Im renting out a car and heading Chiang Mai to Udon Thani, will probably stop off somewhere and make a 2day trip out of it.

Problem is i dont have a international license only my national one from Ireland, to rent out a car for 4-5 days do the rental companies insist on an international driving license? What are the chances of license been checked along the way by thai police and if so will national license be ok, lastly what about my insurance, would it be invalid if i didnt have an international license?

I could send my license home and apply for an international one but it would take 1 week to send, 1 week to process, 1 week to send back and i plan on going sooner than that and its a lot of hassle.

Not worth taking the chance in the event of an accident. Your insurance would be invalid.

i am fascinated when this topic comes up. where does it say (in the insurance) that IDP is required? I have had several friends come over the years, usually without a IDP and all were able to rent cars/motocy with their california drivers license. According to this link (http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/idp-requirements-by-country.html#) IDP is recognized by thailand but not required for insurance. Maybe the link is out of date?

3 yrs ago i rented a car for a month and used my CDL, since my IDP had expired at that point. I get it, that a rental company might ask for IDP, maybe even refuse rental, but that has not been my or my friend's experiences.

Wade through the fine contract print of any vehicle rental contract and somewhere it will say that the driver must have a legal driving license - legal for Thailand, and only an IDP or Asean licence is legal. For sure lots of folks drive here with only their home licence and get away with it. Way back in my first year here I had an accident and only had my home licence. The police were not happy and neither side had full insurance and each side agreed to cover their own damage/costs so the police were happy to wash their hands of the case as insurance company not called. I was lucky, and immediately took my Thai driving test.

Just use budget/avis/hertz and imo you'll likely be fine.

So it is not true that a driver's license in the English language (as I've been told) will serve, at least in the case of an accident and assuming that one has not used an international rental agency (such as 3 named above)?

Technically and to be fully covered you need your home licence plus IDP

As normal in Thailand you would be able to hire the car on your home country licence, this ISSUE is if anything goes wrong...then the problems start

If you have time get an IDP

Insurance companies look for a way of NOT paying claims, and without an IDP you give them an out

Car rental companies are only interested in renting cars..also check you have full first class / comprehensive insurance

FYI - Most motor cycles have very limited insurance cover and if one hit your car and you do not have full insurance you will end up paying for the car