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Can you ride a 125cc motorcycle in Thailand with a full UK driving license and an international driving permit?

UK Driving LicenseInternational Driving PermitMotorbike License in ThailandVisa and ImmigrationRoad Safety in ThailandMotorbike RegulationsExpats in Thailand
Feb 4, 2022
3 years ago
Stafford *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Does a full UK driving licence give you permission to ride a 125 bike in Thailand if you get an international licence?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A full UK driving license alone does not permit you to legally ride a 125cc motorcycle in Thailand, even with an International Driving Permit (IDP). To ride legally, you need to have a motorbike license from your home country, which must reflect your entitlement to ride that vehicle category. While some expats report being able to manage with just a UK driving license and IDP, this is risky as it can lead to insurance issues in case of an accident. It's advisable to either obtain the necessary licenses in the UK before traveling or go through the process of acquiring a Thai motorcycle license, which may involve watching a video and passing certain local tests.
Scott *******
I used to have a uk licence and was always led to believe I could drive up to a 125cc. Some people say yes, some say no, so god only knows. Last year I changed my uk licence to a Spanish licence. Now I am definitely covered for scooters and motorbikes up to a certain weight and that covers bikes a lot heavier than 125cc. So it’s a right mess.
3 years ago
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Andy ********
The correct answer is no. The International Driving Permit which is required is just a translation of what you are entitled to drive in your home country and for the UK thats nothing at all eithout a CBT so you wont have the stamp in your IDP. You will however be able to hire a bike here and most Police only check the photo at most of your IDP but it will be illegal.
3 years ago
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Gordon *******
If you have motorbike on your licence then yes
3 years ago
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Ken ******
you have to be careful, thai road safety has low world ranking, search internet for more news
3 years ago
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Harry **********
@Ken *****
 not really what he asked though, was it?
3 years ago
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Luc ************
@Ken *****
 and the biggest reason is alcohol. Thai men, alcohol and motorbikes are a bad mixture.
3 years ago
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Luc ************
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Paulie ********
Yes
3 years ago
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Karl ********
No
3 years ago
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Kirstin *****************
In theory no, in practice yes.
3 years ago
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Steve *******
Nope. You need a UK motorbike licence or a Thai motorbike licence
3 years ago
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Janin ******
If your bike is over 400 cc they ask a test drive.
3 years ago
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Damian *********
I’ve just got my Thai motorcycle and car license, on Monday this week. Admittedly the paperwork on Thai side requirements Ie non immigrant visa, proof of address etc( I used yellow book) I showed my U.K. license which is in date and sat for hour watching a video. I got both licenses without further tests or hassle.
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Damian ********
 the irony . I made the exact same comment above saying this is how I received my two licences and I've been told ... No. I must have had a bike licence from home . This isn't possible etc etc etc ..I even showed a pic of my licence and still not believed lol

It's a pretty simple process of people just go into the transport office
3 years ago
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Jim **********
@Damian ********
 did you have to have a doctors note saying you are fit?

I’m taking my test on the 14th
3 years ago
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Fahad *******
@Damian ********
 how did you make an appointment? I need to do the same.
3 years ago
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Danielle ********
@Fahad ******
 you can make the appointment online !
3 years ago
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Damian *********
@Fahad ******
 I walked in, maybe 1 hour and half with sitting around waiting for them to make the two licenses. Yellow book makes it a lot easier otherwise a trip to immigration to get proof of address would of made it longer. I did have to pop out for a medical which was 100 baht, and 305 baht for both licenses.
3 years ago
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Damian *********
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Sharon *******
If you ride a scooter in the uk you have to do compulsory bike training course even to ride a 50cc. If you haven't then Thailand is not the place to learn! Please check your travel insurance too, so many people see the kids here in mopeds & think its a great idea. You need to be legal & insured, a traffuc stop is a small fine but any accident, your fault or not, will be a major problem
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
Richard Swire I have lived in Thailand for almost 5 years, have a correct licence and insurance. Not that insurance means diddly squat here. It will always be your fault. But I also have health insurance that covers me…

In my adventurous and more youthful years, I rode motorbikes all over the world where I travelled, including Thailand and never took a formal motorbike or lessons. Driving here isn’t as bad as risky as some make out. I would never ride a motorbike in BKK but most other places, it’s fine.
3 years ago
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Blade ********
Scharon nobody asked for a drivers license at my accident...
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
Richard Swire for what?
3 years ago
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Marc ********
@Sharon ******
 You are not even answering the question. Alot of talk still
3 years ago
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Andy ********
@Marc *******
 yes she did. She in effect said no as its not allowed in his home country so not allowed here.
3 years ago
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Marc ********
@Andy *******
 No she did not. He was asking about Thailand not UK.

And why would the UK issue a license if you sre not allowed to drive in the UK?🤦
3 years ago
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Andy ********
@Marc *******
 the uk hasnt issued him a license for a motorbike and thats why he cant drive in Thailand.....its not hard......🙄
3 years ago
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Marc ********
@Andy *******
 Dude read the question again. He only asks if you can drive with a UK international license in Thailand.🙄
3 years ago
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Andy ********
@Marc *******
 rubbish ...he asks "Does a full UK driving license give you permission to ride a 125 bike in Thailand if you get and International License"....... and it doesn't unless you have it on your UK license which he doesnt...... you want admit you are wrong so pointless continuing. There is so much wrong information on this thread it would better if it was deleted.
3 years ago
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Marc ********
@Andy *******
 yes rubbish again from you dude he asked if you can ride the 125cc bike in Thailand with the UK license. As you said yourself.

And the answer is NO.

As simple as that.

But she was not answering him that. She was educating him about not trying to learn to drive in Thailand and bla bla bla.

So get out of here with your nonsense
3 years ago
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Marc ********
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Karim ***************
@Sharon ******
 sometimes you have to throw a little caution to the wind and, live.
3 years ago
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Andy ********
@Karim **************
 and ride illegally 🤔
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
@Andy *******
 yes. As do what’s most likely, the majority of Thais.
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
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Cambodia **************
They have a better license in Thailand it's called a girl Can drive you around lol lol God-bless
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
@Cambodia *************
 when I’m pissed, she drives lol
3 years ago
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Karim ***************
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Mike *********
Or if you did same as me and forgot to get IDP you can get one online and print it off, it's only a translation of your official license that is required.
3 years ago
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Graeme **********
Also, if you have travel insurance, check the restrictions they place on motorcycle engine size and license requirements.
3 years ago
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John *******
I lived here 13 years. You can use your license for 30 days. I have been stopped 3 times and paid 300 baht for not wearing my helmet. They used my Arizona drivers license and they did not check how long I have lived here.
3 years ago
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Tara ********
You can bring the UK licence to to land and transport office and the will supply you with both driving and bike licence once you provide certain documents and watch a video. I just did it
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Tara *******
 do you have motorbike license specifically or they accepted car license for both.
3 years ago
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Darren ******
@Michael *******
 I can confirm this as I did it last month.

U have to go see a doctor 200b for a medical test , a 1 hour on a video , then screen shot the test result and do a colour test plus a stop / go test and I got both my car and bike licence and a total of 500.

I only held a normal UK car licence.
3 years ago
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Niclas ***********
I know a school in Phuket that will help you get license after you pass theory. Vaguely based on that you have license back home. Asked me if I wanted car as well but declined.
3 years ago
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Victoria *******
I had 125 in my home and changed for thai licence at first they thought my A1 was for a 50 and were not going to give it to me, this was in Bkk last October
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Michael *******
 no. But on the back of my drivers licence it says I can drive a 50cc but I think most licences have this
3 years ago
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Janin ******
@Tara *******
 , 50 cc doesn’t exist in Thailand
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Janin *****
 I'm sure they do but the license I got was to cover all bikes
3 years ago
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Brett **********
@Tara *******
 can you confirm that you managed to get both a bike license and a car license just from exchanging a driver's license and without having to take any physical test and were you able to do it all in a day without an appointment?
3 years ago
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Andy ********
@Brett *********
 it depends jn your age in the UK as previously when you passed your car test you automatically got a 50cc authorisation but not for those applying after about 1995 (a guess). For those without yhe bike endorsement you wont get both only a car license.
3 years ago
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Tara ********
Also, there is anything option, if you are nearby your embassy you can hey them to give you a letter verifying your licence from home and then the land and transport office will issue you one directly, although the embassy wanted me to pay 1500 baht for the document. Was actually easier and cheaper going through the licensing office directly. I found them extremely helpful, just go on with your own licence and they will give you your option
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Brett *********
 yes I have car and bike licence. Two seperate cards . And the bike licence is a full licence so can drive any bike and no I didn't have to do a test. Watch an hour video.. answer some questions. Do a break pedal test for car... simples. Need a health cert,100 baht. Cert of residence. And photocopy of the passport.
3 years ago
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Brett **********
@Tara *******
 sorry, another question, did you need 2 seperate certificate of residence and health certificate (i.e. one for each license) or photocopies?
3 years ago
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Tara ********
They may try to give you an appointment a couple of months away but asking nicely and pleading your case , I got it quicker
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Brett *********
 photocopies was fine
3 years ago
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Brett **********
@Tara *******
 wow, that's amazing. What part of the country are you in?
3 years ago
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Tara ********
Just to note, mine was on Irish licence but it's same for UK
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Brett *********
 phuket
3 years ago
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Brett **********
@Tara *******
 and you just turned up on day or had to book an appointment ahead of time?
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Brett *********
 Need an appointment. Honestly, the best option is to go to the office with those documents and they will make an appointment for you immediately. I literally did it one month ago
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Tara *******
 Thanks
3 years ago
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Brett **********
@Michael *******
 good luck finding a 50cc bike though
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Brett *********
 doesnt matter as long as they accepted it, Thailands bike license is a one size fits all.
3 years ago
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Brett **********
@Michael *******
 Not sure just an exchange will work on that, you'd have to do the bike test. Not particularly difficult though. If you can't pass it, you most definitely shouldn't be on the road. Issue is the back log for tests.
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Brett *********
 She said she just did it.
3 years ago
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Brett **********
@Michael *******
 yes, and if true that's a game changer so asking for clarification as that's the first I've heard of it
3 years ago
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Brett **********
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Stafford *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks
3 years ago
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Rob **********
No it does not, you need to hold a motor cycle license in your own country as well.
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Rob *********
 not true. I just did it
3 years ago
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Steve *******
@Tara *******
 To ride a motorbike legally in Thailand you need to hold the equivalent licence from your home country and an IDP. The other option is to apply for a Thai motorbike licence and you will need to take a test for that.
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Steve ******
 Can you see my licence that I posted above? Full bike licence. All I have from my home country is a driver's licence with a 50cc bike licence on the back what I never took any bike diving test for..I can show you this also if you want?
3 years ago
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Steve *******
@Tara *******
 You were lucky, normally you have to take a test, if you dont have a motorbike licence from your home country.
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Steve ******
 Not lucky. I had a 50cc on the back of my licence and they said that was sufficient to get bike licence here. I have brought several friends to do it since
3 years ago
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Steve *******
@Tara *******
 Like I said you were lucky at that office, normally a Thai licence only matches your home licence unless you take a test
3 years ago
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Steve *******
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Rob **********
@Tara *******
 so you have a Thai motor cycle license?
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Rob *********
3 years ago
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James *****
@Tara *******
 how did you get ? I have a non Thai DL but need to pass motorcycle to legally drive them there. I heard 300bht for the test
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@James ****
 I would suggest you bring your licence into them and they will tell you if they can do it. Too much different information online and the transport authority will give you the correct information for your type of licence
3 years ago
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James *****
@Tara *******
 thx
3 years ago
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Tara ********
@Rob *********
 yes
3 years ago
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Tara ********
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Matt *********
No you need a international driving permit £5.50 from a post office in uk 🇬🇧
3 years ago
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Matt *********
3 years ago
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Matt *********
3 years ago
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Andy ********
@Matt ********
 still no good if he doesn't have a motorbike endorsement on his license.
3 years ago
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Mark *******
@Andy *******
 i haven't got it on my uk licence but its ticked on the international
3 years ago
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Mark *******
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Bobby ********
You can ride in Thailand what you are licenced to ride in the UK
3 years ago
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Mark ********
No
3 years ago
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Astrid **********
Officially you need a big Motorbike over 50(?)cc license. An international does the trick when getting stopped to avoid a fine, but you not insured if any accident. Only having the correct motorbike license + an international does.

In cities fines are more a thing then in country-side or some islands. They even put up roadblock funnels to catch mostly non-Thai.

It's possible to get through the process of a Thai license with some tests that covers car/bike.

Sony Google search
3 years ago
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Astrid **********
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