What are the rules for using an International Driving Permit (IDP) in Thailand, particularly regarding the 90-day validity?

@John *******

ridiculous comment so you have a force field that is around you and your vehicle. The thing to do is get the appropriate licence and get insurance. I have no money but it's ok l will win lottery tomorrow.🤣🤣🤣

@David *******

By the way for your information I used to hold a 1949 & 1968 IDP's, along with my car/motorcycle licences, plus what in the UK is a Class one heavy goods vehicle licence and have an advanced driving certificate for heavy goods vehicles. So unlike a lot of inexperienced and immature drivers, my driving experiences in countries where camels and donkeys were once the order of the day is my testament to my driving abilities.

@John *******

ok good luck after 60 years welcome to the year 2024 there are laws and also insurance responsibilities. You are suggesting what ??? You are advising what in Thailand in response to driving a car or riding a motorcycle??

@David *******

You know what, go pester someone else know all.

@John *******

Idiot 555

@David *******

Might be ridiculous for your train of thought. My train of thought after sixty years of driving/riding and in some countries that'd scare the shite out of most and all without ever having an accident. Maybe my force field is the thing! 😂🤣

@John *******

Mine has always been checked. But more recent experience than yours.

@Michael ******

to be fair the UK licence is a bit confusing, with the little bike graphic and a date

@Tim ********

yip hence the IDP requirement - I got my Thai license‘s at first opportunity saved a fortune 😊

@Jay ******

no, im just not a panty wearing simp like the rest of you. Coming to Thailand and trying to change the way things are done and have always been done here. Pretty arrogant if you ask me. I bet you are an 'elf and safety officer back home swaggering around in your hi-glow vest. We laugh at people like you! Sit down to pee type. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

@Jay ******

You think you have yet you know nothing. I bet you're a wife beater. Have you beaten your wife today Jay? You have havent you. Tsk tsk. Coward.

@Mark *******

what a knob

@Mark *******

maybe your a good driver but on the roads here there are many many bad drivers which you have no control over.

@Mark *******

🫣😶🫣😶🫣😶

@Mark *******

you are embarrassing yourself times more, say you so stupid to drive without licence. total stupid,

@John ***************

Yes Dad.

@Mark *******

good my son, you can still learn.......

@Mark *******

Good to know my sense of humor outperforms yours. 🤣

I don’t drink until the evening, though. Daytime alcohol and narcotics are for those who need it for medical or psychological purpose. 😊

@Chris ***********

It's actually LAW. It's in the Traffic Act. A temporary visitor (of no defined duration) covered by an international treaty can use their home licence and IDP. It appears you are trying to massage length of visa into licence requirements, whereas it's actually type of visa.

@Chris ***********

You made a long-winded post about 90-day tourist visas, so your little brain decided that the 90-day tourist visa in Thailand sets the international standard for IDPs, totally ignoring Thailand Traffic Law. That's laughable.

@Chris ***********

Better take a look at the DTV, it's a tourist visa, it's 180 days! Please provide link to the DLT website and Royal Gazette in relation to the 90 days.

@Chris ***********

As I've said before, there's nothing in Thai Law which states 90 days, only "temporary visitor" which is what a DTV visa holder is.

@Chris ***********

Sure - even though you cannot produce one single official reference to 90 days. You can believe whatever you want, that's your prerogative. I'll stick with the LAW

@Andy ***********

the law says, temporary visitors can drive with idp and their national license.

it also says, who is not a temporary visitor: someone who stays longer than 90 days.

It has nothing to do how the visa is named, but how your category through your stay turns into resident.

With the dtv you also after 90 days need a local permit.

The dtv is an exception of the rule and will disappear again.

It doesn't matter which visa or stay permit you have.

The visa is not defining your right right to drive.

》The length of the stay is.

I mentioned the tourist visa as an example and an explanation for how temporary visitors are seen.

The fact is: anyone who stays longer than 90 days need a local license to drive legally - regardless of any visa or stay permit type.

Feel free to believe whatever you stubbornly want to believe.

I know, you just want to argue around stubbornly whatever i will bring.

SO STOP TO TRØLL.

Next step is I block you, so you will not profit from my knowledge any more. Pearls to the pigs.

From the beginning what i want to say is:

Fact: >90 days stay = must hold local driving license to drive legally!

@Chris ***********

Actually sounds like you're the troll! DTV won't last long? You're now the expert on visas as well as IDPs. DTV has been a huge success, it's here to stay. And you still cannot show anywhere in Thai Law which states 90 days! 😂😂. Stop spreading misinformation!!

@Andy ***********

see, that is exactly what Trolls do:

insulting, using smilies.

jumping and changing on every new topic. yawn.

your tries are so obvious, everybody here can see, who you are.

you not seem to have real knowledge or understanding.

I don't care what you think.

you don't know enough.

dtv will fade and you still need a local driving license after 90 days.

better drink your beer every day instead of pretending.

@Chris ***********

You are the troll. I merely state facts, but it seems you have a bad temper and don't like to be proven wrong. That's your problem and you have to live with that. 👍👍

@Andy ***********

you can't drive in Thailand 12 months with an IDP as you said.

Only 90 days.

So you spread nonsense and still try to offend and argue around.

You are trolling. STFU.

@Chris ***********

The Vienna Convention 1968 states 12 months from date of entry. The Thai Law restricts this to temporary visitors. I've provided the references. You cannot provide a reference to 90 days because one doesn't exist. You didn't even realise the DTV is a tourist visa. You're not the sharpest knife in the kitchen drawer

@Andy ***********

You claim without proof to get info. How long does Thailand accept it then? 😂 Where is YOUR proof??

I don't need to do your homework. I know my sources. It is 90 days.

You are trying to get my help. I don't fall for that. I will not help such a troll.

Later you will or not receive the knowledge that i am right. And then you'll find the next excuse.

That doesnt matter. People can see what you're trying and who you are.

@Chris ***********

It's Thai law. "Temporary visitor". No time limit..

@Andy ***********

Your text is correct. But you still dont understand it!

You always try to avoid to explain or to understand what a ->temporary visitor is, because you are a troll or stubborn or are not intelligent enough.

A temporary visitor is anyone who not stays longer than 90 days, you !d! ót.

That is why anyone who stays longer than 90 days is NOT a TEMPORARY visitor any more and needs a local license!

How long do you want to repeat your bullshit and ignore what a temporary visitor is - or are you really that stupid to get lost in this text you always state?

Do your homework and look up for the definition in law what defines a TEMPORARY visitor (=up to 90 days).

Andy, and that is thai law.

@Chris ***********

Where does Thai law state a temporary visitor is 90-days? Problem with you is you're a self-appointed expert who actually knows f*ck-all. Idiot First Class

@Andy ***********

that's your problem, that you are a self-appounted expert trol, not mine.

Don't try to conclude from yourself to me.

If you are too lazy to find that law, i don't work for you.

You claim stubbornly always the same based on that one screenshot, which is correct but not including the definition for the temporary visitor.

Many others told you already, it's 90 days.

You still follow your own very special stubborn way of what you want to think - omg.

Are you not matured enough, to admit that you've been wrong...

What type of boy, not man enough is someone, who only tries to ignore, so that he can feel the illusion to be right.

Will you one day wake up from the illusions that to give to yourself?

Look, how long you talked around and tried to ignore the meaning of temporary...

And we everybody can see that, how you are writhing.

Btw it's very usual in MOST countries, that after a few months an international permit is not valid any more (also in your UK).

But you seem to want to ignore common sense and reality and only want to believe your own created realities.

In which country could you use that permit for 12 months - sure tourists can drive around with that the whole year same residents - ridiculous 😂

You are a facebook judge and keyboard warrior and try to make yourself important.

I can continue this forever to point out, who you are and what you're trying here. 😉

Trolls must learn, that they will not come through.

@Andy ***********

the answer lies in this text and is exact, but you still stubbornly don't want to get it.

a temporary visitor usually can NOT stay longer than 90 days.

otherwise he is categorised as a resident and then needs a local license.

there can be exceptions. an exception is not evidence against the law.

anyway i don't spend more time on somebody who wants to be stubborn.

After 90 days you'll need a local license. full stop.

@Andy ***********

the name is Destination Thailand (and not Tourist) visa.

It's a limited exceptional visa.

Exceptions are not breaking laws. They are within law.

And also with that visa after 90 days you have to drive with national license anyway.

Provide your links. I don't work for you. Do your homework.

But anyway everybody can see that you only are a troll trying to quarrel around.

Again: after 90 days staying within Thailand you need a national license in all cases and it's not legal any more to drive on idp.

that's what all is about. nothing else.

your UK regulations are not valid in Thailand and have nothing to do with that.

@Andy ***********

as I said. you don't get what i wrote.

now you troll try to get personal.

clear, who you are.

i explained that travelers who hold tourist visa can not stay longer than 90 days.

and people who stay longer than 90 days are not tourists.

they don't hold a tourist visa.

so, who stays longer than 90 days is meant to be a resident.

and so a resident can not drive like a tourist with an international permit any more.

as a resident you have to hold a local driving license.

the visa doesn't make that status. you are right and I didn't say that.

you live longer than 90 days in Thailand you will not hold a tourist visa and need a local license.

that's what I explained, so people are able to understand the status more easy that leads to the requirement of the local driving license and why they can not drive longer than 90 days with the international permit.

You want to get that now or continue to be a stubborn Troll...

tourists who stay up to 90 days at each entry can use the international driving permit.

people who stay longer than 90 days per entry must hold a national license because Thailand sees them as residents.

and you can read that regulation at the dlt's website and the Royal Gazette.

@Andy ***********

how old are you? you dont get what i meant.

Makes no sense to talk to you.

@Andy ***********

its not law, but a regulation. Feel free to have a look into the DLT regulations and the royal gazette for this.

Because you simply bluff with your facebook opinion. Do your homework. I understand about those pretenders who try to make others work for them.

@Andy ***********

I didn't realise there was a tourist visa for 180 days, what is it called?

I thought they were 60 + 30.

@Stuart **********

he means the new DTV, which gets you stamped in for 180 days. . . . . . . . . Or maybe he meant the multi entry 6-months tourist visa. Which actually only gets you stamped in for 60 days, on every entry during a 6-month visa validity

@Gregor *********

maybe so, but the DTV is not a tourist visa, so it seems we are still talking about a 90 day maximum stay for tourists, I think.

@Stuart **********

DTV is issued under the "staycation" banner. It is most certainly a tourist visa.

@Stuart **********

actually the DTV is a tourist visa. That's what it's called the royal gazette. A tourist visa

@Andy ***********

in Thailand the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP is valid for 90 days on each entry. Your info is COMPLETELY wrong

@Greg **********

Have you got a link to the treaty? I'd be most interested to see that. All I can find is this entry, which clearly states 12 months.

@Andy ***********

did you copy this text from the ASEAN NOW forum? Why would you think that a Khritsada-text represents the actual Thai law on the 1968 IDP ?

@Andy ***********

that doesn't work in Thailand unfortunately 😕

@John *******

Actually it does. But you have total freedom of choice to believe Facebook instead of official sources. Your prerogative 👍

@Andy ***********

why should I believe YOU, a facebook user, instead of believing what my embassy says? Same with the German Automobile Club. Says THREE MONTHS, after that you would need a Thai DL. I rather believe THEM, than you, a "Facebook Self-Acclaimed Expert" 😂🤣😅

@Greg **********

Exactly my point! You believe what you want, and I'll believe what I want. I note you still haven't produced any reliable link from an official Thai source. Go get a few more tattoos, it seems your self-esteem is suffering

@Andy ***********

you haven't produced an official Thai source either

@Greg **********

I've produced the Thailand Traffic Law which states "temporary visitor", there's no defined time limit in Thai law.

@Andy ***********

sic! And it doesn't state a one-year validity of an IDP either

@Andy ***********

even my Austrian Embassy in Bangkok keeps telling me that after 3 months on the 1968 IDP, I need a Thai DL . . . . do they write BS ??

@Greg **********

That's for Austria. The OP is from the UK

@Andy ***********

in Thailand it's only valid for 90 days

@Greg **********

There's nowhere in Thai Traffic Law which states 90 days. This is an internet myth. Thai Law states "temporary visitor" - so anyone on a tourism based visa

@Chris ***********

DTV is classed as a tourist visa as it is not a non-immigrant visa. The maximum stay is 180 days.

@Andy ***********

its called destination THAILAND and not destination TOURIST Visa. And its an exceptional visa for a while.

@Andy ***********

yes, you are absolutely right, but you understand it absolutely wrong.

with any tourist visa you are only able to stay not more than 90 days!! So, that's very temporary.

You can use the visa to get a 60 day stay permit.

The visa is valid 90 days to be used for entering the country.

So, on tourist visa your stay permit is for 60 days and can be extended 30 days in country.

therefore you can not stay as a tourist more than 90 days and each entry can use the idp (only valid together with the national one) for driving, if you have the correct class in there.

who stays longer than 90 days is not holding a tourist visa, so is like living at Thailand and so need to hold a national license after 90 days to drive legally.

You can believe what you want, but that are the facts.

you should understand better about what is a visa.

And about that idp, it is issued for 12 months or 36, depends which agreement.

Thailand now only accept the 1968, so the idp you get in your country is running/issued 36 months.

That doesn't mean it gives you the right to drive for that time.

It is able to be used for that time for visits in countries.

But the country where you enter, regulates, how long it may be used at each entry in that country.

At Thailand this is for 90 days.

got it now?

@Jay ******

hope my comment make it clear and helps you.

(Greg Alexander and Gregor Hüttner is the same Troll with more profiles, btw. A handicapped !d!ot.)

@Andy ***********

YOU ARE WRONG it doesn't matter if you got the 1968 or the 1949 IDP: in Thailand you can use that IDP for 90 days, AFTER this you either need a Thai DL or you need to exit Thailand and re-enter, to start another 90 days

@Gregor *********

Actually you're wrong, but I'm not going to argue. I'll just politely request you show me where in Thailand Traffic Law there is a 90-day stipulation. The international treaty is definitely 12 months

@Andy ***********

"citation needed" . . . . nowhere in your text Thailand gets especially mentioned. Also in the Thai traffic law 42 nowhere is mentioned that a license is valid for one year

@Gregor *********

Correct. The Thai Law states "temporary visitor" so the IDP is valid until the visitor leaves. However, the international treaty suggests 12 months, so that would be the maximum time. I understand Japanese Traffic Law actually stipulates a time period of 12 months for the IDP.

@Andy ***********

by the time that said Thai Traffic Law 42 was written, a "temporary visitor" was allowed no longer than 30+30 days per ONE entry inside the country. There weren't any 1-year visa available in these days 😉

@Jay ******

If you are UK, it used to be the Post Office, now it's selected Paypoint shops. You are supposed to tell them which country you need it for: there are 3 treaties. Post Office masters/mistresses had a card from the Post Office telling them, updated once a year. I suppose Paypoint shopkeepers normally selling booze and ciggies are even less trained. If you got it from somewhere else, like online, it's fake and you were scammed.

@Jay ******

Your local UK council issues International Driving Permit? That's a first. If that's the case, this is why they gave you the wrong one. And UK licence holders can't get one outside of the UK.

@Andy ***********

Noted, thanks for update

@Andy ***********

and YOU, claiming to be the expert on those things, YOU claim that the 1968 IDP allows 12 months driving inside Thailand? What made you hand out BAD & WRONG advice ?

@Greg **********

You have got a bad temper haven't you? Can you simply provide the link to the Thai Traffic Law which states 90 days please?

@Andy ***********

Rather than single-sidedly *demanding* proof, which seems to be customary when people lose a dialogue, why don’t you start by showing a link which proves you right before demanding otherwise?

Unless, of course, you can show a link demonstrating you are more than a VIP in Nitwitania.

( Which was my friendly way to write “Who the fuck are you to demand proof ?”, thus showing my good mood are remain friendly and polite.) 😉

@Peter *********

But I provided the proof to support my statements. Simple huh? Now go F Off 😂😂😂

@Andy ***********

the proof is no proof. it's from the Khritsada-website, an inofficial text

@Andy ***********

Uh. I apologize. You did in fact copy a text, I believe from Wikipedia, which on Wikipedia adds “citation needed”.

That said, you did try to prove and my comment was uncalled for.

Note that I demonstrated how to remain polite, rather than reverting to bar-talk / trailer-park levels where people tell each other to fuck off and then are too coward to actually write “fuck”. 😉

Simple huh?

@Peter *********

You aggressively attacked me. I'm trying to provide reliable sources and you turn on me because I respectfully requested people to provide a link to an official source which cites 90 days. I have provided the Thai Traffic Law relating to IDPs and also a comprehensive insurance policy for a motor vehicle in Thailand, which conveniently doesn't mention IDP at all (even though the experts are claiming not having an IDP will make your insurance null and void - which I know for a fact is absolute crap). People in these forums are often bald-headed, heavily tattooed, bad tempered foreigners. I just have to laugh at them

@Andy ***********

And I did apologize, like educated people do when they make a mistake.

That is better education than a trailer park “Fuck off”. But good to see you laugh a such people. That surely makes you laugh at least once a day, at your morning shave. 😉

@Peter *********

that alleged proof is no proof. It's from the Khritsada-website, an inofficial text. And if I guessed right, he has copied it from a discussion about the IDP in the ASEAN NOW forum. His claims is pure hearsay, picked from out of his nose

@Greg **********

I just read the same text on Wikipedia, which does seem trustworthy most of the time.

But, as I wrote above, Wikipedia adds “citation needed” after the statement that an IDP can be used 12 months after entry.

Note that the IDP texts refer to “temporary visitors”. Which includes most of us here as Thailand only issues temporary extensions to visa for most of us. So whether we are on tourist visa or on a one-year valid “retirement visa”, we are always temporary visitors.

All that said, I’d be most interested to see a definitive reference either way, so I know whether or not I ought to speed up the procedure of getting a driving license in Thailand. 👍

I’m glad someone started the discussion.

@Chris ***********

Not that simple. To enforce a law there must be a specified number or situation otherwise the law is meaningless. UK Visitor Visa for example is six months. There is nothing in Thai law which suggests a period of time, rather it's situational and defined as "temporary visitor".

@Peter *********

it's not only at Thailand.

At many countries you count as a tourist until 90 days each entry and so can drive with your international permit.

Which is actually not a license but a translation of your national one and should include the correct classes for the vehicles you intend to drive.

If people are staying longer in one piece, they usually can do that only with a long time stay permit

and so are "living" at that country no longer being a tourist.

In that cases they need a national license of that country.

Simple as that.

@J**

I've never done it this way locally, but have many times in BKK for CW.

I got a copy of the TM30 from reception in the condo, it had to be stamped and signed by the owner,+ a signed copy of his ID card.

But that may just be the BKK way, I found CW pretty unhelpful, to say the least

@John *******

Yes true, but towards the end of the period you go to DLT and renew it and you get 5 years

@Brian *******

only if you are not on tourist visa or visa exempted. otherwise again 2 years.

@Chris ***********

"only if you are not on tourist visa or visa exempted. otherwise again 2 years."

Almost true 🙂

As always in Thailand - it depends ...

@Pertti *********

it is like I said. what do you pretend should be different?

@Ch***

I'm on a non imm O, extension, so no problem

@Brian *******

it's ok to say exactly how they are being less than helpful as it's not enough information for us to help you

@John *******

Hi John, you've replied to me instead of Jay