An agent is absolutely not needed to extend a TIP on a foreign plated vehicle in Thailand! Absolutely nonsense! But of course as always in this part of the world every different customs office interpret and enforce laws and regulations their own way - so one never knows how it is like before you paid a visit to the office you intend to use.

And there is absolutely no need to use an agent to cross into Thailand - so I think you have been the victim of a little scam there mate…

And further on - there is no need for an agent to cross into Cambodia either. Fill out the form in the link I posted above her - and you should be good to go.

I would avoid entering at Poipet. Its an absolute beehive and scammers are plentiful at that bordercrossing. If you dont know what youre doing you could be buttf**ked badly! Exiting Cambodia at Poipet is usually ok but still a very hefty experience. The smaller borders are much better and calmer. Especially the 2 borders in the Surin province of Thailand Chong Chom-O Smach and Sangam bc.

For Laos - another example that every office/bordercrossing is handled very differently. Some borders does not allow any foreign vehicle to cross, such as the borders in Xayaboury province. Then some borders have a scam going on such at the Nong Khai-Vientiane border where they tell you to use an agent and pay 2-3000 baht. There seems to be no way around it. They play the same scam at Chiang Khong-Huay Xay border but not as persistantly and the same at Chong Mek-Vang Tao and at friendship bridge #2 Mukdahan-Savannaket.

The good news for Laos is that several authorities had a meeting a couple of weeks ago and are to come up with new rules for foreign vehicles especially motorbikes entering Laos - and hopefully they will all interpret and enforce rules unisonly. Well - we can only hope and see how things turns out for Laos. Lets hope the best!

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....