@Neil ******

but that doesn't change the root question. Is it legal? I would think, as many others have suggested, that you can't be without your passport at any time. And a farang driving is a pretty easy target for cops.

@Neil ******

well you can't get in an international flight without your passport.

@David *****

sounds completely reasonable for anyone who would give up their only documentation of being legal in the country

@Kris *******

but officer! Your countryman assured me this is what EVERYBODY does!

@Stephan **********

powerful moped. Like I said, I ended up getting a proper car from remote agent. As soon as i heard leave passport, I saw there was too much liability. He said he wouldn't accept a copy of the passport, in fact, he wanted ME to travel with the copy

@Brandon ***********

yep. I'm assuming tourist trap. Literally the parking lot at train station

@Brandon ***********

that's what I was thinking. He wanted 10k baht deposit, and to keep the passport. I was already out at this point knowing I'd get a random inspiration. But then he said I couldn't take outside of city and I was trying to get to chiang rai. It took a surprising amount of searching to find an available car to do this

@Mike ******

have your thai gf look up thai rental car companies. Much cheaper. I did notice a quirk... some places will not allow you to leave chiang mai with their vehicles. A motorcycle rental place at chiang mai train station does this. They also demanded to hold onto my passport during the rental. I wasn't gonna take that risk

@Bruce ********

I think Bruce has a good point here. I get tired of seeing the entitled babies in the USA wear shirts or say things like "welcome to America, now learn english" or "if you don't speak English, get out". These same redneck degenerates are the same people who go to Mexican holiday spots and then ask "doesn't anybuddy here speak English?" No. You American pig, now gtfo. I think if you're living in Thailand, on a permanent or objective to be permanent basis, you are (implied) trying to assimilate into the local community, and therefore, have a moral obligation to at least try to learn the local language.

Be careful of youtube videos. They are accurate up to the time of making the video. This goes for any internet information. The laws governing foreigners, banks, immigration are always changing