Getting A International Driving Permit

[kopite]

I just passed my Driving test here a couple of days ago, and need a IDP to get around europe for a while (not UK), but i am british.

ive gone ahead and ordered a IDP from here: http://www.international-license.com/index.php

should i have obtained one in Thailand or is this fine?

thai licence is 1 year temp car.

[Thanh-BKK]

Hello

Sorry to say so, my friend, but you have fallen for a SCAM already. What you get from that website is NOT a "IDP" (International Driving PERMIT") but a "International Driver Document" - something that, legally, does not even exist and is nothing but a translation of your driving license into several other languages. Completely useless for driving purposes! You could probably fool a Thai cop into believing that it is a driving license (i heard a fishing license from the UK does that same trick already!) but as you are specifically planning to use it in Europe, you won't get beyond the first checkpoint.

A hint: "It is valid for three years but can only be used for one year in one country" - sign of <deleted> already. I had an actual IDP which was also valid for three years and as it is made for that very purpose, enables you to be used for THREE YEARS in one country.

Then the charges - 89 Dollars for the three year one??? Now my IDP (from Germany) was in fact FREE as any holder of a German license can legally request an IDP to be issued along with his/her local license - at no additional cost. If you need it at a later date (as in my case before coming to Thailand) it will still be issued at no cost if you hold a valid German license!

Now as you hold a Thai license, which is val;id for one year, you can also obtain an IDP based on that license, which will then, too, be valid for one year only (an IDP always is valid only together with a local license and only as long as that license is valid!)

So my best recommendation would be that you go to where you got your Thai license and simply ask for the IDP. Chances are you'll get it in the same building, and likely for 100 Baht or less (89 Dollars.......... how to fall for that??)

With best regards......

Thanh

[Crossy]

Since your nice new licence is only a 1 year, I don't think you can get an IDP against it

[kopite]

Hello

Sorry to say so, my friend, but you have fallen for a SCAM already. What you get from that website is NOT a "IDP" (International Driving PERMIT") but a "International Driver Document" - something that, legally, does not even exist and is nothing but a translation of your driving license into several other languages. Completely useless for driving purposes! You could probably fool a Thai cop into believing that it is a driving license (i heard a fishing license from the UK does that same trick already!) but as you are specifically planning to use it in Europe, you won't get beyond the first checkpoint.

A hint: "It is valid for three years but can only be used for one year in one country" - sign of <deleted> already. I had an actual IDP which was also valid for three years and as it is made for that very purpose, enables you to be used for THREE YEARS in one country.

Then the charges - 89 Dollars for the three year one??? Now my IDP (from Germany) was in fact FREE as any holder of a German license can legally request an IDP to be issued along with his/her local license - at no additional cost. If you need it at a later date (as in my case before coming to Thailand) it will still be issued at no cost if you hold a valid German license!

Now as you hold a Thai license, which is val;id for one year, you can also obtain an IDP based on that license, which will then, too, be valid for one year only (an IDP always is valid only together with a local license and only as long as that license is valid!)

So my best recommendation would be that you go to where you got your Thai license and simply ask for the IDP. Chances are you'll get it in the same building, and likely for 100 Baht or less (89 Dollars.......... how to fall for that??)

With best regards......

Thanh

thought as much. need it asap as well. hence why i asked.

cheers

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Hello

Sorry to say so, my friend, but you have fallen for a SCAM already. What you get from that website is NOT a "IDP" (International Driving PERMIT") but a "International Driver Document" - something that, legally, does not even exist and is nothing but a translation of your driving license into several other languages. Completely useless for driving purposes! You could probably fool a Thai cop into believing that it is a driving license (i heard a fishing license from the UK does that same trick already!) but as you are specifically planning to use it in Europe, you won't get beyond the first checkpoint.

A hint: "It is valid for three years but can only be used for one year in one country" - sign of <deleted> already. I had an actual IDP which was also valid for three years and as it is made for that very purpose, enables you to be used for THREE YEARS in one country.

Then the charges - 89 Dollars for the three year one??? Now my IDP (from Germany) was in fact FREE as any holder of a German license can legally request an IDP to be issued along with his/her local license - at no additional cost. If you need it at a later date (as in my case before coming to Thailand) it will still be issued at no cost if you hold a valid German license!

Now as you hold a Thai license, which is val;id for one year, you can also obtain an IDP based on that license, which will then, too, be valid for one year only (an IDP always is valid only together with a local license and only as long as that license is valid!)

So my best recommendation would be that you go to where you got your Thai license and simply ask for the IDP. Chances are you'll get it in the same building, and likely for 100 Baht or less (89 Dollars.......... how to fall for that??)

With best regards......

Thanh

Quite so.

I'm ordering my new U.S. IDP from AAA (American Automobile Association), in this case the Oregon AAA outlet, cost is now up to $15 for the ONE year IDP, ordered it to start on 15 April 2008, IRS Day.

Here's another recent thread on TV:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=171076  Which also says:  "They wont issue one on your 1 year 'provisional' Thai DL.. Only the 5 year 'full' Thai DL.."

I also have a Thai 5-year license but don't show it if pulled over by the Boys in Brown, always show the IDP and forget how to speak Thai.  Works, smile a lot, and haven't paid the baht 200 "instant fine" for lots of years now.

Mac

[grtaylor]

So my best recommendation would be that you go to where you got your Thai license and simply ask for the IDP. Chances are you'll get it in the same building, and likely for 100 Baht or less (89 Dollars.......... how to fall for that??)

I've never got one from here - as I go back to the UK once a year, so get one there, but I believe you can only get the Thai IDP at the Morchit Land Transport Office in Bangkok. Also, I was told, you need ANOTHER letter from your embassy verifying you are who you say you are . . . . .

G

[monty]

As stated above, a Thai IDP will only be issued when holding a 5 year Thai driving license. No problem for a foreigner to get one.

I have however heard several holders of one complaining that it does not get honored in their home country by for example car rental companies! They tend to notice you are for example German, and the German car rental company will demand you show them a German drivers license!

The document you ordered above is completely useless, it is not illegal per se, as it doesn't claim to be an IDP, it's just that it is completely useless

[kopite]

As stated above, a Thai IDP will only be issued when holding a 5 year Thai driving license. No problem for a foreigner to get one.

I have however heard several holders of one complaining that it does not get honored in their home country by for example car rental companies! They tend to notice you are for example German, and the German car rental company will demand you show them a German drivers license!

The document you ordered above is completely useless, it is not illegal per se, as it doesn't claim to be an IDP, it's just that it is completely useless

so no chance of getting a IDP on a one year temp then

oh well, nevermind

*edit* cant the thai licence be used for one year in other countries besides you country of birth?