Austria is an exception. You can use a Thai licence in Germany but an IDP is needed over the border in Austria.
If you hold a valid
- national driving licence or
- an International Driving Permit in accordance with the International Convention relative to
Motor Traffic of 24 April 1926, the Convention on Road Traffic of 8 November 1968 or
the Convention on Road Traffic of 1949
you may drive or ride motor vehicles of the category that is indicated on your licence in the
Federal Republic of Germany.
In order to drive in Austria with a non EU/EEA driving license, an international drivers permit (IDP) is required.
That surprised me. So it appears that not ALL EU countries will accept a Thai licence without an IDP.
It does warn on the German site that although your foreign licence is valid in Germany, a non-EU licence must be accompanied by an IDP if you cross the border into Austria.
HHTel wrote: ↑Wed Sep 13, 2023 5:19 pm
You can use a Thai licence in a number of countries under the Geneva/Vienna Convention. Certainly valid in the US and the UK and around 100 more countries.
Technically, Thailand is part of that convention but have chose to ignore it for years.
You cant use a Thai license where I'm going, hence the question (if you could I wouldn't bother with this). I'll be trying to get an IDP tomorrow so will report back.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
buksida wrote:Anyone done this recently? Are the farang requirements the same (a little unclear on 'residency permit', presume this is the yellow book proof of address)?
In the list of documents (its caps):
RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE FROM EMBASSY , IMMIGRATION POLICE OFFICE, GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION , INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION , WORK PERMIT (WITH PRESENT RESIDENT ADDRESS IDENTIFIED) AND ORIGINAL PHOTO COPY
"Residency permit" is replaced by "residence certificate" and seems like one option is the letter obtained from immigration (as hhtel said way back in the thread). Will Yellow book work? Dunno, Thais have to present id card and PRs have to present the decrepit red police id booklet (tabien ban not mentioned).
It is categorically a "mai dai" on the yellow book. The alien has to go to immigration for a proof of address letter despite the fact he has three proofs of address with him.
These things appear to be orchestrated just to make farangs jump through hoops. A Thai with a Thai license can use that and their ID as proof of address, the same documents for a farang are not enough.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
buksida wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 10:48 am
It is categorically a "mai dai" on the yellow book. The alien has to go to immigration for a proof of address letter despite the fact he has three proofs of address with him.
These things appear to be orchestrated just to make farangs jump through hoops. A Thai with a Thai license can use that and their ID as proof of address, the same documents for a farang are not enough.
So even if the farang has a pink I’d card, they still have to go to immigration?
buksida wrote: ↑Thu Feb 23, 2023 12:41 pmNo appointment for driving permit
People can apply for an international driving permit without making an appointment, says the Department of Land Transport (DLT).
Deputy director-general Seksom Akaraphan on Wednesday said international driving permits are available at land transport offices nationwide without the need for an appointment, and cost 505 baht.
Thais who want to apply must bring their passport, ID card, original driving licence in Thailand and two non-glossy photos sized two inches taken in the last six months.
Foreigners must bring original and a copy of their passport and visa, as well as the original and copy of their residency or work permit that is certified by the embassy or Immigration Bureau, Thai driving licence and two non-glossy photos sized two inches taken in the past six months.
The permit is valid for one year for 102 countries participating in the 1949 Geneva Convention on road traffic, including US, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and Japan, and three years in the 86 countries that have joined the 1968 Vienna Convention, which includes Bahrain, Brazil, Germany and Switzerland.
Quick update to this one as it turns out it can be done without visiting immigration.
If your Thai driving license has your pink card ID number on it and not your passport number, you can use that and the ID card to apply for the IDP without the immigration letter. Mine didn't so I had to take it back to the DLT where it was issued to get it changed (which needed a lot of explaining as they didn't want to do it) before going back to Prachuap to get the IDP.
A lot of faffing about but it beats going to immigration and saved me 500 baht on the unnecessary letter.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
