Is an Australian Learner Rider Licence OK?

[CrankyCarrot]

Can you drive scooters legally in Thailand using a learner rider licence from Australia?

PS If this isn't the right area of the forum for this q, can someone please point me in the right direction...

[ATF]

No.

[CrankyCarrot]

Damn.

[Garry]

Nope, not legally, but that hasn't stopped anyone before in Thailand.

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Edited July 16, 2014 by Garry

[CrankyCarrot]

Okay, thanks.

I guess I'm mostly wondering whether the learner licence would be enough to avoid the B500 fine from the BiB ...which, I'm sure, almost entirely depends on the officer, their competency and mood on the day.

[NomadJoe]

Correct. Can not.

Title 3: Driver's License

Thai Traffic Act of 1979

Title 3

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.

Edited July 16, 2014 by NomadJoe

[ATF]

Okay, thanks.

I guess I'm mostly wondering whether the learner licence would be enough to avoid the B500 fine from the BiB ...which, I'm sure, almost entirely depends on the officer, their competency and mood on the day.

Look Buddy just do the test. If you don't have a valid license your insurance will not pay up. If you don't have insurance or up to a million Baht to cover injury to yourself or others or vehicles you're in deep dog doo.

[NomadJoe]

Okay, thanks.

I guess I'm mostly wondering whether the learner licence would be enough to avoid the B500 fine from the BiB ...which, I'm sure, almost entirely depends on the officer, their competency and mood on the day.

Look Buddy just do the test. If you don't have a valid license your insurance will not pay up. If you don't have insurance or up to a million Baht to cover injury to yourself or others or vehicles you're in deep dog doo.

It may allow you to avoid the fine, yes, but Thai traffic cops are becoming better acquainted with foreign licenses and better at reading English. Plus they are employing foreign volunteers who are trained at recognizing which foreign licenses are legal and which aren't. If it were a full license and you are a tourist, then it is a valid license for Thailand. But ATF is right, in your situation you may be in trouble when you have an accident with a learners license. All the people I know that have had accidents were never asked for their licenses by police or insurance, including me.

If you are a resident (on something other than a tourist visa, visa exempt stamp, are working here, going to school here, own a condo, have kids in school etc) then you are a resident and need a Thai DL to drive legally.

Edited July 16, 2014 by NomadJoe

[CrankyCarrot]

Cheers NomadJoe,

Appreciate the details. I'd happily do a practical/theory test if it were an option. Being on a tourist visa, it sounds like the only way to ride scooters legally is to have a full riders licence from Australia. That's really what I was seeking clarification on.

[ATF]

Cheers NomadJoe,

Appreciate the details. I'd happily do a practical/theory test if it were an option. Being on a tourist visa, it sounds like the only way to ride scooters legally is to have a full riders licence from Australia. That's really what I was seeking clarification on.

You can get a Thai License with a tourist visa but you can only renew it yearly if you don't have a non-imm visa. Non-imm every 5 years.

[CrankyCarrot]

ATF

That's something I looked into also, but I believe you need a "certificate of residence" before you can sit the tests. To get the cert. of residence, you need a "tabien baan," - signed documentation from a landlord to say prove you live there (which seems counter to the idea of being a tourist, but there it is).

A little complicated, but still a possibility I suppose.

[ATF]

ATF

That's something I looked into also, but I believe you need a "certificate of residence" before you can sit the tests. To get the cert. of residence, you need a "tabien baan," - signed documentation from a landlord to say prove you live there (which seems counter to the idea of being a tourist, but there it is).

A little complicated, but still a possibility I suppose.

You either get a letter from your embassy stating your residence or the much cheaper option is to go to immigration and they will give you one for about 200 baht. A rental agreement will do or get your girlfriend to go with you. Not a big deal. Easiest get one from the shops outside immigration but pay a few baht more.

A medical cert costs 100 baht from a small clinic.

Edited July 16, 2014 by ATF

[CrankyCarrot]

I got the paperwork from immigration last time and they didn't charge me anything for it.

The hold up was with getting the owner of my apartment to provide/sign off on a rental agreement, since I was paying monthly for a hotel type room and there was nothing to show for that but a receipt. Will give it all another shot this time.

I wouldn't have thought the embassy would provide a statement saying I reside there when I'm on a tourist visa, even if it is a multiple entry one (meaning a longer term stay within the Kingdom). Again, I'll call them up as it's worth a shot.