International drivers licence in thailand.
International drivers licence in thailand.
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
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
- tuktukmike
- Guru
- Posts: 728
- Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2005 1:02 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! 

This looks like a good opportunity to plug our new car rentals section:
http://www.huahinafterdark.com/hua-hin-car-rental.htm

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

- dr dave soul monsta
- Deceased
- Posts: 1281
- Joined: Mon May 31, 2004 10:04 pm
- Location: Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi
- Contact:
Jamie wrote
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
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
"I don't often agree with the RSPCA as i believe it is an animals duty to be on my plate at supper time"
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?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
- tuktukmike
- Guru
- Posts: 728
- Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2005 1:02 am
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.
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.

International driver licence
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
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
Siddis
- tuktukmike
- Guru
- Posts: 728
- Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2005 1:02 am
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.
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.
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.
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.
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