International drivers licence in thailand.

Post by **Morten** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:29 am

Hi all,

If I want to rent a car in thailand in april do I need a International Licence, offcause I have my danish drivers licence for car, I just remember my friend when he went on holiday in australie he needed a extended international licence, it is no problem to get, takes 10 minuts and cost 200 dkr, about 32 usd but do I need it?

Thanks in advance.

Morten

Post by **Jaime** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:16 am

Officially you need it. If you rent from one of the 'brand' car hire companies - Budget, Avis etc. then they may well ask to see it.

Post by **tuktukmike** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:05 am

Hi Morten

No you do not need an international drivers license to rent a car.

Budget, Avis, will accept your normal license.

Mike.

Post by **Jaime** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:17 am

My understanding is that 'officially' you need an international driving licence unless you have a Thai, Singaporean, Malaysian or Laotian driving licence. What happens once you get into the rental office is another matter of course because they want you to rent the car! But you are not driving 'legally' without one of the above national driving licences or an international driving licence. Not sure how this would affect insurance etc. You can find this info on various Thai web sites, including on that other forum that shall remain nameless!

Post by **Lev** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:50 am

This looks like a good opportunity to plug our new car rentals section:

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/hua-hin-car-rental.htm

Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:04 am

Jamie wrote

My understanding is that 'officially' you need an international driving licence unless you have a Thai, Singaporean, Malaysian or Laotian driving licence. What happens once you get into the rental office is another matter of course because they want you to rent the car! But you are not driving 'legally' without one of the above national driving licences or an international driving licence.

Yes Jamie you are quite correct by law you are require to carry a international driving permit even for a motorcycle which are usually valid for one year only .
This isnt globaly enforced at present in thailand ,But the highway police are getting up to scratch on this point ,i have been stooped in BKK and told my UK license was not valid here and had to part with some of HM royal tender on the spot or go to the local station and part with 2000 of them BHT"s and fill out a pile of forms .
the Highway robber even described what a international permit looked like and told me they were available from the AA in the UK and the price !
The local police chappies at present are not intersted in checking international permits but more in the small penalties they can get out of you for minor offences such as crossing a white line but im sure they will also be upto scratch on the international permit soon .
as for insurance any accident as a farrang you will be at fault whatever and compensation will no doubt be from your own pocket and the deposit to the hire company will be lost

Post by **Jaime** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:01 pm

dr dave soul monsta wrote:as for insurance any accident as a farrang you will be at fault whatever and compensation will no doubt be from your own pocket and the deposit to the hire company will be lost

Could that be challenged legally if it was a big claim and it genuinely wasn't the farang's fault? I was listening to an interview on Radio Bangkok recently on just this subject but missed the conclusion. If not, is there any point in getting insured against third party claims in Thailand?

Post by **lomuamart** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:23 pm

I could write an essay on that. Just might later.

Post by **tuktukmike** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:48 pm

In all the years i have been driving i have never been asked for my International License.

I have been stopped in BKK and same same, just showed my UK license and no problem.

If you crash or write off a car with Budget the max you will pay is 5000bht.

To me this seems very fair and is the reason i only rent with Budget or one of the other large companys.

Mike.

PS, also the free upgrades.

Post by **lomuamart** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:52 pm

TTM,
Just an innocent question. If you were unlucky enough to be involved in an accident that resuled in injury or worse to someone, would your international, let alone Brit licence, suffice for your insurance company to cover the medical costs of the aggrieved party?

Post by **Farang** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:54 pm

'
Thailand has ratified only Geneva 1949 Convention type of International Driving License.

Use only this.

Some of the insurance companies only accept this or Thai license. Check with your rental company.
.

Post by **Siddisen** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 3:28 pm

I just come back from a 3 weeks trip in HH.

I allways rent a car from Virgin drive, and everything have been going well until last friday. I was stopped by the police and ask to show my driver license,I give him my Norwegian one.
Ohh "solly" but I mean the international DL. I tell him that was my only DL

He gave me a fine 500 Tbth and tell me to drive home I asked for a recipt but he hush me away and said I make a traffic jam.

So next time I go to HH I will have a Intern,Driver license or a Thai ones

Post by **tuktukmike** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:38 pm

Hi Lomu,

I was and gave my license and of course no problems.

Siddisen,

I was stopped 100metres from don muang airport, i had done nothing wrong bit it was the usual scam.

Pay up whatever, why do you think you never got a reciept, why also do you think he let you drive on.

We all know that at times you will be stopped and asked for money regardless to right or wrong.

Welcome to Thailand.

mike.

Post by **lomuamart** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:28 pm

Only asked, TTM because I had a bad accident last year. The Thai man's insurance paid for my 100,000 Baht+ hospital bills.
I was just wondering how it would work in a reverse situation, given your licence.
The scams by the police are commonplace as we all know. My question was one of insurance cover.

Post by **PeteC** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:15 pm

There's been a guy (maybe a company) who has been advertising in the Bangkok Post classified (services) daily for at least 6 months or more. I think he gives a choice of a 5 or 10 year international license for a fee of 4-6 thousand Baht? (not sure). I assume he is doing a good business as he started with a yahoo email address, but now has his own domain and website. Never looked at it so can't elaborate further. Pete

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International drivers licence in thailand.

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