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.
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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. Check both before you take the keys.
Can you ride legally?
You must carry a valid driving licence and show it when law enforcement asks. Which licence works depends on who you are.
If you hold a Thai licence
Carry it and show it when asked. Canada’s travel advice names a valid Thai motorcycle licence as one of the two routes. The steps to get one are on the Thai driving licence page.
If you hold a home licence and an IDP
An IDP must be issued under an international agreement that Thailand has signed, such as the 1949 Geneva or the 1968 Vienna Convention. It must be used together with the driving licence of your home country.
Category A, motor cycles, is among the vehicle categories in Annex 7 of the 1968 Convention. Thailand’s declaration says it treats mopeds as motor-cycles. A party recognises a permit for the categories it covers, provided the permit is still valid.
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 says you need a valid IDP and your Australian licence for the type of vehicle you are using.
If you hold an ASEAN licence
Drivers holding a licence from an ASEAN member country can drive in Thailand by showing their home country’s licence.
If you have none of these
You do not have a licence that covers the ride, whatever the rental shop says. Australia’s advice says some rental companies will tell you a motorcycle licence is not needed.
How long an IDP lasts
| Permit | Valid for |
|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva permit | One year from the date of issue |
| 1968 Vienna permit | Three years after issue, or until the domestic permit expires if that is earlier |
A 1968 permit stops being valid in a state if its holder establishes normal residence there. If you live in Thailand, the permit stops counting once you establish normal residence.
The no-licence penalty
The Department of Land Transport summary of the Motor Vehicle Act lists 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 the registration book copy when you rent.
Helmet rule and fines
| Rule | Fine |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle riders and passengers must wear a safety helmet | Up to THB 2,000 |
| Rider drives with a passenger who has no helmet | Fined double |
The 2022 amendment sets the fine of up to THB 2,000 for breaching section 122, the helmet duty. The helmet must be made specifically to protect against injury while riding. Both the driver and the passenger of a rented motorcycle must wear helmets at all times.
Insurance after a crash
Travel insurance
UK government advice says 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.
One insurer states the conditions of its motorbike cover. World Nomads covers a ride on a motorbike or moped under 125cc. You must wear a helmet, obey local road rules and hold a valid motorbike licence in your country of residence and in the local country for the size of bike. It does not cover theft of or damage to the motorbike, whether owned, borrowed or rented.
The compulsory vehicle policy
If the injured person is the driver of the insured vehicle, the compulsory policy covers only preliminary compensation. Preliminary compensation for bodily injury is not more than THB 30,000 per person, or as the law sets.
Before you rent
- Check your licence covers motorcycles, and carry the IDP with your home licence.
- Wear a helmet, and give your passenger one.
- Ask the shop for a copy of the registration book.
- Check the scooter is registered: hire scooters in tourist areas are often not.
- Do not leave your passport as a deposit.
- Read your travel policy’s motorbike clause before you ride.
For the full list of road fines, see Thailand traffic fines. For the permit in detail, see the IDP page. Routes between islands and cities are in getting around Thailand, and cover is on the travel insurance page. More rules are on the laws hub.
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.
Common questions
Can a tourist ride a rented scooter in Thailand?
You must carry a valid driving licence and show it when law enforcement asks. A foreigner can show a Thai licence, an international driving permit used with the home licence, or a licence from an ASEAN country.
Do I need an international driving permit for a scooter?
An IDP must be used together with the driving licence of your home country. 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.
Is a car licence enough to rent a scooter?
Australia's travel advice says you need a valid IDP and your Australian licence for the type of vehicle you are using. It adds that a valid motorcycle licence is needed to ride a motorbike, and that some rental companies will tell you otherwise.
What is the fine for riding without a licence?
Driving without a licence carries imprisonment of not more than 1 month or a fine of not more than THB 1,000 under section 64 of the Motor Vehicle Act.
Do I have to wear a helmet on a scooter?
Motorcycle riders and passengers must wear a safety helmet, and the fine for breaking the rule is up to THB 2,000. The helmet must be made specifically to protect against injury while riding.
What if my passenger has no helmet?
A rider who drives while the passenger is not wearing a helmet is fined double.
Will travel insurance pay if I crash without the right licence?
UK government advice says 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.
Can a rental shop keep my passport as a deposit?
UK government advice says not to hand your passport over as a guarantee, for example to motorcycle rental businesses. Companies may hold on to passports against claimed damage.
How long is an international driving permit valid?
A 1968 permit ends three years after issue or on the expiry of the domestic permit, whichever is earlier. A 1949 permit is valid for one year from the date of issue.
Are hire scooters always legal to ride?
UK government advice says motorcycles and scooters for hire in tourist areas are often unregistered and cannot be used legally on a public road.
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General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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