Are International Driver Licenses accepted in Thailand and for how long?

Yes for one year

Yes, at least for the first 3 months of your stay. However, in practice, no Thai police officer will ever ask to see your passport to look at your date of entry.

I doubt most Thai police officers know the law. The vast majority will accept an international driving permit if the driver (who is a foreigner) presents such.

Never heard of a farang getting in trouble for presenting a valid foreign or international driving permit but having already been in the country for say, 9 months.

However, it is advisable to go for a Thai driver's license if taking up residence in the country.

You need international driving permit that last one year plus your original license

I am not aware that any Licence is needed in Thailand.

Questions like this always bring up a mixture of answers, makes for a interesting read while taking a dump

THE THAI DEPT OF TRANSPORT has a complete list of laws and requirements in Thai. This TA article is a pretty good summary.

Be advised that “conventions” still have to abide by these rules and are visa dependent. If you “ live” here YOU NEED A THAI LICENSE. If you are on a tourist visa you need both your home and intl license for the véhicule you are operating and after 60 days you need to apply for a Thai license. After 90 days you are no longer legal and can be held in the country until the incident is settled.

5-c0/Thailand:Driving.License.Requirements.html

People wanting to help are posting their “understanding” based on what?

Ignorance of the actual laws won’t save you in a serious accident.

Yes from UK post off £5 last 1 year

I have been told legally yes but only if you are on a Tourist type of visa - of course others may know differently.

Just go and get a thai licence and no probs

Yes UK driving licence holders can pick one up at some main post offices for £5.99

International driver licence is a translation of yr local driver licences

Accepted! Just show the card. They won't want your original license when you do that.....and then wach the disappointed face ha ha

Carry both your country’s drivers licence plus your international together .

Don’t drive if you can help it .

You need 2 stamps to show you are motorcycle licensed

Your name is Johnny Thailand what kind of question is this

No i just pay 400bht

As everywhere.

Yes, but only for a certain time.

As my local drunken policeman said it all depends what day it is ...but its never valid on a Tuesday...because he was always outta money on a Tuesday...so he charged you 500

There are so many wrong answers to the original question I think this post wins the internet for today....

Jeg havde et 3 år gammelt nit kørt blev stoppet mange gange jeg havde også mit Danske Kort med plus mit Pas ingen problem de kan jo ikke læse det

Go to AAA and in America can get international license that last for a year use every year when i’am in the country no problem with the police

You’re all massive bell ends.

Yes, for sure

To drive or lease a car in Thailand as a tourist or visitor it is necessary to have either a Thai driving licence or a valid foreign driving licence with a photograph. The foreign licence must either be in English, or be accompanied by an official translation into English or Thai. The licence needs to have been issued by a country that has a treaty with the Thai government allowing the mutual acceptance of driving licences. Most countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA have this agreement with Thailand under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic or the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Those in doubt should contact their embassy for advice: Click here

An International Driver's License/Permit (IDL/IDP) is also valid in Thailand, and available from a government department or authorized auto club at a small expense. A foreign driving licence valid under the 1949 or 1968 Conventions qualifies the licence holder to apply for the IDL/IDP, and its holders may find that it is more often recognised and accepted by police and civil service officials. Beware of the many IDP/IDL websites that are not legitimate.

If the driver is not a tourist or visitor but is a resident with a non-immigrant visa, then it is necessary to have a Thai driver's licence. However, those with a foreign licence as described above or an International Drivers Licence are excused from doing the practical driving test when applying for a Thai driving license.

Note: Although International Driving Licences are valid for up to one year after arrival in Thailand, after three months many comprehensive insurance policies are made void if still driving on a foreign licence.

Licence holders may only drive the category of vehicle for which their licence is valid.

H

For information about treaties recognised by the Department of Land Transport: Click

I know for a fact that anyone can drive in any country for up to one year on there own country license but after one year which they need your passport to prove you have been there a year then you need another license... but if your on a visa and have to leave the country every 3-6 months it resets obviously and will be fine

As far as I know, Thai law does not require you to have an IDP as long as the country which has issued your domestic driving licence is ratified the 1949 Geneva Traffic Convention, which most countries are.

Thai Motor Vehicle Act – B.E. 2522 (1979) Section 42-2 states that:

“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.”

Thailand has ratified the said multilateral convention and to my knowledge there isn’t any other Thai law which would supersede the above mentioned law.

In practice, however the interpretation of the police in some places, especially in Chiang Mai, has been that it is an excellent cash cow to require all tourists to have an IDP if they come anywhere outside ASEAN nations.

If staying longer than 3 months then it’s another question (Thai licence required by the law but in practice never enforced), as are insurance matters.

Yes 🇹🇭

The maximum period that you can drive a hire car or bike legally on an IDP is 60 days on a Tourist Visa, 90 days on a Non-Immigrant O visa. For rentals in excess of that a Thai Driver's Licence is required.

Yes.

I used an (unknown) fake for two years without an issue. The Land Transportation Office informed me it was fake.

And don’t get the one on-line.

Stuart is right. I volunteer with the cops and have had a couple of sticky incidents where cars and motorcycles driven by unlicensed or over time limit foreigners.

The international license is to give cops a chance to understand licences in multiple foreign languages. The 90 day limit is for TOURISTS and to make sure that longer stay drivers are put through the Thai health and reaction tests. Supposed to watch the video too. Enforced 100%? NO. But don’t have an accident involving bodily harm or you might end up meeting me through iron bars. Lol

I just showed the cops my Wisconsin licence and said the word "international" and got away with it two times till I got my real license. Never got in trouble. Thai cops do not want to be bothered with all the English and headaches. Both times, the cops pretended to read it and said, "OK" with lots of handshakes. Oh, and later a retired American ex-cop knew all the cops and they all agreed they wave us on by to avoid the headache.

All depends on police and how much they want

Yes

The law is the law. A IDP is only valid for 3 months within Thailand. Many people will have no issues using it for longer periods and in many cases a police official may not even ask for it. However if you have a serious accident and injuries are involved to you or others you’ll suddenly find that your insurance company or theirs will start to inspect ways to avoid paying out costs. May not happen in every instance but you don’t want to be the one where it does.

There is no such thing as a valid International Driving Licence. If the Thai police stop you, you will need to show them your national drivers licence which is valid for 90 days in Thailand. If your National Drivers Licence is not in English the Police will want to se your International Drivers Permit which really just translates ypour national licence into English. In any event, the Thai police may want to see your Internationa Drivers Permit due to their incomplete training and understanding. After you have been in Thailand for 90 days you are expected to have a Thai licence. Your vehicle insurance probably requires that you have an In International Drivers Permit (or after 90 days, a Thai licence). Very easy to get could out by invalidating your insurance and can also be extremely expensive if you badly injure or kill someone.

Yes.

If you have book like this you can drive till validate

How do you get the thai license?

%100 UK £5 for one year

After 3 months you are meant to obtain a local license. This is a straightforward process

Yes had mine for six years no problems at all

I once showed my canadian license. They said you're good to go. Maybe it depends on the officer's mood. I got my thai license now. Very easy to get by the way if you plan on staying in thailand long term 👍

Cost me $20 in USA. Only good for a year. Can get a Thai drivers license for same price.

But this year police do not stop drivers for checking .... Covid ?!?

Depends from which country. Different countries have licence agreements with Thailand which most Thai Authorities, including the Police, don't understand. Your Embassy in Thailand should have the info on their webpage.

If you're tourist you use your own home country licence. If it's not in English you need an IDP

Yes they are; as long as they are "International Drivers Permits". You need to get a license after 60 day if my memory serves me right.

Yes. For three months.