Report Thailand Tightens Rules for Foreign Drivers: Tests Now Mandatory

[Jumbo1968]

11 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

It is a translation of your license into multiple languages, Thai is not one of them.

An IDP under the Vienna Convention is valid for 3 years in Thailand or less if your U.K. Licence expires before 3 years.

[amexpat]

On 6/20/2025 at 5:07 PM, Cornish Pasty said:

Thai’s are the worst drivers I have ever seen, and believe me, I have been around!

 

Mark.

Apparently not to Vietnam.

 

[cjinchiangrai]

1 minute ago, Jumbo1968 said:

An IDP under the Vienna Convention is valid for 3 years in Thailand or less if your U.K. Licence expires before 3 years.

So what? It is a translation tool, not a license, it says so in the IDP book. An IDP is not legal authorization to drive.

[cjinchiangrai]

2 minutes ago, amexpat said:

Apparently not to Vietnam.

 

Nor India.

[Thumbs]

I recently sat the exams along with over a dozen thai citizens, I got a shocked clap from the adjudicator because I passed first time with a 99% score. All the thais failed and had to book retesting in 2 weeks time, no valid driving licence didn't stop them driving themselves to the testing centre and getting back in the car after failing the exam. The Foreign driving situation might need resolving but get a grip DLT you have far bigger problems to sort first. New driving schools are a. Step in the right direction but students should have to pass an intensive practical exam on the roads for an hour, not the current drive round the little track and reverse into parking spot.

[cjinchiangrai]

6 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

You said, "Can anyone turn up in the UK with an IDP and be given a UK driving license without a test? Of course not."

 

Yes people can, it does depend on which country they have a licence from, Germany for example plus many others can change their driving licences for a British licence.

 

Of course countries such as Thailand can not do that due to their crap low standard driving test. 😃

They can use a foreign license to obtain a local license, not an IDP. It must be a real government issued license.

[lordgrinz]

2 minutes ago, Thumbs said:

I recently sat the exams along with over a dozen thai citizens, I got a shocked clap from the adjudicator because I passed first time with a 99% score. All the thais failed and had to book retesting in 2 weeks time, no valid driving licence didn't stop them driving themselves to the testing centre and getting back in the car after failing the exam. The Foreign driving situation might need resolving but get a grip DLT you have far bigger problems to sort first. New driving schools are a. Step in the right direction but students should have to pass an intensive practical exam on the roads for an hour, not the current drive round the little track and reverse into parking spot.

 

I can't find the article, it's a few years old now, but I believe they stated 35% of Thai motorcycle drivers had no valid drivers license. Without daily sustained enforcement, I doubt that number has changed for the better, probably worse by now. But hey, Farangs are the issue here, according to the DLT.

[cardinalblue]

On 6/20/2025 at 5:11 PM, ukrules said:

No affect on renewals then?

 

I've have multiple licenses over the years, I think it's been 1 year, then 2 x almost 6 years as I went within the week after my birthday each time to get the extra year.

So I'm good until late 2026 right now but then I will need to renew.

2026? Mine is good until 2031….you better start studying and it will be in Thai 

[Ralf001]

3 hours ago, Barnet1900 said:

So there will be no cost or charge at all to this whole new process then?

 

Yours sincerely Thai basher...

What new process ?

[Ralf001]

20 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

An IDP under the Vienna Convention is valid for 3 years in Thailand or less if your U.K. Licence expires before 3 years.

By law if you here 90+ days you must get a Thai licence so the valid period of the IDP means <deleted> all.

[Jumbo1968]

18 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

So what? It is a translation tool, not a license, it says so in the IDP book. An IDP is not legal authorization to drive.

 

19 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

So what? It is a translation tool, not a license, it says so in the IDP book. An IDP is not legal authorization to drive.

U

 

19 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

So what? It is a translation tool, not a license, it says so in the IDP book. An IDP is not legal authorization to drive.

Mines is in English not Thai so how can it be a translation tool ?

[Jumbo1968]

3 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

By law if you here 90+ days you must get a Thai licence so the valid period of the IDP means <deleted> all.

Can you provide a link to prove that, why issue it for a validity of 3 years then ?

[cjinchiangrai]

2 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

 

U

 

Mines is in English not Thai so how can it be a translation tool ?

The IDP books have a different language translation of your license on each page. The Thais use the English page, but not many can read it. This is why the dropped the IDP requirement for English language licenses a few years ago. 

[kiwikeith]

On 6/20/2025 at 5:07 PM, Cornish Pasty said:

Thai’s are the worst drivers I have ever seen, and believe me, I have been around!

 

Mark.

So if one was to arrive in Thailand with a fresh International driver licence they could still use it as long as they don't try to convert it to a temporary Thai licence, they are usually valid for a month,????? 

[madone]

Thais can still pay to avoid a test, though, right?

 

[cjinchiangrai]

13 minutes ago, cardinalblue said:

2026? Mine is good until 2031….you better start studying and it will be in Thai 

Doubtful, they already have the tests in English. If they don't already have them, they should invest in Mandarin and Hindi as well.

[cjinchiangrai]

3 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

So if one was to arrive in Thailand with a fresh International driver license they could still use it as long as they don't try to convert it to a temporary Thai license, they are usually valid for a month,????? 

In conjunction with a valid home country license. You get 90 days, which conveniently matches the tourist entry limit.

[twizzian]

Will the bike rental shops lose their revenue or will they not even care 

[Ralf001]

18 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

Can you provide a link to prove that, why issue it for a validity of 3 years then ?

Iam not providing a link to something that is law... look it up yourself you lazy <deleted>.

 

As for 3yr validity.... that would be handy for some that visits often but does not stay for 90+ days !

[Satcommlee]

Some if the questions can be difficult

[stix40]

I would go further than this 

I would propose only farang drivers allowed on the road 

😂 

[grain]

4 minutes ago, Satcommlee said:

Some if the questions can be difficult

First option is the one.

[lordgrinz]

23 minutes ago, grain said:

First option is the one.

 

If you drive a lorry, taxi, school minibus, or tourist bus it could be the last one.

[Sydebolle]

Makes perfect sense so at least SOME drivers have a genuine driver's license. 

I used Bolt drivers without a license, I bought cars from showrooms which included a new driving license and had a "lifelong" license reissued (the old one got stolen) against a 5-years license. 

It can be safely assumed, that more than half the Thai drivers would fail any test anywhere else; no minimum driving lessons by authorized/licensed driving instructors required, the video show is used for napping or smartphone games at the DLT - in short - just another governmental joke of the finest order. 

Having said that, you're well advised to have a license which is valid in the holy land as, in case of an accident, it is (normally) anyhow your fault and without a valid license the insurance will throw you under the bus as well. 

Living in urban areas; use Bolt/Grab or any other form of taxi; cheaper and zero headaches. No parking, no maintenance, no fuel/tires/service/insurance, no bureaucratic headaches like driving license and you're safe until they will ask the farang for a license to sit in a taxi. 

You're welcome! 

[lordgrinz]

1 minute ago, Sydebolle said:

Living in urban areas; use Bolt/Grab or any other form of taxi; cheaper and zero headaches.

 

Then flip a coin to see how lucky you will be to make your destination alive.

[Dogbarker]

So am I correct is this only applies to someone looking to get a Thai license ? Will an idp still be allowed to be used to hire a car? If so simple I will rely on the IDP and not renew my Thai licence  or not bother coming to Thailand .. another tourist less...

[Mavideol]

On 6/21/2025 at 9:05 AM, dpeti73 said:

Looks like you never been in India 😝

or in China or in Mexico or some countries in South America

[harryviking]

18 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

no test "makes you better" that is not the purpose of a test.   EDucation is the traditional way of improving or learning

And does not tests and the like come under "Education"??? If you do not "test drive" you never learn how to drive! Education??? WHAT EDUCATION!!!🤪

[quake]

Doesn't take much to understand, who the

bad guys and girls are on the road here.

Thailand pointing fingers in the wrong direction again.

Bad farang did it.  ( Thailand's blame game culture up and running )

Grow up Thailand and look in the mirror. 

 

[Jumbo1968]

3 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Iam not providing a link to something that is law... look it up yourself you lazy <deleted>.

 

As for 3yr validity.... that would be handy for some that visits often but does not stay for 90+ days !

The reason I am asking for a link is I can’t find one, I am not being lazy. My car here is insured through my U.K. Licence not a Thai Licence.