Can I legally ride a second-hand 250cc motorcycle in Thailand with a UK and IDP license?

Depends on the cop that pulls u over 😄

Yes for a time but not forever

Legally you don’t need an IDP in Thailand if your residence country has ratified the 1968 Vienna Traffic Convention (which large part of the countries are, but some aren’t like the US) since Thailand has ratified the same convention in May 2020. In fact, one can argue that the IDP wasn’t legal requirement even before that but some Thai police had the interpretation it was (not going to go into details of that in here).

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Be careful scratching down the side of a ferrari or mclaren. Your insurance might not cover it

Buying a bike is easy, you will just need to register it in a local transport department, I've done the same a couple of months ago after buying a used bike.

Btw, driving without a license might really lead to a fine, but the fine is 200 baht only.

As they don't issue Thai driving licenses now, due to covid restrictions, I keep driving with Russian one and don't really care. A few times police stopped me, they said "It's okay" because the main information in a Russian driving license is in English as well, so your lisense should fit too. Anyway, that depends on a certain policeman. This is Thailand )))

Don't know if you can buy one. But I believe tourists can use there MC license.

Wyn...do you have motorcycle training what so ever?

The simple answer is your IDP is only valid for 90 days driving / riding in Thailand. During this period it is expected you will have applied for you temporary licences if you want to continue driving or riding here. Otherwise you are driving / riding otherwise in accordance with a licence, no insurance etc. It is very simple for the RTP at a roadside check to determine your arrival in Thailand from your TM6 and Visa stamp in your passport. If you want to run that risk then it is up to you. Thai road safety is a real issue currently...why would you want to contribute to it riding a motorcycle illegally. Your choice...good luck to you. On the positive side you can still buy the 250cc machine if you really want to.

You might want to consider also that if you’re not valid to ride that bike and you have an accident then you’ll have no insurance.

You cannot drive legally with your UK drivers license. The international drivers permit allows you to drive in a country which has reciprocal agreements. But this is only meant for you to drive for a short period of time as if you were on holidays. Once the office opens take with you your UK drivers license, Certificate of Residency and Medical Certificate which you can get at most clinics for 200 BHT. Go Early

For those seeming to be confused about what the IDP is, all it is is a translation of your drives license into different languages. It is not a valid drivers license without your valid home country drivers license.

You need a certificate of residence. You should go immigration and file a TM18. PS I was asked to produce a TM30 receipt notification in Samut Prakan and I don't know the requirements in Pattaya.

The problem you might have is having the motorbike registered in your name, and not having a Thai drivers license. The police could hassle you about that, as they are hurting for money.

IDP's are valid in Thailand, not sure what everyone's on about saying they aren't. Vietnam was one of the only countries an IDP couldn't be used in up until 2019.

For the number of times you're likely to get stopped (if you're a sensible rider) you need to balance it up. The cost in time and money of getting a Thai licence or the occasional 200 baht fine. Personally, I'm going for the Thai test and licence but that's just old age I guess, I spent 20+ years in the UK driving 500cc upwards bikes on just a provisional licence and never got stopped because:

a) I was a careful and competent rider.

b) I rode full kit touring bikes (Silver wing, Folding, R100RT).

The simple Answer is NO.....as you don’t have a legal license fir thailand..it has to be an international....but 2. you will see at the next stop As a police men will stop you how much you have to,pay.....that they not give out license...at the moment -..is your problem ....you are driving illegal........but. How many times you have been stoppt. Till now

yes , 6 months .

If you have a full UK motorcycle licence and your IDP is under a year old then you are ok.

Should be for specific period