advised to leave any belongings, including food (more on that later), in an unattended tuktuk. In certain areas of Cambodia, Phnom Penh in particular, there have been reports, albeit rare, of phones being snatched from tourists who had their hands stuck out of windows.
Our experience of driving in Siem Reap and Battambang was nothing but great and we didn’t have any safety concerns at all.
What is Driving Like in Siem Reap (and Cambodia)?
Driving is mostly straightforward in Cambodia, from our experience. In Siem Reap, most of the roads (you are likely to drive) are smooth, paved roads with two-way traffic and clear lanes. Some routes are one-way only.
Side of road | traffic drives on the right side of the road in Cambodia.
Dirt roads | sometimes, especially outside Siem Reap (for example Battambang, where we drove to in our tuktuk), you’ll come across some dusty dirt roads. These are straightforward to drive because, for the most part, nobody goes that fast on them! Also, tuktuks are tough, hardy beasts and can tackle way more rough terrain than you’d imagine (we found this out first-hand in Sri Lanka).
Vehicles | the road traffic composition is made up of a decent number of motorbikes, a fair few motorbike-style taxi things, tuktuks, tractor-like vehicles and cars. There are a few larger vehicles, but not many. We rarely saw buses or giant lorries, even on the main highways outside the cities. When we did, they didn’t drive like a Sri Lankan bus (which is a very good thing).
Traffic flow | the roads in Siem Reap appear somewhat chaotic, however, they’re not. Crossroads are probably the most difficult part as it’s never clear who has right of way. Cycles, scooters, tuktuks, cars and trucks all merge when turning or crossing a road. Despite this, there is a kind of fluidity, which makes navigating this relatively easy. It’s particularly straightforward in a tuktuk because motorbikes will naturally avoid you as you’re the larger vehicle.
Road signs and traffic lights | there aren’t masses of these. Major highway style roads had lights and road signs, but they were minimal compared with other countries we’ve driven in.
Horns | sparingly used in Cambodia, unlike neighbouring Vietnam.
Wildlife | rarely seen on the road. We mainly saw monkeys around Angkor Wat and very few dogs.
Speed limits | these are typically 40 kilometres per hour (kmph) in urban areas such as Siem Reap, where most of your driving will likely be. Sometimes there are signed areas for 20 kmph around Angkor Wat. Outside of towns the maximum speed limit is often 60 kmph but can be 90 kmph on rural roads and expressways go up to 100 kmph (totally impossible in a tuktuk!).
Note | the mirrors on a typical Cambodian tuktuk are set particularly close to the body. This is because motorbikes ride very near to your vehicle, and it helps you spot them better. It’s worth ensuring you use your mirrors as much as possible to spot bikers (although we didn’t find motorbikes to be a concern, at all).
CAN YOU DRIVE A TUKTUK AROUND THE ANGKOR WAT TEMPLES?
Yes, you are allowed to self-drive a tuktuk to tour Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples, as long as you have a valid entry ticket.
Each temple area has easy, convenient parking areas for tuktuks (you can’t miss them) and it’s all very straightforward. Parking is always free around the temples.
The Angkor Wat ticket office is located in central Siem Reap. It is easy to access using a tuktuk, with abundant paved parking and lots of helpful staff.
While driving your tuktuk around the ruins, staff members will occasionally flag you down (typically in the same place each day, like just south of Bayon Temple, for example). At each stop, they’ll check your ticket and send you on your way.
There are no restrictions on where a tuktuk can drive. However, be aware that, occasionally, roads are closed at certain times and Google Maps does not know about it. For example, the road leading south of Bayon is sometimes shut southbound between 7am-11am, meaning you must take a diversion to get back to Siem Reap.
Note | if you like to use local guides, there are accredited ones at the entrances to many of the major temple complexes, like Bayon, Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm. This means you can still drive yourself and just hire a guide as you go.
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RELATED POST | AMAZING PHOTO SPOTS IN ANGKOR WAT
Are Cambodian Tuktuks Difficult to Drive?
Tuktuks in Cambodia are not difficult to drive. They can be a bit moody and temperamental but don’t take long to get accustomed to. Here is everything you need to know about actually driving one:
Gears | Cambodian tuktuks have four manual gears and one reverse.
Changing gears | unlike a car, which uses a foot pedal to change gears, in a tuktuk this is done by hand, like a manual motorbike.
Acceleration | this is minimal in a tuktuk, far slower than a car or a motorbike.
Controls | they steer and accelerate like a motorbike and use a foot pedal like a car for breaking. Instead of a steering wheel, they have handles.
Quality | tuktuks in Cambodia seem to be in far better condition than the ones we drove and saw in Sri Lanka. Our Cambodian tuktuk was way more comfortable and didn’t have anywhere near as many quirks and annoyances! It also had fewer miles on the clock. This meant that it almost always started first time, and had way smoother gear changes. We found it far easier to drive.
Handling | the turning circle of a tuktuk is excellent and similar to a motorbike. Being compact makes navigating smaller backroads much more preferable over a standard car.
Reverse gear | the reverse gear is activated by a lever when the tuktuk is in neutral, which is a bit awkward, especially if attempting a three-point turn.
Our experience | we stalled at traffic lights when coming to a stop a few times on our journeys, especially when it was cold in the mornings. Restarting a tuktuk is easy enough though and ours certainly wasn’t the only tuktuk to stall! It is worth revving a little extra at traffic lights in the mornings to avoid this.
How to Refuel a Tuktuk in Cambodia
Our tuktuk was fitted with a Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinder, rather than a petrol tank (although it did have an emergency petrol reserve). LPG fuel is widely available around Cambodia and is inexpensive. We paid between 1900 and 2100 Cambodia rial per litre of LPG, which is around 50 US cents.
Petrol/LPG in Cambodia is always served by an attendant; it isn’t self-serve for re-fuelling. When entering the forecourt you will be guided to the separate LPG pump (the inlet under the driver’s seat is the giveaway – they always knew we needed LPG and not petrol).
Then, turn the engine off, inform the attendant of how much fuel you want (‘full’ and numbers of litres were always understood) and after, pay like you would in any other country. The price per litre, number of litres and total cost is displayed on the LPG pump’s screen, as in any other country.
We always paid in cash, but lots of gas stations had card options for payment as well as mobile payment options using QR codes.
We never had any issues with scammy behaviour during our time in Cambodia, like petrol pumps not being reset by attendants, for example.
Our rental tuktuk went around 200-250 kilometres per full fuel up, which cost around 10 dollars/40,000 rial.
Navigating Around Cambodia’s Roads
We used Google Maps for our entire two weeks and it didn’t get us lost or leave us confused.
Occasionally, it would think a road was open when it wasn’t, or that a route was two-way instead of one-way (this happened daily on Pokambor Avenue in Siem Reap).
However, it was never difficult to figure out the correct route by just following other traffic and abiding by obvious no-entry road signs.
Parking a Tuktuk in Siem Reap
Parking in Siem Reap is mostly obvious and we never paid to leave our tuktuk anywhere.
There are few dedicated off-street parking options in Siem Reap. However, there is almost always space on the sides of roads, which is where most people park tuktuks and motorbikes. Temples and places of interest always have abundant space to park, in our experience.
Overnight parking | it is advisable to roll down the weather flaps and zip up your tuktuk to prevent bugs and animals getting in (and to keep the rain out). We didn’t do this and found a dog asleep in the backseat one morning (dogs seem to be universally adorable in Cambodia, if that’s any help). Another time, in Battambang, we had our hotel parking attendant sleep in our tuktuk overnight (he was lovely, though). We also had a monkey invasion in Angkor Wat (mentioned in more detail below).
Restrictions | in Siem Reap, there are occasionally restrictions on parking, outside the usual ones, such as no parking on odd or even dated days, denoted by a sign comprising a red circle with a red line through an I and II respectively. There are also sometimes signs denoting that parking is not allowed in the first or second half of a month.
Our experience | in Siem Reap, we parked in an attended gravel parking lot for one of our hotels. For restaurants and other attractions, we could always park on the road or in dedicated lots (like at the incredible APOPO rats and the Cambodian Circus). Also, the main supermarkets have paved parking areas.
Curb Colour Parking Rules
We were told that:
⬩ When the curb is painted white, or black and white, then parking is allowed.
⬩ When the curb is painted yellow and white, parking is not allowed, but unloading/loading of goods and passengers is okay.
⬩ If the curb is painted red and white, then neither parking nor loading/unloading is permitted.
⬩ Mostly, the curbs are not painted at all, so you can park wherever (using some common sense).
TUKTUKS, MONKEYS AND FOOD
Be a little wary of leaving unattended food in your Cambodian tuktuk, especially around the temples of Angkor Wat.
This area is heavily populated with monkeys, and monkeys are dicks.
They do not value personal space, have no concept of ownership and will absolutely wreck your vehicle to get whatever it is you have stashed away. We have seen food snatched from bags inside tuktuk taxis in Cambodia, and from somebody’s hands whilst eating.
At minimum, do up the tuktuk flaps (however monkeys are smart and will get in there anyway if they want to). They know how to undo zips and will rip your tuktuk to shreds searching for food.
Our experience | the first day we left our tuktuk next to Bayon temple, we returned to find a monkey inside the cab, trying to peel the roof material off! We didn’t even leave anything in the vehicle to tempt them. We also saw a monkey walk brazenly up to a woman and grab a bag of fruit from her hand.
There were monkeys on the motorbikes there, too, including a baby monkey sat in a helmet.
We’d recommend avoiding them as much as possible.
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RELATED POST | ANGKOR WAT PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
Is Tuktuk Rental Expensive in Siem Reap?
Renting a tuktuk in Siem Reap is affordable.
Rates depend on who you rent with and the duration of your trip, but expect to pay around 20 US dollars a day, slightly more for shorter rental periods. For comparison, a driver taking you around some of the Angkor Wat ruins usually costs between 20-25 dollars a day (not including the evening).
Who We Rented Our Cambodian Tuktuk From
We rented with tuktukrental.com because we had such a great experience with them previously in Sri Lanka. They take online bookings and it’s all really easy. You can even hire extras like coolers and USB speakers.
Rentals come with comprehensive insurance, which includes personal injury insurance for driver, passenger and third parties.
Why Rent from Tuktukrental.com?
We’ve rented from tuktukrental.com twice now for a total of six weeks, first in Sri Lanka and second in Cambodia. This means we’re highly biased and love this company!
Both times were flawless and we would thoroughly recommend them from personal experience.
We’ve written a bit about them over on our Sri Lanka tuktuk post, but here are a few reasons to get your tuktuk from this particular company:
⬩ Friendly, English-speaking employees
⬩ Driving lessons to get you started
⬩ Socially minded, community conscious company
⬩ Provide support in case of incidents via phone and Whatsapp
⬩ Multiple drop off options (for example, you can pick up in Siem Reap and leave your tuktuk in Phnom Penh)
⬩ The tuktuks are in great condition (our tuktuk had disco party lighting, too)
The Reality of Driving a Tuktuk in Cambodia
We’ve driven a tuktuk in both Sri Lanka and Cambodia. In total we’ve driven for more than six weeks and covered quite a few thousand kilometres. We’ve experienced breakdowns, maintenance issues and extreme weather during our journeys – it’s not all rainbows.
Despite the drama-llama that is driving a tuktuk, we became weirdly attached to these random, inanimate vehicles. They kind of have a personality all of their own. So, we named our newest moody rust bucket ‘Maxi Pebis’ (after Blue Pebis, our decrepit Sri Lankan buddy).
They’re not the most comfortable form of transport, but we do it for the adventure and the hilarity!
Here’s the honest lowdown so you can decide if driving a tuktuk in Cambodia is right for you:
Cold engine | in Cambodia, we sometimes had issues starting the tuktuk in early morning temperatures. After a few tries the engine would always kick in, but sometimes it’d konk out at a traffic light. Maxi Pebis was just not a morning guy.
Weather | it’s actually chilly early in the mornings during Cambodian winters! We didn’t prepare for it, clothing wise.
Attention | unlike Sri Lanka, nobody really paid much attention to the fact that two (obvious) foreigners were driving a tuktuk. In Sri Lanka, people would stop and ask about it, but this was rare in Cambodia. I only had one person have a particularly in-depth conversation about it, and that was in Battambang.
Speed | tuktuks are slow, so getting anywhere takes time (probably longer than google will tell you). Our Cambodian one was much faster than in Sri Lanka, though – it could reach 60 kilometres an hour (but we never really went that fast).
Noise | tuktuks are loud, visceral beasts. You’re constantly reminded the entire time from the noise and the constant vibration.
Exposure | you’re constantly exposed to the elements in a tuktuk. Whether it’s animals, weather, dust or people – they’re not exactly private and don’t shield you from the elements. Plus, your luggage can’t be securely stored.
Local reality | many Cambodian residents drive tuktuks, all day, every day. The experience of renting a tuktuk can help you empathise a little with what it must be like to be sat in one as a full time job.
Energy sapping | it’s not chill, driving a tuktuk. It’s nothing like cruising in a comfortable car! A three- or four-hour journey feels like a marathon, which can be exhausting (having said that, it’s a fun marathon – if that concept even exists?).
Thought | these ‘negatives’ aren’t really negatives. They’re just reality and none of them would persuade us not to rent a tuktuk again. Also, if you just drove around Siem Reap and the Angkor Wat ruins, many of these issues wouldn’t apply (for example, you wouldn’t have unattended baggage or be taking long distance journeys).
5% OFF YOUR TUKTUKRENTAL.COM BOOKING
If you’re already sold on Cambodian tuktuk rental and know it’s definitely for you, then consider using tuktukrental.com. They’re the absolute best, have a socially minded-ethos, employ fantastic staff, and by using our link, they’ll give you a 5% discount.
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Things to Pack for a Cambodian Tuktuk Adventure
Here are a few items to specifically consider for a tuktuk journey in Cambodia:
Buff | excellent for dusty roads and fumes
Sim card/E-sim | it’s important to have access to Google Maps, plus Whatsapp to get assistance from your rental company. We use Airalo for our e-sim purchases and they’ve always been excellent (we’ve used them in more than 10 countries, multiple times).
Bike chain and padlock | if you have to leave your bags in the tuktuk
Long sleeved clothes | for early morning cold weather if visiting during winter
Towel | for drying the seats if you travel in the rainy season
Travel insurance | make sure it covers tuktuk adventures (a few don’t)
Final Thoughts – Cambodian Tuktuk Rental
Driving a tuktuk is a really physical experience. I wrote about it a bit more eloquently I think on our Sri Lanka tuktuk post, but it leaves me with significant visceral, sensory memories of the dust, the vibrations, the rattling and creaking.
I absolutely love it. I’d definitely do it again (I’m really fancying an ambitious tuktuk trip across India one day).
This newish opportunity to rent a tuktuk in Cambodia is particularly advantageous in Siem Reap, where until recently, the only way to explore the outrageous magical ruins of Angkor Wat independently was by bicycle (which, in the Cambodian heat, is my worst nightmare). Now, you can drive around the ruins at the pace you choose, with kids in tow and without a motorbike license. It’s perfect for most visitors to the region!
We hope this post helps you determine if you fancy getting around Siem Reap (and beyond) in a tuktuk.
Have an incredible trip!
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