Update On Licensing Requirements For Tourists In Thailand

[Soutpeel]

Be happy they did not ask you to see your passport. You must carry it at all times and they could see if you were here over 30 days and need a Thai drivers license. In 10 years I have only been ask to show mine once, but luckily did have it with me that day. 99% of the time I do not.

But anyone here really more than a fdew weeks holiday, or those who come here often, Should take the time to go get one.

That old chestnut...there is no legal requirement to carry your passport, only that you can produce it within a reasonable time, and please direct me to the portion of Thai traffic regulation with reference to this 30 day rule needs a Thai DL ?.....it doesnt exist.

Edited July 25, 2012 by Soutpeel

[Soutpeel]

I have been stopped by the Thai police on a couple of other occassions and they asked to see my passport (fortunately I had it with me) but did not ask for my driver's license.

I visit Thailand a few times per year, have a steady gf there and plan to retire there in 4 or 5 years. I would be very happy to get a Thai Driver's License. Is it possible for someone visiting only on tourist status to obtain a Thai driver's license? or another way to get the license?

If only visiting a few times a year, in other words you are a genuine tourist get an IDP against your existing license, thats fine until you nmove here

[NomadJoe]

when i have rented a bike or car i have never been asked to show my licence to the company i rented from. i have a licence so no problem but i have not been asked to show it

The importance of the right license becomes obvious only in an accident: the insurance will refuse coverage if you do not have a valid IDP.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect App

Completely untrue.

[chris1dna]

Isn't there no such thing as an "international drivers license"? Only an international driving permit?

[Soutpeel]

Isn't there no such thing as an "international drivers license"? Only an international driving permit?

Only a IDP, they adds you see in the web for UN licenses, International DL are scams

[Disting]

Many years ago I had a Honda Stream on rental from Budget in Bangkok. We were driving from Chiang Mai to Buri Ram in a day and were around Khon Kaen way when I rear ended a pickup.

I had rented the car on a UK driving license and did not have an IDP.

The Budget insurance man came out and photographed the cars and then asked for my license. I give him my UK license and he says, international mai so I pointed at the EU stars on the license and said yes, international from Europe. He photographs it and leaves. They then tow the Stream to Khon Kaen airport, radiator had split, gave me a CRV and we carried on. Have never hears a peep from them and it was maybe 10 years ago.

If there had been anyway that it was illegal for me to rent and drive on a UK license, that would have been flagged up and the Budget insurance would have not paid and the bill would have come to me. I have rented from them since without issue.

Subsequently I did get an IDP and have gone on to get both bike and car Thai licenses.

[mogandave]

I never carry mine, but whatever you do, do not show your passport at a traffic stop.

[TommoPhysicist]

Legally you must have an International License, however if they need to make some money, even that will not save you from being fined.

Legally you must have a valid driving license written in Thai or English.

If you are staying in Thailand for longer than 90 days you must have a Thai driving license.

Of course these laws are complicated by ignorant and/or corrupt police officers stealing from tourists.

[JeffreyMcCollum]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I have the American license only. I've been in China for 3 years but do not drive here. Each of my visits to Thailand is less than 3 months so I thought I was OK with just the American license. Maybe it was a bad day for the police officer. He was hostile and aggressive from the beginning - totally without provocation - I was courteous and respectful, totally sober, driving properly, and did not attempt to argue. But I'm still not sure if I was breaking the law or not. Is their an official Thai government site that spells out the law? preferably in English but I can maybe sort it out in Thai.

This is the closest I can find in English

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT (Thai Law)

Section 42

• Anyone who wishes to drive a motor vehicle on public roads must possess an appropriate driver licence.
  
• The driver must carry the driver licence and a photocopy of the registration book and show them to competent officers upon request.
  
• This does not apply to those who are learning to drive a motor vehicle according to the provision of Section 57.
  
• If the driver is an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa, he may drive a motor vehicle with a driver licence specified in the Section 42-2.
  
• In such a case, he must carry documents specified by the treaty between the Thai government and the government which issued such driver licence, and show them to competent officers upon request.
  [/quote]
  

The problem I see is finding a "Competent officer" in Thailand. Living here, and driving here for many years, I am sure most have found out that the police will clearly do as the police want. Argue all you want. At times when I was being pinched by the police and know I was 100% correct, I argued my case for 20 minutes before they decided to go on to easier fish to fry and did let me go. But at the same time, For the daily things I do that I know are not lawful, driving too fast, going through and not stopping at stop signs and lights, and going the wrong way as well as down side walks, I guess it is part of the game and must pay a fine wether true or not

I stack the odds in my favor, Have a Thai license, Full first class insurance on every car, truck, and bike I have, as well as making sure tax stickers are current and copies of all paperwork is in with me. On a bike I always wear a helmet, 99.9% of the time I am good to go, but some times they come up with stupid stuff

[JeffreyMcCollum]

As a funny note, my father was tired of bad cops asking for money in Pattaya. He took his California DL to a print shop on Pattaya Tri, had them change the name California to International and made 12 copies of it and had them laminated. every time he was stopped he would had it over and say he would go to the Police station to pay. Then get another one out of the desk at home. Think he lost 4 or 5

God bless his sole, Think he one upped them

[NomadJoe]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I have the American license only. I've been in China for 3 years but do not drive here. Each of my visits to Thailand is less than 3 months so I thought I was OK with just the American license. Maybe it was a bad day for the police officer. He was hostile and aggressive from the beginning - totally without provocation - I was courteous and respectful, totally sober, driving properly, and did not attempt to argue. But I'm still not sure if I was breaking the law or not. Is their an official Thai government site that spells out the law? preferably in English but I can maybe sort it out in Thai.

This is the closest I can find in English

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT (Thai Law)

Section 42

• Anyone who wishes to drive a motor vehicle on public roads must possess an appropriate driver licence.
  
• The driver must carry the driver licence and a photocopy of the registration book and show them to competent officers upon request.
  
• This does not apply to those who are learning to drive a motor vehicle according to the provision of Section 57.
  
• If the driver is an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa, he may drive a motor vehicle with a driver licence specified in the Section 42-2.
  
• In such a case, he must carry documents specified by the treaty between the Thai government and the government which issued such driver licence, and show them to competent officers upon request.
  [/quote]
  

The problem I see is finding a "Competent officer" in Thailand. Living here, and driving here for many years, I am sure most have found out that the police will clearly do as the police want. Argue all you want. At times when I was being pinched by the police and know I was 100% correct, I argued my case for 20 minutes before they decided to go on to easier fish to fry and did let me go. But at the same time, For the daily things I do that I know are not lawful, driving too fast, going through and not stopping at stop signs and lights, and going the wrong way as well as down side walks, I guess it is part of the game and must pay a fine wether true or not

I stack the odds in my favor, Have a Thai license, Full first class insurance on every car, truck, and bike I have, as well as making sure tax stickers are current and copies of all paperwork is in with me. On a bike I always wear a helmet, 99.9% of the time I am good to go, but some times they come up with stupid stuff

That is an important piece of the puzzle. Your missing section 42-2 which goes into more detail. Here is the rest of the puzzle, at least all of it that I have so far. Still looking for direct, written quotes from police that confirm it, but I am getting close. As soon as I get that I will make a new thread and ask the mods to pin it.

As a cop in the states we received a fair bit of training on the IDP issue from the domestic perspective so I was curious why after moving to Thailand all the websites, even consulate ones, said an IDP was required for tourists in Thailand when very clearly it isn't under most conditions. After going through countless checkpoints with just my California DL and hearing the same from everyone else, then my dad renting a car while visiting me and crashing into a Thai on a motorbike. No IDP, no problem. So it's not required by the police, insurance companies or car/motocycle rental companies, yet these websites still claim it is.

Then a few years ago I read in the paper a quote from a top BIB (which I really wish I could find) that made it all clear. He said that the official position of the BIB is that an English language license with a photo is considered an international license and thus does not require an IDP endorsement. This was probably due to the changes in technology, the fact that most licenses now have photos and are in English. In 1949 (The year of the Geneva Convention) most did not. This also makes sense when you realize that none of the languages an IDP translates your license into are Thai. Most states in America no longer require them just as many other countries now don't. So that is how I believe the "IDP is required in Thailand for tourists" rumor got started. It may have once been the case, but no longer.

So in terms of "supporting evidence", the first important piece to this is the Geneva convention on road traffic act of 1949. This is apparently where organizations like the Austrailian and U.S. AAA get their information simply by looking at who had signed and/or ratified the act and use that to determine whether an IDP is required or not without actually reading the act. This act, which isn't a law but a treaty, (agreement between counties) covers a great many things like road design, road markings'signage, license plate design, (which, btw, Thailand is in violation of because they use Thai script, not Roman letters) drivers license design and, of course, the mutual acceptance of drivers licenses. Ever wonder why DL's are so often pink? It comes from this act.

So in an effort to find my smoking gun, I recently sent an email to the Thai Highway Police, amonst others, in order to see if I could get clarification on the law. I recieved no explaination, only two documents in Thai which I have attached to this post. One was an RTP document generally decribing drivers license design which I haven't fully translated yet (my Thei helper has not yet replied), the other was a Thai language version of the 1949 Geneva convention on road traffic act. Online sources I found show Thailand is not a signatory, but become a contracting state to the act in 1962 via accession. Here is a translation of the relevent section of that act. Notice in paragraph 2 the word "may" in bold as well as the bit after "especially...". I added the *'s so people don't have to look them up. It's crystal clear that the treaty does not require contracting states to require an IDP.

CHAPTER V

DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES IN INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC

Article 24

1. Each Contracting State* shall allow any driver admitted to its territory who fulfills the conditions which are set out in Annex 8** and who holds a valid driving permit issued to him, after he has given proof of his competence, by the competent authority of another Contracting State or subdivision thereof, or by an Association duly empowered by such authority, to drive on its roads without further examination motor vehicles of the category or categories defined in Annexes 9 and 10 for which the permit has been issued.

2. A Contracting State may however require that any driver admitted to its territory shall carry an international driving permit conforming to the model contained in Annex 10, especially in the case of a driver coming from a country where a domestic driving permit is not required or where the domestic permit issued to him does not conform to the model contained in Annex 9***.

* Thailand is a contracting state, as they became a party via accession on 15 Aug, 1962.

** Annex 8 references required age of drivers.

*** Annex 9 describes the size of domestic driving permit (driver’s license) colour, size, English language, photo size, etc.

http://www.austlii.e...ies/1955/2.html

http://www.unece.org...RSS_RT1949.html

Then, the next and equally important piece of the puzzle is the Land Traffic Act of 1979, Title 3 Section 42. It clearly states that if there is mutual acceptance of licenses through treaty (like the treaty above) then "an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa may drive a motor vehicle with a driver's license issued by such a foreign government". Note that your home country and Thailand must have a treaty on mutual licenses. Most do so that shouldn't be a problem.

Land Traffic Act of 1979

Title 3: Driver's License

Section 42

Anyone who wishes to drive a motor vehicle on public roads must possess an appropriate driver's license. The driver must carry the driver's license and a photocopy of the registration book and show them to competent officers upon request. This does not apply for those who are learning to drive a motor vehicle according to the provision of Section 57.

If the driver is an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa, he may drive a motor vehicle with a driver's license specified in the Section 42-2. In such a case, he must carry documents specified by the treaty between the Thai government and the government which issued such driver's license, and show them to competent officers upon request.

Section 42-2

In case there's a treaty between the Thai government and a foreign government regarding mutual acceptance of driver's license, an alien who doesn't have an immigrant visa may drive a motor vehicle with a driver's license issued by such a foreign government, or an automobile association authorized by such a foreign government.

http://www.gt-rider....-bkkriders-com)

---

Not that any other evidence is really necessary, but to address the many claims that "If you're in an accident you can't make a claim without an IDP." or "You can't rent a car without an IDP.".. I submit the following email responses from several car rental companies and insurance companies whom I asked for their policy on this issue. Not a single one came back saying I needed an IDP if a tourist in Thailand. The big companies clearly state it right in their website.

Pure Car Rent:

"Thank you for your email. Intenational drivers license is no need to translate because when it says International it should already in English and it is permited to use internationally.

About insurance coverage, for Pure Car Rent‘s insurance, Thai,

overseas or international driver’s license is acceptable for our

insurance companies. So if you drive Pure Car Rent‘s car with

driver’s license issued by your country, you and the car are covered

by insurance.”

HertzThailand.com:

"Rental Qualification :

Minimum renter age is 21 years.

Must hold a valid Thai driving license or a driving license from a

renter’s country of residence (with an English translation), or an

international driving license."

Budget.co.th:

Drivers License

All drivers must hold a current, non-probationary license.

The license may either be Thai, or from a renter's country of

residence (with an English translation) or an international drivers

permit. Licenses (and a valid passport) must be carried at all times

when driving.

AA Insurance Thailand:

"Your 'home' license is legal in Thailand - as long as it is legal in your own country i.e. not suspended !"

Viriyah Insurance:

“We acknowledge receipt of your e-mail and

very sorry for late reply. Regarding to your question, please be

inform that your legal drivers license issued by The United States of

America (date of license valid) is acceptable to use and drive the car

in Thailand and The Viriyah car insurance will be cover while have an

accident (Just in Thailand). Thank you for your kind interested.”

Bupa Insurance:

"For the international IDP is not a problem sir. As I have check with Bangkok. It’s not a problem for Bupa.

No problem with that and the insurance will be covered you for all.

-Prayurapong Pisanaka, Prayurapong Pisanaka, Executive Health & Financial Manager - Head Office

American International Assurance Company, Limited

----

And for those out there that are still doubting, here is a short collection of first hand accounts from various sources of the seemingly infinite reports of interactions between foriegners driving with no IDP and the Thai police. This reflects the actual reality of the situation on the ground in Thailand and should be the best measuring stick to the legality of diving on your home license with no IDP. It strikes me as very odd that the police who are so fond of finding any little thing to make some tea money seem to be ignoring this if an IDP is required. Anecdotal, yes, but evidence none the less. (No, I didn't write any of the Wiki Answers)

Lonely Planet entry:

"I've rented cars in Thailand many times. All the rental companies ask for is a driver's license (US state) and credit card -- just like everywhere else. I've been stopped by the police several times and the driver's license was fine."

Thaivisa member bob4you

I've been driving here for 5 years, stopped a couple of dozen times. Hawaii drivers license was accepted (never questioned once) each time.

ThaiVisa member bubba:

I have never had an International Driving License and I have driven in Thailand using both hired cars and my own car for about ten years now. I do have a valid licence from home. My insurance policy has a clause that states that only a "valid drivers license" is required for the class of vehicle insured. After inquiring, I got it in writing that this includes foreign licenses. I have been involved in three minor property damage accidents, two in a hire car and one in my own car. Whilst driving on a foreign license, my car was smashed by an uninsured pickup with my repair bill being 24,000 baht. My insurance company sent their adjuster out, he made out a report, and I was compensated fully. None of the police asked for a Thai or international licence, nor did the insurance companies and my own insurance company explicitly allows for coverage of drivers using a foreign licence, so long as that licence is valid for the class of vehicle driven. I have been stopped at police checkpoints and police invented traffic infractions dozens of times, and sometimes they ask for my licence. No problem. The police just want the money, not a big hassle. I have hired cars in Thailand dozens of times and no Thai or international licence is required by those companies either, including the majors such as Avis and Budget.

Here are the car rental companies in Thailand that I have used and none require an IDP or Thai licence so long as I had a recognisable and valid foreign licence:

Hertz

Avis

Budget

Master Car Rental

North Wheels (Chiang Mai)

ThaiVisa member tropa:

“I went through one of these road blocks on 3rd Road yesterday. I showed them my Australian drivers licence and they waved me through.”

landofsmiles from another forum:

"Your [home] licence is fine. Chances are in a few days you won't even go through any police checks and if you do it will still be ok. I don't have a bike endorsement on mine and I've been through dozens of checks. All they want to see is the word LICENCE and your photo."

ThaiVisa member fiddlehead:

"I always just used my state drivers licence from USA ... used the above for about 3 years ... Never got a fine for it. Except once because it had expired."

ThaiVisa member phuketrex:

"5 years in Thailand. Through 100's of police checks. Never a problem showing my British licence."

Commenter Robb at Pattaya One:

" I’ve been driving here for years only on my home country licence and never had a problem. Seem the police like the fact I have all my other documentation for my bike, nicely color photocopied and in a ziplok bag under the seat, they never question the fact I don’t have an international licence"

ThaiVisa member Deaw:

Cruising down 2nd road in Pattaya on my rented 'cycle, not far from the Central Mall; must've been about 30 cops there, with the orange cones and some barricades, flashing red lights, etc.....pulling over EVERY motorcycle, farang and Thai alike. This was at 5pm.

I got waved over by 2 guys .... helmet on; check. One says "license, please", and I hand him my N.Y. state drivers license. While he is looking it over, I say "I am a tourist here, I don't live in Thailand". Then I point to the "M.C." next to the Operator code and tell them "M.C., that means motorcycle".

The older of the 2 says "OK" and they stand aside and let me pass. Total time wasted; 30 seconds.

Total bribe and/or fine paid, and total number of laws broken; None.

ThaiVisa member collectsskulls:

"I have an international drivers permit but have never been asked for it only my Canadian one"

ThaiVisa member Kwasaki:

"I have never needed an IDP in Thailand having a UK valid driving license"

Wiki Answers

"All drivers must hold a current, non-probationary licence either Thai or from their own country but if it is not Thai or English they must carry an English translation or an international driving licence."

Wiki Answers

"I drove in Thailand for the first 12 months on a west Australian licence and was often checked but never a problem. Each time I was stopped at a police check point, the policeman seemed more intent on proving that he could read my name.

After that 12 months I got an International liicence whch was a waste of money as I still only showed my Australian licence.

So ,, short answer No you dont need one"

Wiki Answers

"International or US Driver's License and Passport is all you need."

Wiki Answers

"You don't have to have an international driver's license to rent a car, the rental agencies will rent you a car with a valid license from your home country. If you get stopped by the police make sure you show them your passport and the tourist visa stamp"

Wiki Answers

"If you are a farang and possess your home drivers license, that is enough. If a policeman (especially in Udon Thani) stops you, you simply show him your drivers license"

-----

And lastly, on the separate issue of whether or not an IDP is needed in order to convert your home license to a Thai DL, it does seem some LTD's are asking for this but based on what I have read it would appear that this is only so they can verify what class the license is. The Thai DLT has no idea what "Class C, M1" means for example. They did not ask me for an IDP in Phuket, but they did ask me for a computer printout of the California DMV webpage which explains the classes. If you want to convert your home DL into a Thai one (which will allow you to skip the written and driving tests) and it doesn't have a picture of the classes on it, such as UK and EU licenses do, then bring this printout describing the classes or an IDP.

ThaiVisa member saorsa:

“Got mine (Thai DL) at Sukhumvit 62 branch a few days ago and all I needed was medical cert, passport, Uk drivers license and residency letter. Had to do reaction times test, depth perception and colour test.”

AnotherThaiVisa member in ChangMai reported not needing an IDP to convert his license, even taking a photo of the sign in the DLT describing what you need to convert your home license into a Thai one. No IDP is listed.

Of course it doesn't hurt to have an IDP as long as it's not the bogus ones you see advertised online.

I have submitted the question of IDP's to the Phuket Gazette Issues and Answers so we will see if they make a lier out of me.

So bottom line, if a BIB does try one on and attempt to do you for no IDP as a tourist, all you need to do is point to your English license with a photo and repeat "International already." Show them your passport/copy of with your tourist visa/visa exempt stamp. Speaking Thai to him will only work against you. If he decides that you are a resident and not a tourist/visitor, he may try to cite you for not having a Thai DL, but that has nothing to do with IDP's.

Do the above and I guarantee the BIB will not cite you for diving on just your home license if:

1) You are a toursit/visitor.

2) It is in English.

3) It has a photo.

4) It is current

5) It is for the class of vehicle you are diving.

6) Your home country and Thailand have a mutual agreement on licenses.

[NomadJoe]

Here are the Thai language documents I mentioned above but forgot to attach. Also here is the correct link to a translated Traffic Act. The link above doesn't work. http://www.bkkriders.com/law/motorvehicle.html

ภนุสัà¸à¸à¸²à¹€à¸ˆà¸™à¸µà¸§à¸²2492.pdf

ประà¸à¸²à¸¨à¸à¸£à¸¡à¸à¸²à¸£à¸‚นส่ง à¸à¸³à¸«à¸™à¸”à¹à¸šà¸šà¹ƒà¸šà¸ นุà¸à¸²à¸•à¸‚ับขี่ 23 ส.ค. 49.pdf

Edited September 14, 2012 by NomadJoe

[manarak]

the first 3 pages of this thread are absolutely hilarious!

thank you for entertainment, LOL

and than you NanLeaw for the correct explanation.

I haven't paid a fine in a very long time.

[ubonrthai]

Thank you for the research. So I have a friend that arrived with his car license (not motorcycle license) from a state in the US. Does this mean he can drive a motorcycle in Thailand on this license legally until he obtains the Thai license? As already mentioned, people do this in tourist areas constantly. I just want to make sure if something weird happens like a bad accident, that he is indeed driving legally.

Edited October 4, 2012 by ubonrthai

[stevenl]

Thank you for the research. So I have a friend that arrived with his car license (not motorcycle license) from a state in the US. Does this mean he can drive a motorcycle in Thailand on this license legally until he obtains the Thai license? As already mentioned, people do this in tourist areas constantly. I just want to make sure if something weird happens like a bad accident, that he is indeed driving legally.

No, he can not. To drive a motorbike a motorbike license is required, which he does not have.

[ubonrthai]

So all the tourists on motorbikes without a license are technically illegal?

[stevenl]

So all the tourists on motorbikes without a license are technically illegal?

Anybody on a motorbike without a license is technically illegal, yes.

[anon210]

So all the tourists on motorbikes without a license are technically illegal?

Anybody on a motorbike without a license is technically illegal, yes.

And they will learn that when they crash the bike and the insurance declines coverage. Or when the police asks for a "contribution in kind" to their welfare.

[NomadJoe]

So all the tourists on motorbikes without a license are technically illegal?

Anybody on a motorbike without a license is technically illegal, yes.

And you can go one further, anybody without a motorcycle license is illegal.

[NomadJoe]

Thank you for the research. So I have a friend that arrived with his car license (not motorcycle license) from a state in the US. Does this mean he can drive a motorcycle in Thailand on this license legally until he obtains the Thai license? As already mentioned, people do this in tourist areas constantly. I just want to make sure if something weird happens like a bad accident, that he is indeed driving legally.

No, he can not. To drive a motorbike a motorbike license is required, which he does not have.

Correct. If he had a motorcycle license (in English with a photo) then he would be legal, but as you point out, most tourists rent with the incorrect license with no consequence. I don't recommend it.

[NomadJoe]

I have sent an email to the Royal Thai Embassy here in Canada lets see what they have to say!

So what did they say?

[Soutpeel]

I have sent an email to the Royal Thai Embassy here in Canada lets see what they have to say!

So what did they say?

No have....