Thailand International Driving Permit: Cars, Bikes, Fines

Carry your home driving licence together with an international driving permit issued under the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna convention. A motorcycle needs a Thai motorcycle licence or a permit with a motorcycle endorsement. Driving without a licence carries imprisonment of not more than 1 month or a fine of not more than 1,000 baht.

If you plan to ride a scooter, carry your home licence plus an international driving permit that has a motorcycle endorsement. Some rental shops will tell you a car licence is enough, but a valid motorcycle licence is what you need.

Which permit counts

Thailand accepts an IDP issued under an international agreement it has signed, such as the 1949 Geneva or the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. The permit does not replace your own licence: an IDP must be used together with the driving licence of your home country. When law enforcement asks, you must present your licence.

A UK driver cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.

How long it lasts

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

It also stops working if you settle here, because a 1968 permit ceases to be valid in a state if its holder establishes normal residence there.

Motorcycles and scooters

Look for category A on your permit: motor cycles are among the vehicle categories for which it is valid. Thailand will consider mopeds as motor-cycles. Riding a motorcycle takes a valid Thai motorcycle licence or an IDP with a motorcycle endorsement.

Check the bike too. Motorcycles and scooters for hire in tourist areas are often unregistered and cannot be used legally on a public road. Both the driver and the passenger of a rented motorcycle must wear helmets at all times. For renting step by step, see the scooter rental rules.

Fines

Driving without a licence carries imprisonment of not more than 1 month or a fine of not more than 1,000 baht (section 64). If you cannot show your licence and a copy of the vehicle registration book, the fine is not more than 1,000 baht (section 65).

For riding without a helmet, the penalty is a fine of not more than 2,000 baht. For a passenger who does not wear a helmet, the rider is fined double. See also fines for tourists in Thailand.

Insurance

Driving or riding in Thailand without a valid licence could invalidate your travel insurance, and you would be unable to claim after an accident or injury. If you rent a car without a valid licence and an accident occurs, you may not be entitled to compensation or damage protection.

If Thailand becomes home

A UK driver who lives in Thailand can apply for a Thai driving licence using the UK licence. A foreign government-issued licence may be used as part of the application. Residents converting a foreign licence need these documents:

• Passport, original and a copy.
• Certificate of residence in Thailand.
• Health certificate from a certified medical professional.
• Foreign driving licence, original and a copy.
• E-learning training certificate.

The guide to the Thai driving licence for foreigners walks through the application.

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Not confirmed: How many days you may drive on an IDP is not set; ask the Land Transport office, and meanwhile treat permit validity and the residence rule as your limits. A DLT draft announcement would revise rules for foreign applicants; it is a draft, not confirmed in force.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not financial or tax advice for your situation. Rules and fees change; confirm with your bank, the Revenue Department or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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