The Power Of A Thai Driving Licence.

[Graemej100]

I've heard, in the past, that having a Thai driving licence can, sometimes, get you out of some situations that you want no bar of. Until today the only thing that my driving licence has been useful for is to, often, get prices at 'the Thai price' rather than at 'the tourist price' - like zoos etc. - and not to have to carry my passport when I check-in at airlines, get rental bikes etc. when my Thai licence is accepted in those circumstances.

Today however I found out the power of having one.

At the South end of Sukhumvit Rd. In Jomtien, I was waved over at a big traffic check point. A lot of motor bikes and cars, the majority being driven by farang - tourists I suspect. Helmets being checked. passports, hire bike papers, registrations, under the seats, the full six yards. As the policeman came to me I purposefully withdrew my wallet from my back pocket, opened it and showed him my Thai driving licence. He looked at it for all of five seconds. flicked me a salute and sent me on my way - much to the chagrin of those being checked who watched me, with open mouths, drive away - grinning.

Has anyone else experienced 'the power of a Thai driving licence'?

[daveAustin]

Made you feel fuzzy all over, did it?

[Graemej100]

Well, it did actually. Probably a childish thought but with all the usual governmental rigmarole you have to go through in this country, from visa renewals to opening bank accounts etc and the time involved in doing so, this was a refreshing change.

[Pib]

yea, a drivers license does come in handy when driving a vehicle.

[guzzi850m2]

As an expat, Thai driver licenses are a must.

I also got stopped 2 times over the last 7 days, and then sent on my way again.

Now because of the cold weather, I started wearing jeans when riding scooter and never been stopped since.

[taichiplanet]

almost everyday now at that Jomtien check (near Pan Pan), always at least 5 to 10 bikes ridden by foreigners waiting to get served justice. as i am wearing jeans, long sleeves, gloves and full-face helmet, when i drive through they don't realise i am farang til i am right next to them, and then i get an urgent wave to pull over. Then the thai licence is produced and off i go.

Since i have had a video camera promiently mounted on the front of the bike, i now don't get pulled over at all. So i think the video camera is more powerful than the thai licence!

[neverdie]

Stop for what.....that's why I drive a V8.....with obscured number plates

?

[Graemej100]

Pib and Neverdie. What powerful and incitful comments.

[macknife]

I presume you've all heard of the tourist checks on Sukhumvit road in Bangkok recently. I must have been stopped at least 5 times, usually on the back of a bike going home after a night out. All I hear is passport, where you go etc I say not one word, show my Thai drivers license and on my way I go. It must be said they do come in handy and now I carry it at times driving/riding or not.

[andrewrooney]

The police do tend to look at you differently once you produce a Thai license. They realize you're not a tourist. Sometimes when I show them my license they ask me where I work. After I tell them I'm a teacher they let me go.

Probably one of the few advantages to being a teacher in this country

[papa al]

I have 2.

[Graemej100]

That must feel nice.

[jackcorbett]

You can also use the Thai driver's license to rent cars in the United states and other countries. Also...I got stopped by a cop in St Louis four months ago right after the Ferguson riots started...stopped without cause I might add. You should have seen the cop's face when I pulled out my Thai driver's license.

[Pib]

You can also use the Thai driver's license to rent cars in the United states and other countries. Also...I got stopped by a cop in St Louis four months ago right after the Ferguson riots started...stopped without cause I might add. You should have seen the cop's face when I pulled out my Thai driver's license.

In the U.S. it depends on the "state" you are in whether a foreign license is acceptable for X time period or an International Drivers License is needed. Best to check the state law first if planning on driving in a certain state with your Thai/foreign license. If renting a car the rental car company should know, but they may only know for the state you are renting in; take the car into another state on your visit and you could get an unwelcomed surprise if getting stopped by the police.

[balo]

Traffic cops try to get an extra income during high season and chase tourists daily, as a local with Thai ID you're just wasting their precious time.

Edited January 14, 2015 by balo

[sdanielmcev]

Silly Muggles.

[dave_boo]

Odd; whenever they ask what my profession is I tell them I am a "maeng-daa". Good for giggles.

[nikster]

yea, a drivers license does come in handy when driving a vehicle.

I hear they help on police checkpoint situations world-wide. Quite magical, really.

[mikebell]

Any licence is used by police as a bargaining tool. They take your licence then 'sell' it back to you for 200 baht. I now give them my full wallet with the licence in a transparent plastic sleeve. They do not know how to abstract the licence; cannot be seen to be pocketing the wallet so I'm home free.

[JingerBen]

For many years my US driver's licence was accepted everywhere in Thailand.

Times changed and I had to get a Thai licence.

Go along to get along.

Even though it's changing, I still like it here a lot more than where I came from.

[ll2]

it works at many other countries and as I lost my license from my home country, there i use thai driving license instead which is good!

and it differentiates you from all shirtless tourist and always no or less hassle with the police when there is a serious check point.

still sometime prefer to say I lost it or forgot it at home. it saves a visit to police station to get your license back.

[brfsa2]

It's a must to have a driving license. At least it gives me more confidence when handling with police.

But, when I get stopped for whatever unreasonable reason I do not handle my driving license at first but try to argue what is the issue.

Handling the license is a guarantee tea money for them.

[eeeya]

why cant they put both licences on one?

[Gweiloman]

why cant they put both licences on one?

That would require one to be able to think logically and rationally. Have you forgotten what country you are living in?

[dave_boo]

why cant they put both licences on one?

That would require one to be able to think logically and rationally. Have you forgotten what country you are living in?

I look at it thusly; how many people get both licenses at the same time initially? Thus they'd have to print the first one (in SE Asia I'd reckon that's the bike one) and then take it back and destroy it when the dual one is printed. Two are printed anyways. Of course, heading forward you end up printing an extra license each year but "eat and drink for tomorrow we die"....

[uptheos]

I bought it until the OP said the BIB saluted him.

[macknife]

I bought it until the OP said the BIB saluted him.

It happens quite often in Bangkok.

[Graemej100]

uptheos, i said 'he flicked me a salute'. It was a one finger flick to the helmet. Most people would understand that.