Handing over the keys to a fresh arrival at Rentabike Vietnam is always a great feeling. But before any rider drops the clutch and merges into the chaotic beauty of these roads, we have to talk about the little yellow piece of paper.
After a quarter-century of living, riding, and doing business in this country, I can confidently say that understanding Vietnam’s Compulsory Third-Party Liability (CTPL) insurance is the absolute baseline of your trip.
By law, every single motorized vehicle on Vietnamese roads—from a local farmer’s 50cc scooter to a top-tier adventure bike—must carry Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance for Motor Vehicles (often referred to as CTPL).
If you are pulled over at a standard traffic police checkpoint, the officer will ask for three things: your vehicle registration (the blue card), your driving license / IDP, and this insurance certificate. While it is increasingly available as a digital e-certificate with a QR code, the physical yellow or blue paper slip remains the most common format.
The Vietnamese government highly regulates this insurance, meaning the prices and payout limits are standardized across all providers (like Liberty, Bao Viet, or PVI).
If an accident occurs and you are deemed at fault, here is what the policy officially covers:
Here is the truth that most official brochures won’t tell you: for a short-term tourist or expat, CTPL is essentially “police repellent.”
The official fine for riding without it is relatively low (between 100,000 and 200,000 VND). However, the real danger of not having it happens if you get into an accident. In Vietnam, if an accident cannot be settled amicably on the spot with cash, the police must intervene. If they arrive and you do not have your mandatory CTPL, your bike is highly likely to be impounded pending a lengthy investigation.
Furthermore, successfully claiming that 150 million VND payout involves a mountain of bureaucratic paperwork, official police reports, and months of waiting. Because of this, almost no one on the ground relies on it for minor accidents, preferring to negotiate a cash settlement directly.
You buy it to stay legal, to satisfy the traffic police, and to keep your bike from being confiscated—not to save you from bankruptcy in a crash.
This is the most critical takeaway for any rider planning a trip. Compulsory insurance is strictly for the other guy. It provides absolutely zero protection for you.
Your 86,000 VND yellow paper does not cover:
To cover yourself and the bike you are riding, you have to step outside the Vietnamese mandatory system and look at your home country’s travel medical insurance and local damage waivers, which is exactly where the biggest legal traps lie.
A reputable rental agency should always provide the insurance certificate with the bike. However, if you buy a bike or your rental shop forgot it, you can purchase CTPL at major national gas stations (look for Petrolimex or PV Oil stations with a “Bảo hiểm xe máy” sign).
Alternatively, you can buy an official e-certificate online through major providers like Liberty Insurance or Bao Viet.
The mandatory insurance is tied to the motorcycle, not the rider. The certificate will display the name of the registered legal owner (usually the rental company) and the bike’s license plate number. As long as the license plate on the bike matches the license plate printed on the yellow paper, you are legally compliant when pulled over.
An informal photograph of a paper certificate on your smartphone is generally not accepted by traffic police and can result in a fine. However, if you purchased your CTPL digitally through an authorized provider (like Liberty Insurance) and possess an official e-certificate featuring a scannable QR code, this is legally recognized by authorities. When in doubt, carrying the physical yellow or blue slip is always the safest bet.
No, they are almost always deceptive. You will often see roadside kiosks or hand-painted signs selling “motorbike insurance” for 20,000 VND. The government-mandated price for standard CTPL is strictly regulated at around 66,000 VND. The 20k policies are usually just optional, practically worthless “occupant” add-ons, or outright fakes. Handing a fake policy to a traffic officer could result in your bike being impounded.
Theoretically, yes; if a local is at fault, their CTPL should cover your medical bills and bike damage.
In reality, it is notoriously difficult for a foreigner to successfully claim this. The burden of proof is incredibly high, requiring official police accident reports, translated hospital invoices, and navigating the local driver’s insurance bureaucracy. This is why even when a local is at fault, settlements are usually negotiated in cash at the scene.
CTPL is part of the deal when you ride in Vietnam. It keeps you on the right side of the law and helps you avoid unnecessary trouble at checkpoints, but that’s where its value ends for most riders.
Don’t mistake it for real protection. If you’re serious about riding here, make sure you understand its limits and have your own coverage sorted before you hit the road.
Engine Type
air-cooled, single cylinder, SOHC
Displacement
411 cc
Bore X Stroke
78 mm x 86 mm
Ignition
TCI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic forks; stanchion diameter 41 mm
Rear Suspension
linkage-type monoshock
Front Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 300 mm, 2-piston floating caliper
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 240 mm, single-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
90/90 – 21
Rear Tyres
120/90 – 17
Wheelbase
1465 mm
Seat Height
800 mm
Ground Clearance
220 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
15 litres
Dimensions
2190 mm (L) x 840 mm (W) x 1360 mm (H)
Daily
Total
Rider (CRF 300)
$220
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Rider (XR 150)
Rider (CRF 300)
Rider (CB 500X)
Rider (Himalayan 400)
$220
Rider (GS 1250)
Pillion
$120
Damage Waiver
$20
Private Room
$40
Support Vehicle*
$150
* All prices given are in USD and apply per rider except for the support vehicle. The support vehicle is free for groups of 7 or more, otherwise the cost is shared across the group.
Daily
Total
Jeep (1 PAX)
$210
Jeep (2 PAX)
$120
Jeep (3 PAX)
$90
Jeep (4+ PAX)
$80
Rider (Easy Rider)
$115
Rider (Self-Drive)
$105
Private Room
$15
* Our jeep tour prices operate on a sliding scale. The larger your group, the less each person pays—each member of your group will pay the lowest daily rate shown. For example, if you have a group of 4 or more, you will each only pay $80/day. All prices are given in USD.
Engine Type
air-liquid cooled, twin cylinder, DOHC, boxer engine
Displacement
1255 cc
Bore X Stroke
102.5 mm x 76 mm
Ignition
FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
12.5:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 37 mm
Rear Suspension
single-sided swing arm with BMW Motorrad Paralever
Front Brakes
dual disc brake, floating brake discs, diameter 305 mm, 4-piston radial calipers
Rear Brakes
single disc brake, diameter 276 mm, double-piston floating caliper
Front Tyres
120/70 R19
Rear Tyres
170/60 R17
Wheelbase
1514 mm
Seat Height
850 mm
Ground Clearance
790 mm
Kerb Weight
249 kg
Fuel Capacity
20 litres
Dimensions
2207 mm (L) x 952.5mm (W) x 1430 mm (H)
Engine Type
air cooled, OHC, single cylinder
Displacement
149 cc
Bore X Stroke
57.3 mm x 57.8 mm
Ignition
CDI
Fuel System
20 mm piston valve carburettor
Compression Ratio
9.5:1
Starter
electric with kick starter backup
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
telescopic fork, 180 mm axle travel
Rear Suspension
single shock swing arm, 150 mm axle travel
Front Brakes
dual piston caliper, 240 mm disc
Rear Brakes
mechanical drum
Front Tyres
90/90 19
Rear Tyres
110/90 17
Wheelbase
1362 mm
Seat Height
825 mm
Ground Clearance
243 mm
Kerb Weight
129 kg
Fuel Capacity
12 litres
Dimensions
2091 mm (L) x 811 mm (W) x 1125 mm (H)
Engine Type
liquid cooled parallel-twin four stroke
Displacement
470 cc
Bore X Stroke
67 mm x 66.8 mm
Ignition
PGMI – FI
Fuel System
fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
6-speed
Front Suspension
41 mm SFF-BP USD Forks
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
dual 296 mm discs with 4 piston calipers; ABS
Rear Brakes
240 mm disc; ABS
Front Tyres
110/80R19M/C (59H)
Rear Tyres
160/60R17M/C
Wheelbase
1445 mm
Seat Height
830 mm
Ground Clearance
180 mm
Kerb Weight
199 kg
Fuel Capacity
17.7 litres
Dimensions
2,155 mm (L) x 830 mm (W) x 1,410 mm (H)
Engine Type
single cylinder, DOHC, liquid cooled
Displacement
286 cc
Bore X Stroke
76 mm x 63 mm
Ignition
Full Transistor Digital
Fuel System
PGM-FI electronic fuel injection
Compression Ratio
10.7:1
Starter
electric
Gearbox
5-speed
Front Suspension
43 mm telescopic upside down
Rear Suspension
Prolink Mono with 5 stage pre load adjuster
Front Brakes
Rear Brakes
220 mm disc, single piston caliper
Front Tyres
80/100 21
Rear Tyres
120/80 18
Wheelbase
1455 mm
Seat Height
880 mm
Ground Clearance
285 mm
Kerb Weight
142 kg
Fuel Capacity
7.8 litres
Dimensions
2230 mm (L) x 820 mm (W) x 1200 mm (H)
