Traveling to Thailand in April, and want to rent scooter/motorcycle on Kon Larn, as an American do I need a Thai or international Driver's license?

I will be in Phuket for about 2 months soon. Is it better to rent a scooter long term or buy one? What are the best ways to find one to buy if I go that way? Is my US drivers license enough to legally drive?

This may be a bit of a stretch on the "everything else" front... sorry.

I joined some Thailand business groups and they were 100% crypto hustle garbage so not sure where else to look for this...

Do the Thai businesses like, a specific example, scooter rental run some kind of liability insurance or is it just the wild wild west here? The landscape for this sort of thing in my home country is so bonkers skewed the other way I know my instincts on it all are compromised. Curious how the locals do.

Not a Visa question but can somebody recommend a honest scooter rental shop I'm on soi Buakhao up by the hospital

Hi everyone! Currently here in Phuket (Patong area). I’m looking for recommendations for a reliable and legit company to hire a scooter from?

Also is it common to get pulled over by police to check for license etc?

Where are people renting cheap scooters at the moment in Phuket? Only want a Click, Fino or the dreaded Scoopy.

Off topic , but hopefully somebody knows

I have a uk driving licence and a international driving licence ( has 2 years on it ) . Is that enough to be able to drive a motorcycle/ scooter in Thailand . I obtained this on the frequent possibility of being stopped a fined every 5 min in Pattaya , a helpful policeman told me this was sufficient. However I was then told , no he's wrong , you need a thai licence ( by an agent )surprisingly . Is he right ?