Licence Requirements When Driving On Holiday In Thailand

[aliwright]

Hi

I am coming on holiday to Thailand soon with family and want to hire a car.

What licence do I need for holiday car rental?

I hired a car on my last trip with just my UK licence and nothing else.

If I do the same again will I be covered by insurance if I have a prang?

Also been told to carry my passport at all times.

Can I carry a photocopy and keep my passport secure in the hotel safe?

[Rinrada]

Get an International Driving Permit from the AA..about 12 quid.+ plus your UK/EU DL and you should be motoring.....legally...

[jayenram]

Also been told to carry my passport at all times.

Can I carry a photocopy and keep my passport secure in the hotel safe?

By the letter of the law, you should always keep your passport with you.

However, I've yet to hear of anyone having a problem with the police by only carrying a photocopy. Make sure your passport is available 24 hours/day (e.g. not in a bank safe deposit box).

[smartecosse]

hope they dont give you an eye test as this is the diving forum not a dRiving forum

[sbk]

Moved from the Diving in Thailand forum to the Motor forum

///MOVED///

[happylarry]

Most car hirers will want to keep your passport as security. I think the only way round this is if you are staying at one of the bigger hotels and book it through them.

be happy....Larry

[TokyoT]

Most car hirers will want to keep your passport as security. I think the only way round this is if you are staying at one of the bigger hotels and book it through them.

be happy....Larry

I have rented cars in Thailand dozens of times and never have I been asked by the car hire company to turn over my passport. Almost all have made a photo copy, but none have ever asked to keep it - nor would I ever turn it over to them to keep.

I have rented cars thru Herz, Avis, Budget, and several local hire shops in Issan.

In relation to the OP most of the large car hire company require only that the drivers license is in English (or Thai). That being said I am not sure what the actual laws are in Thailand but one would think that if it was the law that one had to have an international license that the car hire companies would require it.

I have been stopped three or four times for supposed speeding and such by our dutiful boys in brown (police). Each time I have had nothing more than my passport and my local US state drivers license and this has never been a problem for them.

[happylarry]

I agree that when I hire cars in Korat (Isaan) they just take a photocopy of passport but here in Samui you cant even hire a motorbike without leaving either passport or a thai ID card. I dont know but I imagine its the same in most tourist resorts. I have to admit if I was in the shops shoes then I would want some decent security as well considering the bikes arent even insured out here.

[TexasRanger]

I hire cars in BKK and Issan too. I use my UK license and an international one which cost me about 5 quid from the RAC. When I was hit by a motorcyclist in Issan the first thing the cops did was ask me for my driving license and passport, they couldn't read any of it and didn't even try, he just wanted to satisfy himself I had them and then lost interest in me completely. It may be that he may have seen the opportunity to make a couple of baht in fines if I hadn't had them, but having them saved me the trouble.

As a side note, I was treated very well by the police up there and being a farang in an accident with locals was treated fairly with no trouble (not so for the drunken ass who drove into us..... moped vs Fortuner Ouch).