Serious reputational damage would Avis or Budget be happy with that? The IDP was a way for cops to shakedown tourists who are not licensed to drive a motorbike…..

@Pete ******

they would be subject to major insurance issues handing out a car to an illegal driver , motorbike operators don’t give a toss, but a million baht motor vehicle is another matter

@Andy *******

I have travelled all over the world without an IDP and my UK license has been accepted by every car hire company at every airport , including Bangkok, your welcome to verify with any of the car hire operators in Phuket - they would do zero business if an IDP was required…..it’s only for motorbikes in Thailand the cops realized a few years ago that there was a great shakedown opportunity as most tourists do not have a license to drive a motorbike so they are illegal, hard to prove though without an IDP so it’s a bonanza for them and most tourists are happy to pay.

@Henrik ****

not from Uk it doesn’t

@Pete ******

not for a car, check with Avis at the airport, they are probably better informed than you , my brother went through if last year, and double checked when he rented. Bikers are targeted because most have never passed a bike test, and cops can’t tell from a normal driving license hence the B500 shakedown if no IDP which clearly shows what vehicles license covers

If you are driving a car you are good for three months on an English language license. It’s the bikers who have a problem, as many have never passed a bike test, so their car license is not valid

@Edwards *******

in some countries (Uk for example) you can get an IDP on line, and get it sent to a local address, then courier it here, takes less than a week. You don’t mention what you are driving ?

@Andy *******

only for a bike

@Nick ******

car or bike ?

@Pete ******

only for bikes not car.