Do I need a Thai driving license to legally ride a motorcycle or scooter in Thailand if I have a UK driving license and an international driving permit?

There are inherent risks in driving a motorcycle EVERYWHERE -- if you are not comfortable with those risks - take a taxi.

By one metric, Thai traffic is the most dangerous in the world by a wide margin.

I'll add that I agree completely with all the rest that

@Ron ******

wrote. There is some seriously suicidal driving on the roads.

I got my Thai licenses for car and bike yesterday and will say that it depends also on your visa. If you have a tourist visa, you're considered non-resident obviously and can drive on a international license for at 60 days. However, while you can drive using an international license, it has to be endorsed for motorbikes to be legal. Bike rental agencies don't care and will rent it to you without any proof that you have the right to drive a bike in your home country but it doesn't make it correct. If you're living here and have any one of the other types of visa, you're supposed to get a Thai license immediately since you're no longer resident in your home region, but in Thailand. You'll probably escape from a random police check if you can show an international license with motorcycle endorsement, but it isn't legal, and you're definitely liable if something happens.

I think I would caution you about the feedback you're getting.. I suspect most people are offering opinion and do not have actual experience. Riding motorcycle has be great fun, make BKK traffic tolerable, and I have not died or gone prison - or had my balls cut off. Many Farang do it. Just be careful - try to avoid the really stupid, Drunk Driving, driving where you are not supposed, always always always look out for the other guy.

moped has pedals(motor/pedals)...when was the last time anyone saw them on the road?...virtually extinct species in TH.unless it is an E-Bike.which are also rare in TH. but certainly not in VN.

Anybody who isn't a proficient and experienced bike rider in the West, shouldn't even contemplate riding a bike here,never mind entertaining the thought of riding a bike here for the very first time. Remember here the general unwritten rule of road is that the biggest vehicle has right of way. Go and stand on the Suhkumvit and watch the defensive driving style of a Thai on a motorbike. Nobody will really give way to a bike. Its up to you to find your own safe space. These people have been on bikes since babes in arms and still end up smashed up or dead. Look at any Thais arms and legs and see the scars. Remember too the new law on drinking and driving in the case of an accident. YOU and your car or bike are simply not covered anymore although your insurance co will pay out the Third party, they will then recover ALL costs from you.

IMO, if you cannot afford the relative protection of driving a car, then use a Taxi or Baht bus. Anything but avoid bikes here.

Best to remember the other general rule. In the case of an accident and somebody is hurt, your 100% going to the police station for the enquiry and inspection of the vehicles. You better make sure you are 100% covered and legal. You might get away with a licence technicality at a traffic stop but at the police station they 100% know the score regarding licences etc And you will be to blame anyway. Your the foreigner and if you wasn't here, the accident wouldn't of occurred. As long as your covered with insurance etc it makes no difference. Just accept it and you'll be out of there a lot quicker than denying it. The last thing you want here is a court case. Mostly if there is a court case in the case of injury, the vehicles are impounded until after the case. That's the last thing you want trust me.

In my experiences, the police in Chiang Mai don't make a distinction between scooter or motorcycle. If it's on two wheels and has a motor, you need a motorcycle license. Either an international one (with motorcycle stamp) or a Thai motorcycle license.

Tell them you're Aussie and you'll be fine

Police check your Driving License and many times your IDP, not your passport. Problem starts when accidents occur. Insurance companies have small prints, as already mentioned by Charlotte. Thanks for that one. Insurance companies are not famous for their charity and quick pay outs if asked. They know the laws well and they know the small print. If you stay longer than 90 days in Thailand you need by Thai law a Thai driving license, this could be used by the insurance company just in case of. Be careful out there, as I said earlier there are in my opinion to many gofundme, crowdfunding etc pages for people who found it out the hard way.

I have been driving 2years+ on a U.S. + international license. I have been stopped several times. Can not tell you what the law is - but the practice is the international license is all that is required

An additional FYI on related (as I've just looked into this). I've got a standard UK licence (permitted to drive up to 50cc scooters) and I was planning to do my Thai test so I was 'covered'. I checked in with my travel insurance (World Nomads) and even if I get my Thai licence my travel insurance will NOT cover me. They only recognise a licence from your home country + IDP. So I'm now sticking with my pushbike and the songthaews 🚌

For those who claim: No need for license, make sure to set up a gofundme page on time. In case accidents happen you have NO INSURANCE. Many examples of this stupidity can be seen on mentioned page.

It is so simple, look at your license from your country and you can drive the vehicle where the license is from in combination with an International driving permit. So, you are at home allowed to drive a car, you can do in Thailand. You have a Motorbike license, you can do in Thailand. You have a truck license, you can drive here. But the Thai law also stated that if you are longer than 90 days in Thailand you need the Thai Driving license, which you become with you current license. A scooter/moped is limited on CC, again read your own country requirements. You are limited till max 50 CC that means at home you can drive a scooter/moped with 49,9 CC and not with more CC and that is the same in Thailand.

People, if he only has a car licence at home, that's all he has here with an IDP. It's not a magic document. He can't legally drive a motorcycle here. Maybe can con some police who can't read English on the IDP but it's illegal. In Thailand there is no 50cc exemption for car licence holders.

One thing to remember you will not be covered with insurance with the international license

Hi the international should be ok but the UK probably not i got a fine with an Australian license they told me it doesn't cover me the trouble is they change they're mind all the time but the international should be good

I live in Chiang Mai and I can tell you for certain your international license is fine for a scooter/motorbike only if you have a motorcycle classification in it from back home. Otherwise, you will need to get a Thai license and pass a vision test, written test, driving test, medical test, etc.

The IDP only validates what you can legally drive/ride in your home country.

your license is perfectly acceptable here. If you're here longer than 90 days then you'll need the Thai 1

Your home license is only for driving a car?

If you live here you should get a Thai licence. It's very easy to do as you have a UK licence/IDP.

Are you living in Thailand? If not you need your home licence and an IDP issued in the UK, which is valid for a year.

If I'm not mistaken there's a limit to the time you can "live here" and still use your license from your home country (whether you have the international driver's permit or not).

Getting the two year temporary thai driver's license IF you already hold a valid license from your country is NOT a perilous undertaking and it can easily be done in a couple hours..