Do I need a driver license to drive a scooter in Thailand?

I don't plan to drive a car in Thailand.

 

I don't drive a scooter here (US) and don't have motorcycle endorsement,

is it good to have that before licensing in Thailand?

 

I have always used public transport in Thailand before but I may end up in smaller community where I need a scooter.

So I basically know nothing about driving a scooter and licensing a scooter in Thailand.

You need a motorcycle license.

you need a ;icence but to be honest its  useless, you will  learn nothing from learning here and  by  following local styles learn even less, their driving is abysmal

5 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Howdy--Ive had motorcycle license in the states but of course corrupt thai cops dont care-ever though its supposed to be valid

 

I found the trick--go to AAA shop for $20 they will give you a international permit--take passport and pp pic for paper "license" 3 fold--looks like a paper pp

 

I was nervous trying it in Thailand but it works----and cos thais use diff year(2021) mine is expd and still works as cops dont know...

 

Ive been riding mbikes since a teen so take CARE riding one in thai...its a whole new set of rules, if any....

 

 

Right, I would only ride if I need to get around in a small town.

I wouldn't dare in BKK.

If I can avoid it I will.

OP, to ride a motorcycle (and scooter) in Thailand you need a motorcycle license, either home country or Thai.

In theory just your home license is valid, BUT many police, insurance etc will want to also see an IDP which is basically a translation of your home license details, that accompanies your home license.

Bottom line: if you already have home country moto license then with an IDP easy to convert to Thai license. Same for Auto. If you don't, then must take the full suite of tests including physical driving test to get one here. Many (most ?) farangs drive motos/scooters here unlicensed but if you were unfortunate enough to cause major property damage or cause someone to lose limb or life...you're up a muddy creek without a paddle and get used to rice and soup and some charming 'roomates' or empty your home bank accounts to prevent it. 

7 hours ago, cdemundo said:

don't drive a scooter here (US) and don't have motorcycle endorsement.

I would advise :-

Well if you can get a US motorbike DL do that and get a IDP as well if it's not a photocard DL and not show in English what you can drive. 

If you have never ridden a motorbike go to a school here in Thailand and get use to driving on the proper side of the road. ????

 

Take simple computer test which you can get the answers for, a simple practical test and get your Thai motorbike DL. 

10 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

and get use to driving on the proper side of the road. ????

For most Thai riders both sides are fair game. ???????????? 

2 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

 get use to driving on the proper side of the road.

The do not drive on the proper side of the road in LOS

They drive on the left

I'm from the US and when I moved to Thailand I had a license just for a car and didn't have a motorcycle license, here in Thailand when I applied for both a car and bike license I had to do the computer test, watch videos, pass the color test, pass the depth perception test and pass the bike driving test in the parking lot (weave through some cones, turn, drive over a small raised area without falling off), 

14 minutes ago, seedy said:

The do not drive on the proper side of the road in LOS

They drive on the left

Left which is Right. ????

on a UK car licence, we can ride small mopeds, but nothing bigger

I took my car licence in to DLT and showed them the picture of the motorbike and said, have bike licence , need Thai one

Had to repeat it many time but 

After a lot of talking and looking, they gave me a new Thai bike licence without any testing or other problems, Been riding bikes here for years now, no problems with renewals

 

 

13 minutes ago, bbko said:

weave through some comes, turn, drive over a small raised area without falling off), 

They want to make sure you can negotiate driving on the sidewalks in Bangkok

Just now, Joinaman said:

on a UK car licence, we can ride small mopeds, but nothing bigger

I took my car licence in to DLT and showed them the picture of the motorbike and said, have bike licence , need Thai one

Had to repeat it many time but 

After a lot of talking and looking, they gave me a new Thai bike licence without any testing or other problems, Been riding bikes here for years now, no problems with renewals

I guess OP USA DL may not be the same way they do things in UK.

23 minutes ago, bbko said:

I'm from the US and when I moved to Thailand I had a license just for a car and didn't have a motorcycle license, here in Thailand when I applied for both a car and bike license I had to do the computer test, watch videos, pass the color test, pass the depth perception test and pass the bike driving test in the parking lot (weave through some cones, turn, drive over a small raised area without falling off), 

Do this it is very easy.

The international drivers licence is a bit of a misnomer, but you are subject to fines for not having one.  Every countries driver licences are different and written in the local language.  Police in tourist areas would have to be conversant in several languages to read them.  When you get one from your AAA or  CAA or wherever, they take specific information from your drivers licence and put it in specific places on the IDL.  The same information is in the same place whether your licence is American or Bulgarian.  The police are trained where to look on an IDL for the information they need.   It will show that you don't drive a motorcycle.

 

Learn to drive a bike wherever you are. Thailand is no place to test the learning curve. 

Too many people come away from this "learning experience" as a large can of ashes

 

Have fun in the sun

 

2 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

I guess OP USA DL may not be the same way they do things in UK.

You know I don't even know for sure but as far as I know...

I think you need the same endorsement for scooter and motorcycle.

You can't drive a scooter with a regular car license.

2 hours ago, cdemundo said:

You know I don't even know for sure but as far as I know...

I think you need the same endorsement for scooter and motorcycle.

You can't drive a scooter with a regular car license.

Well I don't know been lots of countries and driven with my UK DL all places where English was spoken as a 2nd 3rd 4th or so language never had a problem. 

13 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Is very satisfying when the cops think they got another rich farang on mbike and then pulling out the drivers permit and driving off.......thai cops-0   Me -1....... ????

But then they hit you with “foot pegs down” 400 baht please.

43 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Well I don't know been lots of countries and driven with my UK DL all places where English was spoken as a 2nd 3rd 4th or so language never had a problem. 

I only meant in my state in the US.

Someone seemed to be asking about that.

4 hours ago, ourdon said:

The international drivers licence is a bit of a misnomer, but you are subject to fines for not having one.  Every countries driver licences are different and written in the local language.  Police in tourist areas would have to be conversant in several languages to read them.  When you get one from your AAA or  CAA or wherever, they take specific information from your drivers licence and put it in specific places on the IDL.  The same information is in the same place whether your licence is American or Bulgarian.  The police are trained where to look on an IDL for the information they need.   It will show that you don't drive a motorcycle.

 

Learn to drive a bike wherever you are. Thailand is no place to test the learning curve. 

Too many people come away from this "learning experience" as a large can of ashes

 

Have fun in the sun

 

It is a misnomer as it is an International Driver Permit - and there are 3 types (1926, 1949 and 1968), some last one year, some last 3. For Thailand (and Laos, Cambodia) a 1949 type is required. Vietnam and Burma require a 1968 type.

Of course, this is just the letter of the law so is not really relevant in Thailand....

This is what they look like...

3 minutes ago, mrfill said:

It is a misnomer as it is an International Driver Permit - and there are 3 types (1926, 1949 and 1968), some last one year, some last 3. For Thailand (and Laos, Cambodia) a 1949 type is required. Vietnam and Burma require a 1968 type.

Of course, this is just the letter of the law so is not really relevant in Thailand....

This is what they look like...

Not needed for a UK full driving DL but not all Thai police ponkers in certain areas know that or they might know but still want to try and intimidate some tourists to get some tea money.

14 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Howdy--Ive had motorcycle license in the states but of course corrupt thai cops dont care-ever though its supposed to be valid

 

I found the trick--go to AAA shop for $20 they will give you a international permit--take passport and pp pic for paper "license" 3 fold--looks like a paper pp

 

I was nervous trying it in Thailand but it works----and cos thais use diff year(2021) mine is expd and still works as cops dont know...

 

Ive been riding mbikes since a teen so take CARE riding one in thai...its a whole new set of rules, if any....

 

 

Getting the International License can help but it will show what you are licensed to drive in your home state. I came with a Kentucky Driver’s License but for a car so AAA could not endorse for a motorcycle (motorbike). 

1 minute ago, wwest5829 said:

Getting the International License can help but it will show what you are licensed to drive in your home state. I came with a Kentucky Driver’s License but for a car so AAA could not endorse for a motorcycle (motorbike). 

Maybe it would be best to get the motorcycle endorsement here in the states.

I was gonna take scooter lessons anyway and they prepare you for the license test.

I will probably do that.

25 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Maybe it would be best to get the motorcycle endorsement here in the states.

I was gonna take scooter lessons anyway and they prepare you for the license test.

I will probably do that.

Honestly, that's the best way.  Signup for a motorcycle class in the US, in many jurisdictions passing the the course gets you a state driver's license with proper endorsement for motorcycles.  Take that to AAA and get a International Driving Permit (IDP) which is merely a translation of your English driver's license into English, but importantly it unambiguously indicates that you are qualified to ride motorcycles and for that reason is worth the $20 it will cost.

What you will learn in the US in a motorcycle course is how to ride/handle a motorcycle if you have no previous experience.  It will also teach you all the laws in the US.  When you get to Thailand in addition to driving on the other side of the road you will learn with observation and experience what laws Thais follow and which they do not.  Generally, in the US people follow the rules but don't have good situational awareness while driving.  It's the opposite in Thailand, Thais have good situational awareness while driving but don't follow the written rules.  There are informal rules that are followed you have to observe and learn them.

You can arrive in Thailand with none of the above, but then I strongly suggest taking a motorcycle course in Thailand and possibly as a result of that get a Thai motorcycle license or go to the Land Transport Office to get your motorcycle license.

I like this website for explaining the process of getting a motorcycle license in Thailand:

https://motogirlthailand.com/riding-thailand/

43 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Getting the International License can help but it will show what you are licensed to drive in your home state. I came with a Kentucky Driver’s License but for a car so AAA could not endorse for a motorcycle (motorbike). 

IDP you mean. 

Has the OP read this thread yet ? You might change your mind about riding a motorcycle when you have.

 

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9 hours ago, tonray said:

if you already have home country moto license then with an IDP easy to convert to Thai license.

An IDP is not required for a Thai licence to be issued on the basis of having an English-language foreign licence.

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

An IDP is not required for a Thai licence to be issued on the basis of having an English-language foreign licence.

The IDP additionally indicates in a clear and unambiguous manner whether you are allowed to ride motorcycles in your home country.  That information is valuable in getting a motorcycle license in Thailand.  You may get around this requirement if you have an English language driver's license and can explain in a convincing manner how your ability to drive a motorcycle in your home country is indicated on your home country driver's license.  (There are 50 states in the US and each one has its own driver's license and its own idea of how being able to drive a motorcycle should be shown on it.)  You are making your life easier by getting the IDP.  You can sometimes get away without it, but it makes the job of the official at the Land Transport Office easier thereby ensuring that you have a more pleasant experience getting your Thai motorcycle license.  Only you will know if that is worth $20 to you.

9 minutes ago, skatewash said:

The IDP additionally indicates in a clear and unambiguous manner whether you are allowed to ride motorcycles in your home country.  That information is valuable in getting a motorcycle license in Thailand.  You may get around this requirement if you have an English language driver's license and can explain in a convincing manner how your ability to drive a motorcycle in your home country is indicated on your home country driver's license.  (There are 50 states in the US and each one has its own driver's license and its own idea of how being able to drive a motorcycle should be shown on it.)  You are making your life easier by getting the IDP.  You can sometimes get away without it, but it makes the job of the official at the Land Transport Office easier thereby ensuring that you have a more pleasant experience getting your Thai motorcycle license.  Only you will know if that is worth $20 to you.

An IDP is not required for a Thai licence to be issued on the basis of having an English-language foreign licence.