International drivers license

[norm]

Plan to make a trip to the US and wonder if anyone knows the procedure of getting a International Drivers License. My Thai one is valid for 4+ years.

My Australian license expires in March, so I'll only have a valid Thai license at that time.

Thanks
norm

[hhfarang]

Norm,

When I got mine you could get them at any AAA office in the U.S. I didn't need anything except the $10 fee (that was a while ago) and my Florida driver's license. They even took my photo there in the office to affix to the license. The whole process only took about 15 minutes. If your U.S. license has expired (as mine has now), I'm not sure what you would do.

Give AAA a call when you get there. If they don't still do it I'm sure they can point you to someone who does.

[Nereus]

Plan to make a trip to the US and wonder if anyone knows the procedure of getting a International Drivers License. My Thai one is valid for 4+ years.

My Australian license expires in March, so I'll only have a valid Thai license at that time.

Thanks
norm

Hello Norm: International Drivers Licence is administered by your home country motoring organisation, such as RAC(V) or whatever state), in Australia. Not sure about the US as always just used my Australian MDL when there. However, maybe you can get a US MDL issued on the basis of your Australian licence, and then your could apply for a US issued International Drivers Licence. There is some web sites that advertise International MDL, stay away from them!

[norm]

Plan to make a trip to the US and wonder if anyone knows the procedure of getting a International Drivers License. My Thai one is valid for 4+ years.

My Australian license expires in March, so I'll only have a valid Thai license at that time.

Thanks
norm

Hello Norm: International Drivers Licence is administered by your home country motoring organisation, such as RAC(V) or whatever state), in Australia. Not sure about the US as always just used my Australian MDL when there. However, maybe you can get a US MDL issued on the basis of your Australian licence, and then your could apply for a US issued International Drivers Licence. There is some web sites that advertise International MDL, stay away from them!

My home is now Cha Am and I no longer have a Australian address so cannot renew my Aussie license. My US license expired in 1990.

Had a International one issued when I left Oz but they are only valid for a year.

So what I need is a international license issued for my Thai license. Question is "where can I get it issued?"

All the international license is is a interpretation of your valid license into English. You must present both for the international license to be valid.

[Tony_S]

This is for GB

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/Motor ... Next%C2%A0+

[Nereus]

I know I wrote to stay away from the Websites, but this one appears to be a new one, so MAYBE worth a try.

http://phuketdir.com/intlicense/index.htm

[norm]

After reading comments on another forum I have found that the Thai license in English is acceptable in the US at the car rental places.

Since I have one of the new licenses in English I guess my problems are solved.

Thanks for all the response

[hhfarang]

Norm,

I haven't been to the U.S. in nearly 4 years, but when I was there last and used my Thai license to rent a car, I was required to take the full insurance package (because of the foreign license and no U.S. insurance policy) which brought the price of the car from $49 per day to $129 per day. It was the biggest expense of my 30 day trip. I've been advising anyone who moves here since then to keep a U.S. license using a family or friend's address even if you have to go back in person every few years to renew it.

I will be interested to know if you can avoid this problem (rental insurance) or not on your upcoming trip.

[norm]

HH

thanks for that, I'll have my wife put it in her name. As she still maintains a US drivers license.

Good to know ahead of time.
Thanks

[migrant]

Norm,

HHF got it right, I just got mine a couple weeks ago at my local AAA. Price is now $15, but all the rest (15-20 minutes) is correct.

They ask you when you want it to start since there is a time limit on it.

[ipods]

Good question

We are moving to Hua Hin in August.
We both have UK and international driving licences.
The international licences expire Oct 2009. Should we renew them in the UK before we arrive are we ok with normal UK licences

[PeteC]

Good question

We are moving to Hua Hin in August.
We both have UK and international driving licences.
The international licences expire Oct 2009. Should we renew them in the UK before we arrive are we ok with normal UK licences

I personally would renew it just to have it. It may make things easier with some car rental companies if that's what you're going to do.

If stopped, some police here are OK with a foreign license and some are not. However, regardless whatever license you have (or none at all) most police stops are a collection for their retirement fund so have some red notes handy in your shirt pocket. I've been stopped and not asked for any kind of ID at all many times. Pete

[ricardo]

If you are coming here to stay, then you should apply for a Thai licence.

However until you get it you should have an international licence to drive in Thailand. I was once stopped and fined for driving on a regular UK licence in Bangkok. (I had also run a red light).

As I need to drive while I am at work in Qatar, I re-apply for an international licence every year when I go back to the UK to see family. They are so easy to get, costing about 5 pounds at certain post offices, and it only takes 15 minutes.

[malcolminthemiddle]

Good question

We are moving to Hua Hin in August.
We both have UK and international driving licences.
The international licences expire Oct 2009. Should we renew them in the UK before we arrive are we ok with normal UK licences

To drive legally in Thailand you should have either a valid Thai or International driving license.

Some rental firms do accept foreign licenses but in the event of an accident you would not be insured.