Drivers License - international Drivers Permit

[Thomas J]

I have a drivers license from the USA.  I have a retirement visa for Thailand.  What do I need to get a Thailand Drivers license and also obtain an international drivers permit/license that I need for a trip to Spain later this year?

[watcharacters]

 

It's been a while...

 

 

[phetphet]

To avoid taking the Thai driving test, you should take both your US driving licence AND your International Driving permit along to the DLT.

 

You will also need copies of passport, a medical certificate, and a residents certificate.

Maybe a copy of visa page. Best take passport along as well.

 

You will undergo a vision test, colour blindness test, and a perception test.

 

Different places want different things, so others may add more.

 

NOTE: you will need two copies of everything if applying for both car and motorcycle licences.

 

There are lots of threads about this on this site.

 

HTH

Edited March 28, 2019 by phetphet

[evadgib]

Of interest to Brits needing an IDP:

International Driving Permits (IDPs) – the facts

[KhunBENQ]

On 3/28/2019 at 5:53 PM, Thomas J said:

have a drivers license from the USA.  I have a retirement visa for Thailand.  What do I need to get a Thailand Drivers license and also obtain an international drivers permit/license that I need for a trip to Spain later this year?

There is a problem with this.

If you get a Thai DL it would be a 2 year (temporary) license.

And DLT does not issue an IDP based on that.

 

[cornishcarlos]

Your initial Thai licence will be a 2 year, provisional licence, which most DLT offices will not issue an IDP on. After 2 yrs you will be able to get a full 5 year licence, then it costs 505 baht to obtain an IDP.

As always, different rules seem to apply depending on location, so double check at your DLT !!!

[Pilotman]

2 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

Your initial Thai licence will be a 2 year, provisional licence, which most DLT offices will not issue an IDP on. After 2 yrs you will be able to get a full 5 year licence, then it costs 505 baht to obtain an IDP.

As always, different rules seem to apply depending on location, so double check at your DLT !!!

Temporary licence Sir not a provisional one, which has a different meaning in many countries, the UK for example. You can rent a car in the UK on a Thai 2 year temporary licence, but not on a provisional licence. 

[cornishcarlos]

21 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Temporary licence Sir not a provisional one, which has a different meaning in many countries, the UK for example. You can rent a car in the UK on a Thai 2 year temporary licence, but not on a provisional licence. 

 

Whatever.. The point being it won't be a full licence initially..

[Peterw42]

34 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

There is a problem with this.

If you get a Thai DL it would be a 2 year (temporary) license.

And DLT does not issue an IDP based on that.

 

OP still has the option of getting an IDP using his US license, but would need to be done in US.

[Pilotman]

1 minute ago, Peterw42 said:

OP still has the option of getting an IDP using his US license, but would need to be done in US.

Can you do it online in the US,  as you can for the UK, using the AA website? 

[Peterw42]

On 3/28/2019 at 6:26 PM, phetphet said:

To avoid taking the Thai driving test, you should take both your US driving licence AND your International Driving permit along to the DLT.

 

You will also need copies of passport, a medical certificate, and a residents certificate.

Maybe a copy of visa page. Best take passport along as well.

 

You will undergo a vision test, colour blindness test, and a perception test.

 

Different places want different things, so others may add more.

 

NOTE: you will need two copies of everything if applying for both car and motorcycle licences.

 

There are lots of threads about this on this site.

 

HTH

Yes, thats how most DLTs do it, I have found most dont want the IDP unless your home license is in chinese, arabic etc.

[Peterw42]

2 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Can you do it online in the US,  as you can for the UK, using the AA website? 

Probably can, or get it before he leaves. 

There are lots of bogus sites online doing IDP that are fake, usually its AA or similar is authorised , the rest are just sending out a fancy laminated card.

[Megascott]

I have a USA DL and an IDP, spent many holidays in the UK and other parts of the EU renting a car, and they never even asked for the IDP. However, perhaps it was just Murphy's law, which says that If you have it, it won't be required, but if you don't have it, they will absolutely require it.