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Posted

Hi, I'm moving to Thailand for work next month and have a question. I wish to get a Thai driving licence upon arrival. 

I'm a UK citizen but I live in Hungary, so my driving licence is EU, but in Hungarian. It is the pink EU licence and has all the pictures and icons of the little car and scooter. My IDP is Hungarian, so is 1968 convention - I've read that Thailand has recently stopped accepting this. 

I'm guessing I should - even though it's quite obvious what it is - get my pink photo card driving license translated into English. Is this entirely necessary - it's an absolute nightmare to do this process. Or will the fact it's got EU and the little car/scooter pictures clearly on it suffice?

Posted
1 hour ago, AndyAnderson said:

It is the pink EU licence and has all the pictures and icons of the little car and scooter. My IDP is Hungarian.

What you wrote is what you need to get a Thai DL.

Posted (edited)

Depends on the office you go to, but most (in the tourist areas or Bangkok) will accept just your home license as enough,  some may require an IDP. Some offices may even want an official translation of your license. Thailand generally accepts 1968 IDPs.

Edited by Peterw42
  • Like 1
Posted



 Or will the fact it's got EU and the little car/scooter pictures clearly on it suffice?


You may get lucky with that,depends which Department of Land Transportation you go to some have been reported as not accepting "non English language" licences (for conversion to Thai license with minimal testing ) without an accompanying English language "International Drivers Permit"
Posted
2 minutes ago, johng said:


 

 


You may get lucky with that,depends which Department of Land Transportation you go to some have been reported as not accepting "non English language" licences (for conversion to Thai license with minimal testing ) without an accompanying English language "International Drivers Permit"

 

No requirement for the IDP to be English language. An IDP is a translation document, thats the whole idea of it, to translate your license and details to other languages.

  • Like 1
Posted
No requirement for the IDP to be English language. An IDP is a translation document, thats the whole idea of it, to translate your license and details to other languages.

Whats the point of translating from one "obscure" language to another...like it or not English (for now) is the international language and an IDP doesn't have a translation into Thai...it will have English and various other languages..but the Thais will refer to the English part.

 

Posted (edited)

I've decided to do things the hard way - I'm having my Hungarian pink photo card license translated into English, notarised, then stamped by the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs AND the Thai Embassy in Budapest. 

I'll sling that on their desk along with my 1968 IDP, smile politely and if they don't accept that I'll stick my head in a blender... 

 

Edited by AndyAnderson
  • Like 1
Posted

You could do it the arguably harder way and sit the full Thai car and motorcycle test...though after that head in blender might seem preferable [emoji38]

 

 

Posted

In my experience they are going to ask for an International Drivers' Permit anyway. As mentioned above, this is not much more than a translation of your current driving license into English and a few other languages. 

I can even imagine them refusing a notarised translation as it won't be in the rule book.

You shouldn't have any trouble getting a IDP

Posted

Its strange that your IDP is in Hungarian - Usually IDP's are a translation of your home countries licence into 'international English'...  Regardless, its an IDP so this may / should be accepted, but as with anything in Thailand some interpret the rules differently.

 

In Thailand you 'should' be able to convert your Home Driving Licence, along with IDP into a Thai Licence. 

Its a fairly quick and harmless process. 

You will need other documentation of course. 

1) Proof / Affirmation of Address (in Thailand).

2) Copies of your passport (you can do this at the DLT). 

3) Certificate / Medical Check-up (can be obtained at any medical clinic). 

4) And of course, home licence and IDP. 

 

You should be able to obtain a 2 year temporary Thai Driving licence. 

  • Like 1
Posted (edited)
19 hours ago, AndyAnderson said:

I've decided to do things the hard way - I'm having my Hungarian pink photo card license translated into English, notarised, then stamped by the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs AND the Thai Embassy in Budapest. 

I'll sling that on their desk along with my 1968 IDP, smile politely and if they don't accept that I'll stick my head in a blender... 

 

1968 IDP are you serious ?

 

Don't forget to take travel insurance for say 3 months while you shop around for international health insurance, because without it, your not covered so to speak. 

 

The cost of being uninsured could send you broke pretty quick and back to your home country without health insurance, taken note and enjoy the LOS

Edited by 4MyEgo
Posted
On 6/7/2018 at 9:40 AM, 4MyEgo said:

1968 IDP are you serious ?

 

Don't forget to take travel insurance for say 3 months while you shop around for international health insurance, because without it, your not covered so to speak. 

 

The cost of being uninsured could send you broke pretty quick and back to your home country without health insurance, taken note and enjoy the LOS


Hi - when I say 1968 IDP I mean the version of the IDP which abides by the 1968 convention, not the 1949 one. Hungary was signatory to the second but not the first. 

I didn't mean my IDP was issued in 1968, I wasn't born for another 16 years... 

  • Like 2
Posted
On 6/6/2018 at 7:03 PM, AndyAnderson said:

I've decided to do things the hard way - I'm having my Hungarian pink photo card license translated into English, notarised, then stamped by the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs AND the Thai Embassy in Budapest. 

I'll sling that on their desk along with my 1968 IDP, smile politely and if they don't accept that I'll stick my head in a blender... 

All trans to English trip to local DLT office with what #10 post listed you'll be OK.

Posted
1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

All trans to English trip to local DLT office with what #10 post listed you'll be OK.

Or do it the easy way. Take the Thai Test and have lifetime of funny stories.

Posted
4 hours ago, HAKAPALITA said:

Or do it the easy way. Take the Thai Test and have lifetime of funny stories.

No need country of origin full Driving licence trans to English and an IDP from the said country accompanied with the DL no problem.

  • 1 month later...
Posted
On 6/11/2018 at 12:29 PM, Kwasaki said:

No need country of origin full Driving licence trans to English and an IDP from the said country accompanied with the DL no problem.

 I had the licence translated into English here in Hungary by the official translation office and stamped by both the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign affairs (as 'official' as it can get) and also stamped by the Thai Embassy in Budapest. 

Surely they'll accept that as a legit translation?

Posted
4 minutes ago, AndyAnderson said:

 I had the licence translated into English here in Hungary by the official translation office and stamped by both the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign affairs (as 'official' as it can get) and also stamped by the Thai Embassy in Budapest. 

Surely they'll accept that as a legit translation?

Well if the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign affairs issue driving licences in Hungary and there Hungarian driving licence department don't do IDP ( International driving permit )  just because the Thai Embassy in Budapest stamped the official translation to be honest I don't know whether that would make you legal to drive in Thailand.

You have to ask your nearest Thailand DLT ( Department of Land & Transport ) where you will stay. 

Posted
9 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Well if the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign affairs issue driving licences in Hungary and there Hungarian driving licence department don't do IDP ( International driving permit )  just because the Thai Embassy in Budapest stamped the official translation to be honest I don't know whether that would make you legal to drive in Thailand.

You have to ask your nearest Thailand DLT ( Department of Land & Transport ) where you will stay. 


They do IDP (1968 version) which I have. 

Basically my home licence has been translated by the official government translation agency in Hungary and then confirmed (stamped) by the Foreign Ministry. It's kind of the most official translation it could be. 

It's 'more official' than it would be getting it translated at the Hungarian Embassy in Bangkok. 

Posted
7 minutes ago, AndyAnderson said:

They do IDP (1968 version) which I have.

Then if your concerned about driving in Thailand, as I said go to DLT office and check with them, if they it's all OK get a Thai DL whilst there.

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