Lao Driving License and driving in Thailand

[RedReding]

Hi all,

 

I'm a foreigner who got a Lao driving license for both car and motorbike and from what I read online, i'm allowed to use it to drive freely in Thailand thanks to the bilateral agreements between both countries.

 

Does anyone have direct experience they can relate ?

 

My other question is : can I convert my Lao driving license into a Thai one without taking additional tests ?

 

Best

 

[paahlman]

Not sure, but i have heard the question before and checked.. I think you need an IDP attached to the driving licence no matter what country it is from. About converting it is the same.

[chrissables]

19 hours ago, RedReding said:

Hi all,

 

I'm a foreigner who got a Lao driving license for both car and motorbike and from what I read online, i'm allowed to use it to drive freely in Thailand thanks to the bilateral agreements between both countries.

 

Does anyone have direct experience they can relate ?

 

My other question is : can I convert my Lao driving license into a Thai one without taking additional tests ?

 

Best

 

Lao is an ASEAN country along with Thailand the license is ok. 

[Sydebolle]

a) yes, the license is valid all over ASEAN countries
b) no, welcome to go through the full nine yards 

[RedReding]

That's great.

 

Almost no point for getting a Thai License in that case.

 

[sabaijai]

On 10/5/2023 at 12:55 PM, RedReding said:

Hi all,

 

I'm a foreigner who got a Lao driving license for both car and motorbike and from what I read online, i'm allowed to use it to drive freely in Thailand thanks to the bilateral agreements between both countries.

 

Does anyone have direct experience they can relate ?

 

My other question is : can I convert my Lao driving license into a Thai one without taking additional tests ?

 

Best

 

 

This comes nearly a year late and is a bit off topic, but could you explain a bit how you obtained a Lao motorcycle license? I have a one-year work visa for Laos and would like to begin using a motorbike for transport. Thank you.

[RedReding]

A little update from my direct experience today :

 

- I got stopped at a checkpoint in Chiang Mai today for the first time ever, and showed them my A/B Lao driving license. The police officer who looked at my license looked a bit surprised (I mentioned that I work in Laos) and showed it to his superior who nodded to say that it is indeed valid in Thailand. Please note that I have the bike under my name with all the papers (green book) and that the road tax is up to date.

 

They wished me a good day and off I went.

 

Hope this helps the ones who were not sure.

 

Quote

This comes nearly a year late and is a bit off topic, but could you explain a bit how you obtained a Lao motorcycle license? I have a one-year work visa for Laos and would like to begin using a motorbike for transport. Thank you.

 

I took the written and driving test. That was it.

[kuma]

On 7/14/2024 at 5:13 PM, RedReding said:

A little update from my direct experience today :

 

- I got stopped at a checkpoint in Chiang Mai today for the first time ever, and showed them my A/B Lao driving license. The police officer who looked at my license looked a bit surprised (I mentioned that I work in Laos) and showed it to his superior who nodded to say that it is indeed valid in Thailand. Please note that I have the bike under my name with all the papers (green book) and that the road tax is up to date.

 

They wished me a good day and off I went.

 

Hope this helps the ones who were not sure.

 

 

I took the written and driving test. That was it.

A bit off topic but maybe you have experience, or others that read this thread might.

I want to do a road trip from Bkk to Kunming...say Bkk-Mukdahan/Savanakhet-Hanoi-Kunming....but I am told that it is not possible. Do you have any experience doing a trip like this?

Cheers