Just now, wil iam not said:

According to Gemini, a UK Licence holder needs a1949 IDP in Thailand, the UK Licence is not enough.

I know it is silly as the IDP is merely a translation into English, but who am I to question AI? 555

I recall the R.A.C. were pointing out that it was 'advisable' to have an IDP if going to Thailand...

Though now, they no longer issue them...🤗

16 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

DP for Thailand is 1968 (which last 3 years (someone mentioned 1949 - thats not for Thailand)).

That 'someone' was me after consulting ChatGPT who says 1949 is for Thailand, but as they say, AI MAY BE WRONG.

Google's interpretation of the rules...

8 minutes ago, Johnlkuk said:

Yes, exactly this.

And it was outside the police station, Beach Road, Pattaya.

Unless you had access to a 'phone a friend' ( a Thai police connection) it would have taken you hours to prove you are right... they know that - its just a game of attrition in such circumstances - better to consider it road tax, pay up and be on your way...

....and of course - prep for next time with a Thai license - but then it will be a different reason... (i.e. you went through the traffic lights on red... that weren't turned on !!!)...

Fortunately - the rest of Thailand outside of Pattaya and Phuket are generally indifferent towards foreign drivers..

... on that - you were 'driving' a car and not riding a motorcycle, correct ?

28 minutes ago, Johnlkuk said:

Google's interpretation of the rules...

Good point - Both 1949 and 1968 convention IDP's are valid and accepted in Thailand.

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

.... you were 'driving' a car and not riding a motorcycle, correct?

No, this was on a rental motorcycle.

2 minutes ago, Johnlkuk said:

No, this was on a rental motorcycle.

Ah.. that changes things... Is your UK license a motorcycle license ?

IF your UK license is a regular car - driving license (even with the AM, A1, A2, A endorsements) - then you are not 'legally' riding a motorcycle in Thailand.

That said - the DLT do not (or cannot) differentiate - so when they see the 'black silhuoette' of the motorcycle on the back of your car - driving license - the will issue a motorcycle license (or they did with me at DLT area 3 BKK years back).

This morning I was out and about so decided to drop into the station to see if they could help clarify the situation.

I mean is there really a need for a IDP even though a UK license is already in English language.

Yep, you guessed it, a waste of time.

I spoke to a female member of staff/policewoman who told me that because their card readers/scanners couldn't read our UK license, we must carry the International version!

She was motioning my card being swiped as she explained to me.

So, as long as we carry a 1968 or 1949, or neither, in English language, and swipavle, we should be good.

And only then - No more fines.

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Ah.. that changes things... Is your UK license a motorcycle license ?

IF your UK license is a regular car - driving license (even with the AM, A1, A2, A endorsements) - then you are not 'legally' riding a motorcycle in Thailand.

That said - the DLT do not (or cannot) differentiate - so when they see the 'black silhuoette' of the motorcycle on the back of your car - driving license - the will issue a motorcycle license (or they did with me at DLT area 3 BKK years back).

I've passed UK car test (in 1982) and motorcycle test (in 1995).

I'll see if I can add a pic...

Sorry, my mistake 1983 for car test, not 1982.

I can ride any size bike back home.

2 minutes ago, Johnlkuk said:

I spoke to a female member of staff/policewoman who told me that because their card readers/scanners couldn't read our UK license, we must carry the International version!

Which is rubbish because the BiB do not carry anything to 'swipe' the card with !!!

Neither could the card readers / scanners read an IDP so the explanation is clearly made up.

Additionally - its now legal to have your card digitally (on the DLT QR License App) - and there is no way for anyone to 'scan' that !!... (but - I guess they can read a QR code).

I suspect her explanation is just a face-saving measure to avoid saying "I don't know" - not uncommon here and is often the source of misinformation when people quote 'what the official told me' !!...

Anyway - as mentioned above if your IPD is tied to a car driving license - then it doesn't really matter - its not a motorcycle license...

... That said - upon seeing an IDP when requested the BiB may roll got with it due to not knowing any better and all they want to see is the IDP in such cases (even though technically - its not needed).

This is the back page of my IDP.

It just mirrors the classes of vehicles I can drive from what is on my license.

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Which is rubbish because the BiB do not carry anything to 'swipe' the card with !!!

Neither could the card readers / scanners read an IDP so the explanation is clearly made up.

Additionally - its now legal to have your card digitally (on the DLT QR License App) - and there is no way for anyone to 'scan' that !!... (but - I guess they can read a QR code).

I suspect her explanation is just a face-saving measure to avoid saying "I don't know" - not uncommon here and is often the source of misinformation when people quote 'what the official told me' !!...

Anyway - as mentioned above if your IPD is tied to a car driving license - then it doesn't really matter - its not a motorcycle license...

... That said - upon seeing an IDP when requested the BiB may roll got with it due to not knowing any better and all they want to see is the IDP in such cases (even though technically - its not needed).

Yes, I almost knew before going in I was going to be wasting my time.

Anyway, the lady at the DLT said it was OK for me to apply for both licenses based on what she saw within my UK license and IDP.

On 1/24/2026 at 11:44 AM, SamSpade said:

I did my 1st Thai Driving license (Car only) 2 days ago via an agent (OneStop Visa on Soi 6 https://www.onestopservicepattaya.com/) and they told me that the DLT in Rayong is very busy at the moment so they bused me to Bangkok & had it all sorted in a couple of hours.

I dropped in there this morning and was quoted 7k. The guy said they run a few times a week.

This was for travel to/from BKK, the cost of tests etc.

I told him I have a COR already for Thai License, and he said I would be deducted that cost from the bill (300 baht). I was also expected to make the million photocopies that I'll need.

Just posting this here for info purposes, but it's not for me.

I'll wait for my appointment in March and hold my own hand.

5 hours ago, Johnlkuk said:

Google's interpretation of the rules...

Well Mr Google could be WRONG as ChatGPT says an IDP is not mandatory, but advisable.

Also, you CANNOT get it from the motoring organisations in UK. A newsagents shop yes if it does PayPoint.

2 hours ago, Johnlkuk said:

Sorry, my mistake 1983 for car test, not 1982.

I can ride any size bike back home.

Mine is quite strange...

The photo-cards have to be renewed every 10 years.

On my 2015-2025 - Driving license I had endorsement A - with sub-category 79(3) meaning trike.

On the 2024-2034 - Driving license I have endorsement A - without sub-categories.

Thus - if I'm reading this correctly - I can ride any size motorcycle in the UK...

I've never taken a motorcycle test in the UK !!!

DVLA must have made a mistake.

57 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Well Mr Google could be WRONG as ChatGPT says an IDP is not mandatory, but advisable.

In this case, ChatGPT is right. The reason an IDP is advisable is because many police officers do not know the conventions; meaning, they will want to see an international driver's permit. Usually, the transport offices do know the conventions; thus, they will accept a driver's license with an English text if the license meets the requirements in the conventions, see below.

You can find the 1968 convention here: https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/conventn/crt1968e.pdf check Annex 6 on page 61. It is perhaps explained in a more understandable language here: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Vienna_Convention_on_Road_Traffic_(2022)#Article_41:_Driving_permits

Thailand has an exemption in the convention from 1968 regarding the classification of mopeds/scooters/small motorbikes. With a foreign licence, you need a driver's license for a motorbike to ride a moped in Thailand.

9 minutes ago, farang51 said:

Thailand has an exemption in the convention from 1968 regarding the classification of mopeds/scooters/small motorbikes. With a foreign licence, you need a driver's license for a motorbike to ride a moped in Thailand.

Most UK drivers licences have just the AM endorsement - which means someone can ride two or three-wheeled mopeds with a maximum design speed between 15.5 mph and 28 mph (45 km/h) - which basically covers 50cc engine-powered or equivalent low powered electric mopeds.

As I understand it 'most' UK Driving License holders will not be riding motorcyles legally with just the AM endorsement.

And to clarify: Johnlkuk appears 'endorsed' to ride any sized motorcycle in Thailand (as do I - which might be a DVLA mistake for my license).

Additionally: my Thai license was issued (about 10 years ago) with the AM and A 79(3) endorsements - I'd never taken a UK test (and at the time - was not endorse to ride anything larger than a 50cc moped).

20 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Most UK drivers licences have just the AM endorsement - which means someone can ride two or three-wheeled mopeds with a maximum design speed between 15.5 mph and 28 mph (45 km/h) - which basically covers 50cc engine-powered or equivalent low powered electric mopeds.

As I understand it 'most' UK Driving License holders will not be riding motorcyles legally with just the AM endorsement.

Excatly. The same goes for people with a Danish licence for a car, they can legally ride a moped in Denmark, but not in Thailand.

44 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thus - if I'm reading this correctly - I can ride any size motorcycle in the UK...

I've never taken a motorcycle test in the UK !!!

DVLA must have made a mistake.

On my license the date in column 10 next to category A is the date I passed the motorbike test, (column 11 date is one day before I turn 70).

Your's has been redacted, but does the date there mean anything to you?

Sounds like you got lucky.

1 minute ago, Johnlkuk said:

On my license the date in column 10 next to category A is the date I passed the motorbike test, (column 11 date is one day before I turn 70).

Your's has been redacted, but does the date there mean anything to you?

Sounds like you got lucky.

Start dates - column 10

- AM - is the date the license was renewed for a (in Jun 2024)

- A - the date means nothing (Jan 2013) - I was in Thailand and not even in the UK then !!

- B1, B etc - The date I passed my Driving (car) test)

End dates - column 11

- as yours is one day before I turn 70 yrs old.

DVLA definitely stuffed up - not that I'll be riding a Motorcycle in the UK anyway.

I also have a Thai Motorcycle license (which I have to renew) so it doesn't really matter.

16 hours ago, wil iam not said:

That 'someone' was me after consulting ChatGPT who says 1949 is for Thailand, but as they say, AI MAY BE WRONG.

My pal griped when he got fined for not having an IDP (despite what I told him, he thought the regular licence would suffice). Then a bit later police were insisting on seeming the regular licence too. It depended on how clued up the policeman was, it was just about getting money.

10 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

B1, B etc - The date I passed my Driving (car) test)

The B1 date on my current UK licence is 29.01.75. I was 18 years old in 1965!

And it was issued on 04.07.24, expiring on 17.09.27= 3 years and two months. Birthday is in Dec . ???

6 hours ago, wil iam not said:

The B1 date on my current UK licence is 29.01.75. I was 18 years old in 1965!

And it was issued on 04.07.24, expiring on 17.09.27= 3 years and two months. Birthday is in Dec . ???

Yours is maybe of sync with your birthday because at some point you've renewed late and had 3 years added to the date of renewal, or renewed early and DVLA issued it immediately.

On 1/25/2026 at 4:23 PM, wil iam not said:

There is NO SUCH THING as an international Licence. They simply issue a Thai Licence because you have a UK, or other country, one.

Of course there is, an IDP plus a national licence equates to an "International Licence". Not long ago the UK had a national licence that was in in 2 parts.

Only those that fail to recognise context have a dispute with reality.

1 minute ago, sandyf said:

Of course there is, an IDP plus a national licence equates to an "International Licence". Not long ago the UK had a national licence that was in in 2 parts.

Only those that fail to recognise context have a dispute with reality.

No country issues an "International Driving Licence", that is why one must obtain an IDP to back up your home country issued licence..........🤫

15 minutes ago, treetops said:

7 hours ago, wil iam not said:

The B1 date on my current UK licence is 29.01.75. I was 18 years old in 1965!

And it was issued on 04.07.24, expiring on 17.09.27= 3 years and two months. Birthday is in Dec . ???

Yours is maybe of sync with your birthday because at some point you've renewed late and had 3 years added to the date of renewal, or renewed early and DVLA issued it immediately.

Once a UK driving license holder is over 70 - the license needs to be re-issued every 3 years...

Though on wil's licence renewal is 3 years, 2 months and 13 days, which is obviously longer than 'within 3 years'...

Apparently (from AI) this is because the DVLA uses internal scheduling and administrative batching... aligning reminder cycles and processing time windows for renewals. It doesn't follow a strict day-count anniversary system (apparently).

So - renewal before 17 Sep 2027 is about the '3 year rule' - and dates are to fit DVLA processing windows - not a specific day count.

18 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Start dates - column 10

- AM - is the date the license was renewed for a (in Jun 2024)

I think that means renewed by post, mine says 09.10.14 and 25.08.26, the latter being the day before I am 79. Been renewed 3 times( all online) in last 9 years, last time being the last time.

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Apparently (from AI) this is because the DVLA uses internal scheduling and administrative batching... aligning reminder cycles and processing time windows for renewals. It doesn't follow a strict day-count anniversary system (apparently).

So - renewal before 17 Sep 2027 is about the '3 year rule' - and dates are to fit DVLA processing windows - not a specific day count.

I think my reasoning sounds more plausible than the AI one but lets see what wil iam not says.

6 minutes ago, transam said:

No country issues an "International Driving Licence", that is why one must obtain an IDP to back up your home country issued licence..........🤫

The 2 together create a licence to drive internationally but feel free to dispute.