Renting a motorcycle and riding to Thap Thiang - general questions.

[Victor Lin]

Hey, this is going to be my first time in Thailand. My goal is to:

- Fly into Phuket on April 12th

- Pick up a sim card.

- Pick up a 125cc scooter from this place (without leaving my passport behind): http://www.phukettravelandtours.com/motorbikerental.shtml

(Any reputable place that rents actual 250cc motorcycles like a Honda Rebel?)

- Check into a cheap hostel and scuba dive Phuket for a couple days.

- Ride 3.5 hours to Thap Thiang to meet some friends for 5 days.

- Ride back and fly out if Phuket.

I'm from the US and I don't have an international driver's permit. I've heard that one is not necessary though. Renting a helmet and a chain is definitely on the list.

Can I ride a 125cc scooter on the roads [4] from Phuket to Thap Thiang? Are scooters legal on such a road?

Any tips?

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[nedkellylives]

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or IDP

Many people ride without one and just pay the fines when caught, they do not

confiscate the bike and let you ride away until next time once the fine is paid

Bikes are not insured and you will be responsible for any damage

Best of luck with hiring a bike without leaving your passport as security

[stevenl]

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or IDP

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or home license. IDP is not required. Motorbike endorsement on a car license is not sufficient, it really has to be a bike license.

So far for legalities, for the rest, yes, perfectly doable and a nice ride. You may want to take 2 days to get there on a small bike though.

[Victor Lin]

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or IDP

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or home license. IDP is not required. Motorbike endorsement on a car license is not sufficient, it really has to be a bike license.

So far for legalities, for the rest, yes, perfectly doable and a nice ride. You may want to take 2 days to get there on a small bike though.

Hmmm... Being from the US we don't have a dedicated motorcycle license.

We get one driver's license and there are endorsements on it - in my case you can see "CM1" which means I'm good to drive typical passenger vehicles and motorcycles.

A dedicated bike license that just sits by itself doesn't exist to my knowledge for the US.

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[stevenl]

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or IDP

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or home license. IDP is not required. Motorbike endorsement on a car license is not sufficient, it really has to be a bike license.

So far for legalities, for the rest, yes, perfectly doable and a nice ride. You may want to take 2 days to get there on a small bike though.

Hmmm... Being from the US we don't have a dedicated motorcycle license.

We get one driver's license and there are endorsements on it - in my case you can see "CM1" which means I'm good to drive typical passenger vehicles and motorcycles.

A dedicated bike license that just sits by itself doesn't exist to my knowledge for the US.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Does your license allow you to drive motorbikes up to a certain limit (like 250 cc or something) or unlimited? Unlimited is required. In many countries when you obtain your car license you are also allowed to drive motorbikes up to a certain limit. That is what I meant with endorsement.

[Victor Lin]

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or IDP

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or home license. IDP is not required. Motorbike endorsement on a car license is not sufficient, it really has to be a bike license.

So far for legalities, for the rest, yes, perfectly doable and a nice ride. You may want to take 2 days to get there on a small bike though.

Hmmm... Being from the US we don't have a dedicated motorcycle license.

We get one driver's license and there are endorsements on it - in my case you can see "CM1" which means I'm good to drive typical passenger vehicles and motorcycles.

A dedicated bike license that just sits by itself doesn't exist to my knowledge for the US.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Does your license allow you to drive motorbikes up to a certain limit (like 250 cc or something) or unlimited? Unlimited is required. In many countries when you obtain your car license you are also allowed to drive motorbikes up to a certain limit. That is what I meant with endorsement.

Oh I see...

No, there's no implied or defined limit.

The "M/C" endorsement that is displayed on my license says "2-wheeled M/C, motor-driven cycle, scooter" after it.

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[stevenl]

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or home license. IDP is not required. Motorbike endorsement on a car license is not sufficient, it really has to be a bike license.

So far for legalities, for the rest, yes, perfectly doable and a nice ride. You may want to take 2 days to get there on a small bike though.

Hmmm... Being from the US we don't have a dedicated motorcycle license.

We get one driver's license and there are endorsements on it - in my case you can see "CM1" which means I'm good to drive typical passenger vehicles and motorcycles.

A dedicated bike license that just sits by itself doesn't exist to my knowledge for the US.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Does your license allow you to drive motorbikes up to a certain limit (like 250 cc or something) or unlimited? Unlimited is required. In many countries when you obtain your car license you are also allowed to drive motorbikes up to a certain limit. That is what I meant with endorsement.

Oh I see...

No, there's no implied or defined limit.

The "M/C" endorsement that is displayed on my license says "2-wheeled M/C, motor-driven cycle, scooter" after it.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

That means you're good to go and legal.

[Victor Lin]

That means you're good to go and legal.

Niiiice. Thanks! I started another thread about motorcycle rentals next to the airport. Turns out the place I was going to go to is like 45 minutes by car from the airport. The taxi ride would be expensive I'd imagine.

There was another rental place that someone recommended that does pick up and drop offs but they specifically say they don't pick up from the airport...

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[nedkellylives]

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or IDP

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or home license. IDP is not required. Motorbike endorsement on a car license is not sufficient, it really has to be a bike license.

So far for legalities, for the rest, yes, perfectly doable and a nice ride. You may want to take 2 days to get there on a small bike though.

Depends where you come from, in Western Australia you only have one license to cover all types of vehicles

I have a heavy vehicle license and a unreticted MC license both on the same license and its not a endorsement

You keep telling people a IDP is not required, you are wrong

In the PG questions and answers Nowmadjoe i think it was asked about shared visa runs,in the answer from a

senior Royal Thai police officer was the statement a IDP is required if you do not have a Thai license

Its only you and Nomadjoe who keep telling people a IDP is not required and now probably only you

Only a moped up to 50cc can be driven on a car license in WA without being licensed to ride a bike

Edited April 4, 2014 by nedkellylives

[stevenl]

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or IDP

You need a current motorcycle license to ride a bike in Thailand either local or home license. IDP is not required. Motorbike endorsement on a car license is not sufficient, it really has to be a bike license.

So far for legalities, for the rest, yes, perfectly doable and a nice ride. You may want to take 2 days to get there on a small bike though.

Depends where you come from, in Western Australia you only have one license to cover all types of vehicles

I have a heavy vehicle license and a unreticted MC license both on the same license and its not a endorsement

You keep telling people a IDP is not required, you are wrong

In the PG questions and answers Nowmadjoe i think it was asked about shared visa runs,in the answer from a

senior Royal Thai police officer was the statement a IDP is required if you do not have a Thai license

Its only you and Nomadjoe who keep telling people a IDP is not required and now probably only you

Only a moped up to 50cc can be driven on a car license in WA without being licensed to ride a bike

As you say, not an endorsement and no limitation so valid here.

If living here or staying here long time a Thai DL is required, for tourists it is not. IDP is only valid in combination with home license, and is never required.

WA rules are really irrelevant here.

[nedkellylives]

Check with The Thai police if a IDP is required, do not believe what you are told on a forum

You can ride without one or even no license here and all you will get is a small fine and be

allowed to ride away

You probably would have a problem claiming on travel or any other type of insurance if involved

in a accident as you are not licensed to ride a bike in Thailand, make sure you have plenty of

money to cover hospital expenses

Or get a IDP in your home country and insured with a travel insurance company that will cover you

if riding a motorbike, read the fine print on the policy, quite a lot of policies will not cover you for riding

a bike even if licensed, especially in Asia

Insurance companies will require you to have a IDP if its a requirement in the country you ride in even

if its not enforced in that country, or they will not pay out

Tourists like the OP cannot get a Thai license

Edited April 4, 2014 by nedkellylives