Registration of Vehicles in International Traffic

Types of Motor Vehicles

          A “motor vehicle” is a power-driven vehicle that is normally used for carrying people or goods by road.  It also includes rigid motor vehicles, articulated vehicles (a prime mover drawing a semi-trailer),  and semi-trailers (a vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle in such a manner that part of the trailer is superimposed on the motor vehicle and a substantial part of the weight of the trailer and its load is borne by the motor vehicle). However, it does not cover vehicles that are only incidentally used for carrying persons or goods by road or for drawing on the road, such as agricultural tractors or road building contracting equipment. It also does not cover rail-borne vehicles, mopeds, and motorcycles. A type of  motor vehicles specified in this Annex is in the Attachment.

 Registration Obligation

          Motor vehicles and semi-trailers used in cross-border traffic shall be registered in their Home Country in accordance with the rules set out in this Annex.

Use of Language and Characters

          In vehicle identification marks, registration certificate, and registration plates, the particulars shall be entered in English language (in block and/or lowercase letters) and Arabic numerals. The prescribed use of English language and Arabic numerals shall not prohibit the repeating of the particulars by the parallel use of national language and characters.

Identification Marks

(a)     Every motor vehicle in cross-border traffic shall bear the following identification marks:

          (i)      the name or the trademark of the manufacturer of the vehicle;

          (ii)    on the chassis or in the absence of a chassis, on the body, the                       manufacturer’s production or serial number; and

          (iii)   on the engine, the engine number if such a number is placed                        on it by the maker (not for semi-trailers).

(b)     These identification marks shall be placed in accessible positions and        shall be easily legible. In addition they shall be such that they cannot be easily altered or removed.

Registration Certificate

(a)     Every motor vehicle in cross-border traffic shall carry a valid            certificate of registrationissued by the competent authority of its                   Home Country.

(b)     It shall bear the following particulars:

          1.      Basic Information

                   1.1    Title: vehicle registration certificate

                   1.2    Name (and logo) of the issuing authority

                   1.3    Address and contact data of the issuing authority                                           (optional)

                   1.4    Country (also via the distinguishing sign) of the issuing                               authority

                   1.5    Authentication (seal/stamp, signature)

                   1.6    Date of issuance of the vehicle registration certificate

          2.      The Registration Particulars

                   2.1    License plate, or registration number

                   2.2    The distinguishing sign of the country of registration

                   2.3    Date of first registration

                   2.4    The period of validity if not unlimited

          3.      The Particulars of the Owner/Holder of the Certificate

                   3.1    Full Name

                   3.2    Address

          4.      The Particulars of the Vehicle

                   4.1    Type: Truck, bus, passenger car, etc.

                   4.2    Body

                   4.2.1 Brand/trademark

                   4.2.2 Model/code (if applicable)

                   4.2.3 Color (RAL code)

                   4.2.4 Year of manufacture (if available)

                   4.2.5 Chassis serial number

                   4.2.6 Number of axles

                   4.2.7 Empty weight (tare) (trucks and buses) (Painting of this                      information on the body of the truck or bus is optional.)

                   4.2.8 Gross weight (trucks) or seat capacity (buses) (Painting                                of this information on the body of the truck or bus is                                    optional.)

                   4.3    Engine

                   4.3.1 Brand (if different from body)

                   4.3.2 Number of cylinders

                   4.3.3 Capacity

                   4.3.4 Horsepower

                   4.3.5 Serial number

Registration Plate

          Every motor vehicle in cross-border traffic shall display its registration number on a special flat vertical plate(s) fixed at the front and at the rear of the vehicle at right angles to thevehicle’s median longitudinal plane, legible at a distance of 35–40 meters. The surface of the plate may be of a reflecting material. Semi-trailers need to display the registration number at least at the rear.

Distinguishing Nationality Sign

(a)     Every motor vehicle in cross-border traffic shall in addition to its               registration number, display at the rear a distinguishing sign of         the    country in which it is registered. This distinguishing sign shall     consist of one to three letters in capital Latin Characters, at least    0.08 meter high and with strokes at least 0.01 meter wide. The letters shall be painted in black on white background in the shape of          an ellipse        with the major axis horizontal.

(b)     The distinguishing sign shall not be incorporated in the registration number or be affixed in such a way that it could be confused with         that   number or impair its legibility.

(c)     The way of display shall follow the rules with respect to the    registration number.

(d)     The distinguishing sign for the motor vehicles of each Contracting   Party shall be as follows:

          Cambodia: KH

          People’s Republic of China: CHN

          Lao People’s Democratic Republic: LAO

          Myanmar: MYA

          Thailand: T

          Viet Nam: VN

 Attachment: Types of Motor Vehicles

Passenger Car

Maximum permissible mass of 3,500 kg

Maximum of eight passenger seats

(in addition to the driver’s seat)

Bus (Coach)

More than eight passenger seats

(in addition to the driver’s seat)

Rigid Truck

Maximum permissible mass of

more than 3,500 kg

Articulated Vehicle

Tractor + Semi-trailer

Note: The references to weight above are for the sole purpose of categorizing vehicles.

 Information Conerning  Vehicle  

Owners  of  the  Vehicles  need  to  obey  the  followings:     

(a)        Any non-registered  vehicles  and  registered  vehicles  which  lifespan  has  expired shall  not  be  driven  in  any  public  place.

(b)       The  Valid  Registration Certificate  shall  be  stuck  so  that  it  may  be  clearly  visible  from  the  front  view.

(c)        Owner  is  responsible  to  maintain his/her  motor  vehicle  to  control  it  effectively.

(d)       If  owner  fails  to  make  renewal  for  successive  five  years,  registration  of  motor  vehicle  shall  be  automatically  cancelled.

(e)        Vehicle which  has  not  been  paid  a  premium  on  third  party  risk  insurance  cannot  be  used  in  any  public  place.

(f)         Every  motor  vehicle  shall  be  put  in  a  horn  to  give  warnings  and  the  sound  of  the horn  shall  be  in  one-tone.

(g)        Registration  Authority  can  refuse  or  temporarily  suspend  registration  of  a  motor  vehicle  which  emits  smoke  too  extremely  to  cause         air-pollution.

(h)       If  owner  neglects  the  dripping  of  fuel  and  lubricants  that  affects  earth  and  roads  dirty,  the  Registration  Authority  can  refuse  or  temporarily  suspend  the registration  of  that  vehicle.

(i)          Changing  the  name  of  ownership  when  vehicle  has  been  sold,  negotiating  the  relevant  office  if  the  condition  of  the vehicle  is  not  suitable  to  renew  and  the  vehicle  is  in  condition  of  cancelling,  owner  shall  inform  the  Registration  Authority  to  cancel  the  registration  of  that  vehicle.

        Type of Vehicles by States and Regions (as of June  2016)

      Information

                   Vehicle’s  life  span  are  limited  as  the  follows;

Use Number Plates