Cambodia

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Transport Business Licence Required

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles (the licence attaches to the company operating the trucks). The Law on Road Traffic requires any legal person (a company or other registered entity) that provides domestic or international road transport of goods or passengers to obtain a business licence from the MPWT. The MPWT describes this as a land logistics business licence and accepts applications through its online licensing system. Available sources indicate that the implementing rules issue a certificate of registration and a domestic transport operation licence, renewable every two years, and that a company opening a branch needs a separate licence for it.

Vehicle Transport Licence Required

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Under the same law, every motor vehicle or trailer used to carry goods or passengers for business needs its own transport licence from the MPWT. Available sources indicate this vehicle permit is valid for one year and can only be issued to a company that already holds a valid operation licence.

Ownership or Nationality Conditions

No transport-specific foreign ownership limit was identified. Cambodia’s investment law provides for non-discriminatory treatment of investors, and Cambodia’s published trade commitments list no foreign-equity limit for road freight transport. Ownership of land in Cambodia is reserved to Cambodian persons and companies, which matters only if a mover wants to own, rather than lease, land such as a warehouse site.

Vehicle Registration, Inspection, and Driver Licensing Required

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Every truck and trailer must be registered with the MPWT and carry an identification card and number plate. Goods vehicles need a technical inspection certificate, renewed every year (a new goods vehicle’s first certificate lasts two years). Drivers need an MPWT driving licence in the category that matches the truck, and goods vehicles above a set weight require a different category from light vehicles.

Insurance Required

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. The Law on Road Traffic requires vehicle owners to meet their compulsory insurance obligations, and every transport vehicle must carry an insurance certificate issued by an insurance company. Available sources indicate that Cambodia’s insurance law makes third-party liability insurance compulsory for motor vehicles used for business. This covers harm to other people and property. It does not cover the goods being carried. This research found no Cambodian rule requiring movers to insure customers’ goods, so customers should ask what protection, if any, is offered.

Carrier Liability Rules

No removal-specific liability law was identified. Available sources indicate that a mover’s liability for loss or damage to household goods is governed by the contract and by the general contract and liability rules of Cambodia’s Civil Code, together with the Law on Consumer Protection. Customers should read the mover’s terms on liability, claims deadlines, and valuables before signing, and consider separate goods-in-transit insurance.

Consumer Protection

Yes. The Law on Consumer Protection (2019) applies to every business that sells goods or services to consumers in Cambodia. It prohibits misleading claims and other unfair practices and is enforced by the CCF, part of the Ministry of Commerce. A National Commission for Consumer Protection, chaired by the Minister of Commerce, oversees consumer policy, with the CCF as its secretariat.

Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)

Yes. The CCF accepts consumer complaints online at ccfdg.gov.kh/complaint, with “Transportation Service” as one of its complaint categories, or by phone on (+855) 23 231 856. The CCF asks consumers to try to resolve the problem with the business first and uses submitted complaints for conciliation and investigation. Consumers can also take a dispute to court.

Industry Association

None found. No dedicated Cambodian household-moving trade association was identified in this research.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Cambodia licenses road transport at two levels: the company and the vehicle. The Law on Road Traffic (2015) requires a company that carries goods by road for hire to hold an MPWT transport business licence, and every truck or trailer it uses for that business to hold a separate MPWT transport licence. Each vehicle must also be registered, inspected, insured, and driven by a driver with the correct licence category, and must carry these documents on the road. The licences attach to whichever company operates the trucks. A mover that uses its own trucks needs them directly. Where a mover subcontracts the trucking, the carrier’s own licences cover the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold them. No foreign ownership cap specific to road freight was identified. Liability for the goods is mainly a matter of contract and general civil law, and consumer complaints go to the CCF at the Ministry of Commerce.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Company licensing

1. Register the business with the Ministry of Commerce, through its online business registration system.
2. Where the mover operates its own trucks, obtain an MPWT transport business licence and renew it before it expires.

Subcontracted transport

3. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

4. Obtain an MPWT transport licence for every truck and trailer the company uses for the business, renew it when it expires, and keep it in the vehicle.
5. Register every truck and trailer with the MPWT and keep its technical inspection certificate current.
6. Keep compulsory insurance in force for every truck, with the insurance certificate carried in the vehicle.
7. Ensure every driver holds an MPWT driving licence in the correct category for the truck.

Customer practices

8. Ensure consumer-facing practices comply with the Law on Consumer Protection, including accurate advertising and quotations.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Business registered with the Ministry of CommerceVerified by DocumentRequired
• MPWT transport business licenceWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• MPWT transport licence held for every truck and trailer used for the businessWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Every truck and trailer registered with the MPWTWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Current technical inspection certificate for every goods vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Compulsory insurance in force for every transport vehicle, with an insurance certificateWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Every driver holds an MPWT driving licence in the correct category for the vehicleWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired

Customer practices

• Consumer-facing practices (advertising, quotations, contracts) comply with the Law on Consumer Protection (2019)Verified by AffirmationRequired