How To Get Thai Drivers Licence?

[mdmayes]

With the trend of police stopping tourists on motor bikes or in cars and demanding that they produce a Thai Drivers Licence. The police are not accepting a valid international drivers licence and are confiscating vehicles on the spot.

How would a foreigner go about getting a Thai Drivers licence? I stay in Thailand usually in one month segments and do not have a permanent home in the LOS. 

[sananeamk0715]

following

[Peterw42]

43 minutes ago, mdmayes said:

The police are not accepting a valid international drivers licence and are confiscating vehicles on the spot.

Heavy sigh,

there is no such thing as an international driver license. When you visit and drive in Thailand you drive on your home license and an accompanying International Driving Permit (IDP), if you have both of those things nobody is confiscating vehicles or demanding a Thai license. IDP is not a license.

 

Some will disagree but its widely published that if you stay (continuously) longer than 90 days you need to get a Thai license.

 

There are lots of threads about getting a Thai license, basically its go to the DLT with home license, resident certificate, medical certificate and do a vision/reflex test. It varies depending on the DLT.

 

 

Edited June 6, 2018 by Peterw42

[Tanoshi]

Without a registered address in Thailand, you don't.

[Peterw42]

12 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Without a registered address in Thailand, you don't.

Yes thats right but could always get a letter from consulate, thats what I did before I had a permanent address.

[stud858]

Mdmayes. If you know of anyone with their own countries licence and an IDP together that has been hassled by police can you give more details.  This should be perfectly acceptable and I recommend you visit the main police station to make a complaint about a rogue officer not accepting IDP.

If it was a bodgy made up international licence by an unofficial website then the officer is in the right. 

[mdmayes]

4 minutes ago, stud858 said:

Mdmayes. If you know of anyone with their own countries licence and an IDP together that has been hassled by police can you give more details.  This should be perfectly acceptable and I recommend you visit the main police station to make a complaint about a rogue officer not accepting IDP.

If it was a bodgy made up international licence by an unofficial website then the officer is in the right. 

Location = Pattaya is where this is happening.

Home Licence = Legal

International = Legal

 

[stud858]

Just now, mdmayes said:

Location = Pattaya is where this is happening.

Home Licence = Legal

International = Legal

So the fine was paid at Pattaya station? Was a receipt given? 

[Peterw42]

3 minutes ago, mdmayes said:

Location = Pattaya is where this is happening.

Home Licence = Legal

International = Legal

 

Home license is only legal if accompanied by an IDP.

There is no such thing as an international license, There are bogus websites etc that print them but they are not official.

The official Document is an IDP from your home country and its not a license, it accompanies your license.

[stud858]

18 minutes ago, mdmayes said:

Location = Pattaya is where this is happening.

Home Licence = Legal

International = Legal

So the fine was paid at Pattaya station? Was a receipt given? 

Did the license look something like the picture shown here 

[overherebc]

10 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Home license is only legal if accompanied by an IDP.

There is no such thing as an international license, There are bogus websites etc that print them but they are not official.

The official Document is an IDP from your home country and its not a license, it accompanies your license.

This is a genuine IDP.

All the credit card plastic things are as valid as my dogs driving licence.

It's a booklet with quite a few pages all the language of the countries it is valid in.

[overherebc]

2 minutes ago, stud858 said:

Did the license look something like the picture shown here 

?

Posting same time.

[mdmayes]

2 minutes ago, overherebc said:

?

Posting same time.

Yes. It has multiple pages with multiple languages.

[stud858]

Ok. So let's get your fine receipt and head Back to the station and get your money back. 

[mdmayes]

6 minutes ago, overherebc said:

?

Posting same time.

The only difference is it has "CAA" stamps in the book (being from Canada).

 

 

[Damrongsak]

5 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

Without a registered address in Thailand, you don't.

So how does one register an address?  I'm in the US, wife is at our house in Thailand.  If I come over as a tourist, can I register an address?  I do have a lifetime motorcycle license issued a bit over 40 years ago that could use an address update.  

[Tanoshi]

4 hours ago, Damrongsak said:

I'm in the US, wife is at our house in Thailand.

Then that's your registered address. You put that on your arrival card.

Next file a TM30 at your local Immigration office and you can then apply for a 'Certificate of Residence' from the IO, which you'll need as proof of address to obtain your licence.

[Tanoshi]

9 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

Home license is only legal if accompanied by an IDP.

That's not the case in Thailand.

Foreign photo licences in English are perfectly legal 

Only those not in English require an IDP or translation

Most Countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and the USA have agreements with Thailand in this respect under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, or the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.

 

Ever stopped to wonder why a Thai licence is printed in Thai and English.

A Thai licence is also legally acceptable in Countries party to these agreements.

 

The problem is many Insurance companies (small print) will only give cover for 60 or 90 days if driving on a foreign licence or IDP. (tourists effectively). If you live or will stay beyond 90 days then you really need a Thai licence to be fully legally covered for all eventualities.

[transam]

8 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

That's not the case in Thailand.

Foreign photo licences in English are perfectly legal 

Only those not in English require an IDP or translation

Most Countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and the USA have agreements with Thailand in this respect under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, or the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.

 

Ever stopped to wonder why a Thai licence is printed in Thai and English.

A Thai licence is also legally acceptable in Countries party to these agreements.

 

The problem is many Insurance companies (small print) will only give cover for 60 or 90 days if driving on a foreign licence or IDP. (tourists effectively). If you live or will stay beyond 90 days then you really need a Thai licence to be fully legally covered for all eventualities.

The RAC (Royal Automobile Club UK) info site advise to obtain an IDP for Thailand..There are countries in their list that do not require an IDP..

[Peterw42]

6 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

That's not the case in Thailand.

Foreign photo licences in English are perfectly legal 

Only those not in English require an IDP or translation

Most Countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and the USA have agreements with Thailand in this respect under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, or the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.

 

Ever stopped to wonder why a Thai licence is printed in Thai and English.

A Thai licence is also legally acceptable in Countries party to these agreements.

 

The problem is many Insurance companies (small print) will only give cover for 60 or 90 days if driving on a foreign licence or IDP. (tourists effectively). If you live or will stay beyond 90 days then you really need a Thai licence to be fully legally covered for all eventualities.

Yes, thats 100% technically correct, IDP is not required as per the treaties and Thai traffic act, license in English etc,

But "in practice" police, insurance, DLTs will often still want to see one.

Not much use arguing the legalities at a police stop if they are asking for an IDP and home license.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[transam]

7 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Yes, thats 100% technically correct, IDP is not required as per the treaties and Thai traffic act, license in English etc,

But "in practice" police, insurance, DLTs will often still want to see one.

Not much use arguing the legalities at a police stop if they are asking for an IDP and home license.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I reckon that's why the RAC advises an IDP in LOS, they may have heard the stories....

[Peterw42]

1 minute ago, transam said:

And I reckon that's why the RAC advises an IDP in LOS, they may have heard the stories....

I think you may be right, they are advising the practicality not the legality. Plus they are in the business of selling them, which may come into it, lol

[Tanoshi]

34 minutes ago, transam said:

The RAC (Royal Automobile Club UK) info site advise to obtain an IDP for Thailand..There are countries in their list that do not require an IDP..

 

6 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Yes, thats 100% technically correct, IDP is not required as per the treaties and Thai traffic act, license in English etc,

But "in practice" police, insurance, DLTs will often still want to see one.

Not much use arguing the legalities at a police stop if they are asking for an IDP and home license.

 

Agreed, that's because most Thais wouldn't recognise a foreign licence written in English, Russian, or Latin!

An IDP would have Thai language included.

 

This is what happens in a 3rd world 'developing' Country where the education system doesn't emphasise the importance of teaching the Internationally recognised language.......English. You wouldn't have the same problem in the much more developed Asian Countries of Singapore or South Korea.

[transam]

When I first came here I was riding a bike with Mrs.Trans on the back, pulled over at a BiB road block, showed my IDP but he started writing out a ticket. No Thai license..

 

Mrs.Trans gave him an ear full, the cop told us to bugger off and stopped another..

[Tanoshi]

7 minutes ago, transam said:

When I first came here I was riding a bike with Mrs.Trans on the back, pulled over at a BiB road block, showed my IDP but he started writing out a ticket. No Thai license..

 

Mrs.Trans gave him an ear full, the cop told us to bugger off and stopped another..

Mrs Trans is a Thai 'Tiger, not to be trifled with, as I'm sure your aware of.

Do you still 'serenade' her with a song or two to stay in her good books. lol.

[transam]

1 minute ago, Tanoshi said:

Mrs Trans is a Thai 'Tiger, not to be trifled with, as I'm sure your aware of.

Do you still 'serenade' her with a song or two to stay in her good books. lol.

Actually she is a very calm lady, but she knew the BiB was taking the piss so he got both barrels...

As for the serenades, we both do that.....

[stud858]

1 hour ago, Tanoshi said:

That's not the case in Thailand.

Foreign photo licences in English are perfectly legal 

Only those not in English require an IDP or translation

Most Countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK and the USA have agreements with Thailand in this respect under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, or the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.

 

Ever stopped to wonder why a Thai licence is printed in Thai and English.

A Thai licence is also legally acceptable in Countries party to these agreements.

 

The problem is many Insurance companies (small print) will only give cover for 60 or 90 days if driving on a foreign licence or IDP. (tourists effectively). If you live or will stay beyond 90 days then you really need a Thai licence to be fully legally covered for all eventualities.

I have never had health insurance or travel insurance but I've heard/read a few times that insurance bought in your own country has 60/90 day coverage limits while outside of your country regardless of licences and it's clearly written into contract . The several times I've checked with car insurance companies here in Thailand in regards to IDP suggests no such 90 day rule exists. If anyone has any proof that the rule exists for their insurance please post details.