International Drivers License

[Junkyarddog]

Can anyone tell me where in Chiang Mai we go to get a international drivers license, documents needed, etc.

Thanks in advance.

[mizztraveller]

I think that's something you need to do in your home country.

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[maibork]

You have to apply for an international drivers license in your home country.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[iainiain101]

If you have a Thai driving license you can get one at the Hang Dong driving test centre.

[FolkGuitar]

You can apply for one by mail through several different agencies. In the US there are two agents that are approved for issue. Cost is between $10-$15, and takes about two weeks to receive your license.

[seedy]

In Canada I use BCAA - but I think and CAA member will do.

Application available for printing online. Fill out, include money order and copy of front and back of your DL.

[ramrod711]

I've been told that if you have let your drivers licence in your home country expire, as i have, a Thai international licence can be obtained here and would be required if i wanted to drive in my home country.

[khwaibah]

If you have a Thai driving license you can get one at the Hang Dong driving test centre.

Only on a five year Thai DL as the one year Thai DL is temporary.

[Junkyarddog]

I have a 5 year Thai Drivers license already. I have had two international drivers license in Thailand before. I had these when I worked in Bangkok. I worked for a big company and one of the staff went somewhere to get these, and I never questioned where. When I moved to Chiang Mai I let the last one expire. They are only good for one year.

[villagefarang]

I got mine yesterday in Chiang Rai. Passport, Thai Drivers License, certificate of residence from immigration, with photocopies of the above and two recent photos. It didn’t take very long but Chiang Rai is a bit smaller than Chiang Mai.

[Junkyarddog]

Villagefarang,

What department did you go to? Do you go to the regular drivers license department and they can issue Thai drivers license and International driving permits as well? Going to the States soon and will need this.

[villagefarang]

Villagefarang,

What department did you go to? Do you go to the regular drivers license department and they can issue Thai drivers license and International driving permits as well? Going to the States soon and will need this.

Sorry for the slow reply but I just got back from a 63 km mt. bike ride. I am heading to Hawaii next month and fortunately my lovely wife reminded me that I needed to renew mine. Now I am all set.

In Chiang Rai you can get Thai and International in the same building but on different floors. My guess would be, they do something similar in Chiang Mai. You will most likely need to go to the main licensing location, wherever that is. There is usually an information desk when you walk into one of these government offices, so just enquire there.

[Junkyarddog]

OK guys I'm all set. My wife called the drivers license department, and they issue the international permits as well. Just got back from there and have my international permit.

Moderator, you can close this if you want.

[chiang mai]

I've been told that if you have let your drivers licence in your home country expire, as i have, a Thai international licence can be obtained here and would be required if i wanted to drive in my home country.

You don't have to let your home country license expire before getting a Thai license, you can hold both at the same time, you can then get an international permit on the basis of your Thai license although some countries, UK included, do not allow the holder of a valid UK license to drive using a license from another country.

[khwaibah]

I've been told that if you have let your drivers licence in your home country expire, as i have, a Thai international licence can be obtained here and would be required if i wanted to drive in my home country.

You don't have to let your home country license expire before getting a Thai license, you can hold both at the same time, you can then get an international permit on the basis of your Thai license although some countries, UK included, do not allow the holder of a valid UK license to drive using a license from another country.

1. There is no such thing as a Thai international License.

2. A Thai 5 Year DL is recognized in the UK and the USA to drive on and as ID for renting cars.

3. The Thai DL is a smart card and is in both Thai and English.

[chiang mai]

Note the difference between an International Drivers License and an International Drivers Permit, the latter can be obtained in CM although as previously stated.is not required in many western countries.

[khwaibah]

Note the difference between an International Drivers License and an International Drivers Permit, the latter can be obtained in CM although as previously stated.is not required in many western countries.

International Driving Permit (IDP) can only be obtained in Thailand for a 5 year Thai DL only and is only good for 1 year. International Driving Licenses (IDL) are illegal and a scam. If you do not have a current DL from a reconized country you will be made to set the written and driving test. Don't worry they will eventually pass you

[dave2]

re

I worked for a big company and one of the staff went somewhere to get these, and I never questioned where

maybe

just joshin ! .. dave2

[khwaibah]

re

I worked for a big company and one of the staff went somewhere to get these, and I never questioned where

maybe

just joshin ! .. dave2

Khaosan Road..

[taotoo]

although some countries, UK included, do not allow the holder of a valid UK license to drive using a license from another country.

That's interesting - a big hire car company once let me do exactly that.

[chiang mai]

although some countries, UK included, do not allow the holder of a valid UK license to drive using a license from another country.

That's interesting - a big hire car company once let me do exactly that.

The car companies don't care and I've done similar to you, show up at Heathrow and take a car, how are they to know you don't live in the UK!

But this from a rental agent this morning, just to confirm the point since I'm currently trying to book a car for next week:

" I hope this finds you well?

Yes you are correct, if you have a UK licence you are not allowed to hire using an overseas licence.

However you should be fine as long as you have the counterpart of your licence when you collect the car"

The last part about the counterpart is clearly false but is a good sales pitch, the counterpart and the photo card are both parts of the same license.!

[taotoo]

although some countries, UK included, do not allow the holder of a valid UK license to drive using a license from another country.

That's interesting - a big hire car company once let me do exactly that.

The car companies don't care and I've done similar to you, show up at Heathrow and take a car, how are they to know you don't live in the UK!

I'm not sure what living in the UK has got to do with it? I hired a UK car, on a Thai licence, while I also had a current UK licence. Is this what you're talking about?

[chiang mai]

I'm not sure what living in the UK has got to do with it? I hired a UK car, on a Thai licence, while I also had a current UK licence. Is this what you're talking about?

Legally, if you hold a UK license, you must use that in the UK, it is illegal under those circumstances to use the license from another country and the car rental companies do understand this as evidenced by the extract in my earlier post. The reference to "living in the UK" has to do with the inability of car companies to check whether a driver lives in the UK or overseas hence it's a difficult law to enforce - UK license holders who move overseas are expected to exchange their UK license for one from the country they have moved to, within twelve months, plus, UK license cannot accommodate foreign addresses.

[Sparkles]

Planning a trip back to Oz shortly and the info I got from the car rental companies there was that a Thai licence would suffice ,actually any licence that is in English.

My Oz licence has expired and although I have 5 years to re new,without re doing test, it didn't seem to make financial sense to renew when I would only use it for 3 weeks.

If you do happen to be driving in Oz take care a friend recently received,through the rental company a fine for $400 (approx 11,500 baht) for making an illegal u turn at a set of traffic lights. Camera recorded him and they are everywhere.

[inzman]

An international license is not required if your current valid license is in English. An international license is ONLY an English translation of your current license. Since a Thai license has an English translation on it, it is acceptable in most countries worldwide for a temporary period as per the UN convention. Save your money and time. Do your research. Cheers.

[LivinLOS]

Villagefarang,

What department did you go to? Do you go to the regular drivers license department and they can issue Thai drivers license and International driving permits as well? Going to the States soon and will need this.

The one on Hang Dong Rd before the Big C..

I have had one every year for the last 3 or 4 years. Its got a lot easier as they used to have to all be issued in bangkok and take weeks to mail them back to you.

[LivinLOS]

I've been told that if you have let your drivers licence in your home country expire, as i have, a Thai international licence can be obtained here and would be required if i wanted to drive in my home country.

You don't have to let your home country license expire before getting a Thai license, you can hold both at the same time, you can then get an international permit on the basis of your Thai license although some countries, UK included, do not allow the holder of a valid UK license to drive using a license from another country.

1. There is no such thing as a Thai international License.

2. A Thai 5 Year DL is recognized in the UK and the USA to drive on and as ID for renting cars.

3. The Thai DL is a smart card and is in both Thai and English.

Horse shit.. Unless your nitpicking license and permit.

I have had many IDPs for years.

While it may be recognized in the UK and USA, there are other countries in the world !!

My thai licenses are not smartcards.. Unless you count the mag strip ??

[LivinLOS]

An international license is not required if your current valid license is in English. An international license is ONLY an English translation of your current license. Since a Thai license has an English translation on it, it is acceptable in most countries worldwide for a temporary period as per the UN convention. Save your money and time. Do your research. Cheers.

Lots of wrong info in this thread.

An IDP is a legally recognized document that is over and above merely a translation of the license (which is actually where the IDL scam comes about, an IDL is just a translation)..

Want to hire a car in Saudi ?? Or Sing ?? You NEED the IDP not only an english language license. Lots of Africa still requires one, etc etc.. they are not merely a recommendation in lots of the world.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/idp-requirements-by-country.html

[inzman]

All misinformation, an IDL is a recognized translation of a foreign license. But since its inception per a United Nations agreement, most countries have now included an English translation on their respective licenses. Therefore negating the need to have an IDL. The countries, very few, which don't accept a foreign license are not signatories,of the UN agreement. An IDL is not acceptable by itself, once again it is only a English translation of a foreign license as it clearly states on the inside cover. It must be accompanied by a current foreign license. All countries have different rules of use, the US for instance, in most states require a valid state license if the visitor remains over 21 days in that state.

[taotoo]

Legally, if you hold a UK license, you must use that in the UK, it is illegal under those circumstances to use the license from another country and the car rental companies do understand this as evidenced by the extract in my earlier post. The reference to "living in the UK" has to do with the inability of car companies to check whether a driver lives in the UK or overseas hence it's a difficult law to enforce - UK license holders who move overseas are expected to exchange their UK license for one from the country they have moved to, within twelve months, plus, UK license cannot accommodate foreign addresses.

I see. Presumably when you collect the car it is obvious that you are British, and therefor likely to have a UK licence, even though you are hiring the car on a foreign one.

Your email guy seems to be suggesting that he's actually going to rent the car based on your UK licence - otherwise why would he ask for the counterpart?