International Driving Permit?

[actiondell4]

On my last 2 visits to Thailand,i rented a budget rent a car and drove up around North Thailand.

However now i read that you must have a international drivers licence to drive legally.

That means that had i crashed into someone/something last August when i was in Thailand then legally i would be in the wrong even though i had a aussie drivers licence and not a international.

Do you think this is legally correct?

i found this website for aussies that sell international driver permit,itsfrom the NRMA,National Roads Association.Im now a bit scared to rent a car.Should i bother getting a international driver permit?

Im thinking even though i paid extra for personal liability insurance on the rent a car,the insurance company would of gone to the fine print and not paid it due to no international driver permit.http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/mynrma/hs.xsl/international_drivers_permits.htm

Edited February 16, 2008 by actiondell4

[dr_Pat_Pong]

On my last 2 visits to Thailand,i rented a budget rent a car and drove up around North Thailand.

However now i read that you must have a international drivers licence to drive legally.

That means that had i crashed into someone/something last August when i was in Thailand then legally i would be in the wrong even though i had a aussie drivers licence and not a international.

Do you think this is legally correct?

i found this website for aussies that sell international driver permit,itsfrom the NRMA,National Roads Association.Im now a bit scared to rent a car.Should i bother getting a international driver permit?

Im thinking even though i paid extra for personal liability insurance on the rent a car,the insurance company would of gone to the fine print and not paid it due to no international driver permit.http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/mynrma/hs.xsl/international_drivers_permits.htm

I used to just use an Australian drivers licence alone. That was ok by car rental offices. I now have a Thai drivers licence.

[pnustedt]

Do you think this is legally correct?

An Australian Driving Licence is NOT recognised in Thailand, you do need an International Driving Permit to be legal. If you read the small print in Budget's contract/insurance doc. it does state that the driver must have a recognised driving licence. I haven't heard of anyone having a problem but that is the regulation.