Renting a Scooter in Thailand: Licence, Helmet, Insurance and Fines

To ride a rented scooter legally you need a valid licence: a Thai licence, your home licence with a valid international driving permit, or an ASEAN licence. Driving without a licence carries up to 1 month in jail or a fine up to THB 1,000. Riders and passengers must wear helmets; the fine is up to THB 2,000.

Before you take the keys, check two things: your licence covers motorcycles, and you and your passenger each have a helmet. Driving without a licence carries up to 1 month in jail or a fine of up to THB 1,000. Riders and passengers without helmets face a fine of up to THB 2,000.

Where to rent

Pick a shop in the city you are staying in. For well-rated shops by area, with hours and phone numbers, use our city guides to motorbike rental in Chiang Mai (opens in a new tab) and motorbike rental in Phuket (opens in a new tab). Whichever shop you use, the licence and helmet rules below apply everywhere in Thailand.

Which licence works

You must carry a valid driving licence and show it when law enforcement asks. Which one depends on who you are:

• A Thai licence. The steps are on the Thai driving licence page.
• Your home licence plus an international driving permit (IDP). The IDP must be issued under an international agreement Thailand has signed, such as the 1949 Geneva or the 1968 Vienna Convention, and used together with your home licence.
• An ASEAN licence. Drivers holding a licence from an ASEAN member country can drive in Thailand by showing their home country’s licence.

Canada’s travel advice says it is illegal to ride a motorcycle in Thailand without a valid Thai motorcycle licence or an IDP with a motorcycle endorsement. Australia’s advice is that you need a valid motorcycle licence, and that some rental companies will tell you otherwise. Thailand treats mopeds as motorcycles under the 1968 Convention.

A 1968 permit ends three years after issue or when your domestic permit expires, whichever is earlier. A 1949 permit is valid for one year from the date of issue.

The no-licence penalty

The Department of Land Transport summary of the Motor Vehicle Act sets the penalty for driving without a licence.

ห้ามขับรถโดยมิได้รับใบอนุญาตขับรถ ฝ่าฝืนต้องระวางโทษจาคุกไม่เกิน 1 เดือน หรือปรับไม่เกิน 1,000 บาท (มาตรา 64)

It is forbidden to drive without a driving licence; a violation carries imprisonment of not more than 1 month or a fine of not more than 1,000 baht (section 64).

Department of Land Transport summary of the Motor Vehicle Act B.E. 2522, driver prohibitions

Driving without showing your licence and a copy of the vehicle registration book carries a fine of not more than THB 1,000. Ask the shop for a copy of the registration book when you rent.

Helmets

Motorcycle riders and passengers must wear a safety helmet, and the fine is up to THB 2,000. A rider whose passenger has no helmet is fined double. The helmet must be made specifically to protect against injury while riding. On a rented motorcycle, both the driver and the passenger must wear helmets at all times.

Will insurance pay after a crash?

Riding without a valid licence could invalidate your travel insurance, leaving you unable to claim after an accident or injury. Many policies expect the correct licence for the type of vehicle. Read the motorbike clause of your policy before you ride.

Before you rent

• Check your licence covers motorcycles, and carry the IDP with your home licence.
• Give your passenger a helmet too.
• Check the scooter is registered, because hire scooters in tourist areas often are not.
• Do not leave your passport as a deposit.

For the full list of road fines, see Thailand traffic fines. For the permit in detail, see the IDP page. Cover is on the travel insurance page, routes are in getting around Thailand, and more rules are on the laws hub.

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Not confirmed: Whether your own travel policy pays after a crash on a rented scooter: policies differ, and a UK government warning says riding without a valid licence could invalidate the cover. Read the motorbike clause of your policy before you rent, and ask the insurer in writing.

General information checked against the sources listed above. Prices, opening hours and other details change; confirm them with the provider before you act. See how guides are checked.

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