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What do I need to know about driving a motorbike in Thailand without an international driver's license?

Thailand VisaInternational Driver's PermitMotorbike License RequirementsDriving in ThailandExpats in Thailand
Aug 7, 2023
a year ago
Chris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
American coming in October. Probably going to do multiple entry tourist visa at first but will transfer to education visa sooner than later... What's the deal with driver's license for motorbike? I do not have an international driver's license and will not be able to get one before I come. TIA
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An American expat moving to Thailand raises questions about obtaining a driver's license for riding a motorbike since they will not have an International Driver's Permit (IDP) upon arrival. The discussion reveals that to legally drive a motorcycle in Thailand, an IDP is necessary unless the person holds a Thai license. The IDP must also include a motorcycle endorsement, which can only be obtained if one possesses a motorcycle license from their home country. Without these, driving could lead to fines, and insurance may not cover accidents. Many commenters emphasize the importance of following local regulations to avoid legal issues.
Henrik *****
IDP for motorbike or don’t drive.

The rental risk their vehicel gets seized if they rent to someone without the proper licence.

2 offences and the holiday may ends abrupt before the scheduled returndate
a year ago
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Janne ***********
takes 5 min to get an Intl DR Liicense at AAA.
a year ago
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Deanna *******
Please be aware that if you don't have an IDP or Thai license, your health insurance will NOT cover you if in an accident. It will also not cover if you're not wearing a helmet or have been drinking. This is info that every tourist should know.
a year ago
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David **********
Get a bike license and then have that endorsed on your IDP. Otherwise foolish to get on a bike as both illegal and uninsured
a year ago
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Us *****
Bro, you better be amazing on a bike. Too many dead farangs on bike accidents here.
a year ago
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James *********
Join AAA and have one in 15 minutes.
a year ago
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Frank **********
@James ********
 no need to join as I got mine without joining.
a year ago
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Brook ********
@James ********
 no need to join
a year ago
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Brook ********
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Mark **********
AAA.
a year ago
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Bob **********
With the IDP from AAA it makes it much easier to get a Thai license make sure it’s stamped for a car and motorcycle
a year ago
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Samuel ******
Keep in mind that if you drive a motorbike in Thailand your IDF has to be for a motorbike. and AAA would only give me one. They only gave me a car one since I did not have a California motorcycle license.
a year ago
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Chris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Samuel *****
 That only comes into play for insurance reasons?
a year ago
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Kool *******
@Chris *****
 basically yes, as lots of places will rent you a motorbike without any license of any kind. Technically if your license is in English you don't need an IDP, but in tourist areas the traffic police use not having one as an excuse to get more money in fines, even though it is not the law. Tourists don't know, so they pay.
a year ago
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John **********
@Kool ******
 actually the law requires an IDP. Just having a licence on its own is not enough. Also you need a motorbike endorsement on both license and IDP
a year ago
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Kool *******
@John *********
 must be the difference in time in the 12 years I've had a Thai license, as before that when I was stopped no IDP was not a problem, and a few police said I didn't need it as my license was in English. Times change when you've having fun..
a year ago
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John **********
@Kool ******
 think that's been the legal position for quite some time. Some will accept a licence in English, others not. All will accept if it's accompanied by a valid IDP and you've not been in the country longer than 3 months. After 3 months you should get a Thai license.
a year ago
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Kool *******
@John *********
 this is what I always went by, and every experience I personally had follows it. That's where my confusion comes from.

According to the UN Traffic Act of 1949 and the Thai Traffic Act of 1979, an IDP is not required if you are a tourist/visitor in Thailand as long as your license is in English, has a photo, and your country is a contracting state of the 1949 treaty, which most are.

Driving in Thailand - U.S. Embassy Bangkok

th.usembassy.gov › u-s-citizen-services
a year ago
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John **********
@Kool ******
 there are a number of international conventions controlling this, Vienna, Geneva & Paris. Not everyone signed up to all of them and some have excluded specific portions. But they are they only legal position on international recognition of licenses
a year ago
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Kool *******
@John *********
 in the 8 years before I moved here, vacationing twice a year, and stopped a number of times in different locations, I never had a problem without one.
a year ago
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John **********
@Kool ******
 not having a problem and the legal position are two different things, particularly here in Thailand
a year ago
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John **********
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Zac ********
@Chris *****
 basically if you don't have a full motorbike licence from your home country you won't be able to get an IDP with motorbike entitlement. This means that not only will you be unlicensed and uninsured but if you get stopped you will have to pay the no licence fine.
a year ago
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Zac ********
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Kool *******
Be very aware that to be legal, as far as any insurance is concerned, if the place you are from requires a motorcycle endorsement to legally ride a motorbike, and you don't have one, or don't have a Thai motorcycle license, then if you get in an accident your insurance will not cover you, as you technically were driving illegally, as many have found out the hard way.
a year ago
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John *******
@Kool ******
 The motor bikes insurance ​paid all my medical expenses 2 times and I never reported the accidents. All Thai motorbikes have insurance.
a year ago
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Frank **********
@John ******
 I don't understand why some foreigners always try to bypass the law. Just get the appropriate license so all is legal. This is the kind of thing that brings attention to other foreigners.
a year ago
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John *******
@Frank *********
 I did not bypass the law. My understand​ing was a drivers license was required.. They never questioned me on the type or how long I was in Thailand.
a year ago
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Frank **********
@John ******
 ok
a year ago
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Frank **********
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Kool *******
@John ******
 in order to pay the yearly tax on them yes you do have to get insurance on the motorbike, but, did you have a legal license to drive motorcycles?
a year ago
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John *******
@Kool ******
 The bike is in my wife's name. She worked out the insurance​ claims. Police looked at my drivers license whenever they stopped me for not wearing a helmet. They did not question the type it is. I paid the fines. Accidents, nobody asked.
a year ago
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John *******
@Kool ******
 I had an AZ license for a car. It expired in 2020. All it says is drivers license.
a year ago
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John *******
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Olivier *********
Recall that the IDP is only valid if accompanied by your national Driving License.
a year ago
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Mario *********
@Olivier ********
 correct 👋👋
a year ago
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Mario *********
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John *******
a year ago
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John *******
U can drive a motorcycle​ in thailand up to 60 days on a tourist visa without a Thai licence​ and 90 day​s on an non o visa using a license from another country.
a year ago
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Nina *****
@John ******
 you must still have an International Driving Permit
a year ago
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John *******
@Nina ****
 No license now. Ride an ebike.
a year ago
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John *******
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Brook ********
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*****
0-english-teacher-arrested-cm-airport-following.html
a year ago
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David **********
@Brook *******
 people seeking go fund me to bail them.out in these circumstances I find very pathetic. Fix your own problems.
a year ago
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David **********
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David **********
@John ******
 only if you have a motorbike licence
a year ago
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John *******
@David *********
 I have been here 15 yesrs and used​ AZ license​ 8 times.
a year ago
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David **********
@John ******
 unless it has a motorbike license endorsement its useless.
a year ago
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Mark ******
@David *********
 Most Thai traffic police can't read or write English, and if you show them a license when asked, they will just assume it has a MC endorsement, or just think it's not worth the trouble anyway.
a year ago
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David **********
@Mark *****
 yes for sure but why not obtain a bike license, its not hard.
a year ago
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John *******
@David *********
 Or just pay the fine.
a year ago
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John *******
@David *********
 Worked for me.
a year ago
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Brook ********
John Foose wait until you have an accident, but then if you are driving unlicensed, you probably don’t have adequate insurance either.
a year ago
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Brook ********
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Frank **********
Go to AAA I got mine the same day. It is just a translation basically of your American license.
a year ago
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Thomas *******
@Frank *********
 agree, took 20 minutes. Will also note that you don't have to be a AAA member.
a year ago
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Thomas *******
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Phil ******
@Chris *****
 To legally drive a M C. you will need an IDP or a thai license.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
There's no such thing as an international drivers license.

You can get an international drivers permit from any AAA office in the US or apply by mail to AAA.

You have 2 months until then so I'm not sure why you can't get one. But many police officers, especially in popular tourist areas like Chiang Mai setup daily roadblocks and write tickets to every foreigner without an international drivers permit.
a year ago
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Thomas *******
@Brandon ***********
 does he also need the motorcycle endorsement on his U.S. drivers license as well? I was told my IDP only covers what I am licensed for in the U.S.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Thomas ******
 yes
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Chris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 actually I never considered getting one by mail. I live in Panama now and wasn't planning on returning to the states before going to Thailand. Good idea about the mail in option!
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Chris *****
 if this is your plan you most likely cannot get a multiple entry tourist visa then. You can usually only get that from your home country.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
If you can reach the consulate you would have to apply through while you're in Panama you can ask them. But it's not common
a year ago
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Chris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 You were just full of good news tonight lol...
a year ago
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Chris ******
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John ********
@Brandon ***********
 Get the international DL . It makes so much less stress!
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@John *******
 international drivers permit not international drivers license.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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