To drive a car or scooter in Thailand as a tourist, you need an international driving permit in addition to your national driver's license and passport. The Thai Embassy points out that this is a legal requirement and is requested by the police at checkpoints and by insurance companies after an accident. Thailand accepts driver's licenses issued under the Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Vienna Convention of 1968. Your driver's license issued in your home country is valid, but you must apply for an international driving permit there before your trip.
This guide covers the permit required by your country, where to obtain it and how much it costs, the motorcycle rule that affects most visitors, the fines, and what to do if you stay long enough to need a Thai driver's license.
Key facts
Carry three documents with you.
Your international driving permit, your national driving permit, and your passport. The international driving permit is a translation of your driving permit, not a separate driving permit; therefore, it is worthless without the original.
Both the 1949 permit and the 1968 permit are valid.
Thailand ratified the 1949 Geneva Convention in 1962 and added the 1968 Vienna Convention in 2020. The UK issues permits to Thailand based on the 1968 model, while the US, Canada, and Australia issue permits based on the 1949 model.
Get it before you fly
In Thailand, it is not possible for visitors to purchase it. In Great Britain, it costs £5.50 at a PayPoint shop, and in the USA, it costs $20 at AAA, either in person, by mail, or online.
A car driving license is not valid for a scooter.
To ride a motorcycle, you need the unrestricted authorization on your national driving license. A motorcycle license only covers the same rights as your standard driving license. Without this authorization, you are riding without a valid license, regardless of what the motorcycle rental company claims.
The fines are low, but the insurance risk is not.
Driving without a license can cost up to 1,000 baht, and driving without a helmet up to 2,000 baht. However, it becomes even more expensive if travel insurance refuses to cover damages after an accident because you didn't have a driver's license.
It involves a journey, not a move.
Car rental companies and insurance companies typically assume a maximum rental period of approximately 90 days. Anyone living in Thailand needs a Thai driver's license.
What permit does your country require and where can you obtain it?
Details for Great Britain can be found on gov.uk, and for the USA on the ADAC (AAA) website. The specific country regulations can be found in the Thaiger guide from March 2026, and the ASEAN rules in the Wikipedia article on Thai driving licenses. Please check with your issuing authority before applying, as prices are subject to change.
Do you need an international driving permit in Thailand?
Yes, unless your driver's license is from another ASEAN country. Thai law requires foreign drivers to have an international driving permit and must present it upon request, along with their passport and national driver's license. Many rental companies and scooter shops waive this check; some only require your passport. However, the legal responsibility lies with you, not the shop.
It's crucial to have a valid driver's license at police checkpoints and after an accident. Phuket has the most checkpoints, especially around Patong, Karon, and Kata. Checks are also regularly carried out in Pattaya and Chiang Mai's Old City. If you cause an accident without a valid license, your travel insurance may refuse to cover the costs, which can amount to thousands of dollars if you need to be hospitalized in Thailand. A driver's license costs less than a meal at home, so the risk isn't worth it.
1949 or 1968? Which one does Thailand accept?
There are two types of permits: one under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and one under the 1968 Vienna Convention. Each country issues the one to which it is entitled by virtue of its membership in the convention. Thailand is a party to both conventions, the 1949 convention since 1962 and the 1968 convention since 2020. Therefore, both are valid here.
That's why the advice online seems to contradict each other. American, Canadian, and Australian travel guides state that the 1949 driving licence is valid for Thailand, while the British government claims that British drivers need the 1968 licence – and both are correct for their readers. In any case, you don't really have a choice, as the relevant authority in your home country will issue you the correct licence as soon as you declare your intention to travel to Thailand.
How to get one before you leave
In the UK, international driving permits can be obtained in person at PayPoint branches for £5.50, along with the UK driving licence in credit card format. The government's recommendation is clear: once you leave the UK, you cannot obtain an international driving permit, so you should arrange this before traveling.
In the US, AAA issues these authorizations for $20. You can apply in person at a branch with two passport photos, by mail with the application form, two signed photos, and a copy of both sides of your driver's license, or online with a photo taken with your cell phone (for an additional $10 plus shipping). Processing takes approximately five business days. You need a valid US driver's license. AAA issues the authorization no earlier than six months before the desired start date.
In other countries, they are issued by the national automobile club or the relevant vehicle registration authority. Therefore, apply for them well in advance of your trip. Be wary of websites offering "international driving licenses" issued instantly online. These do not correspond to the licenses described in the conventions, and neither Thai police officers nor insurers have any reason to recognize them.
Scooters and motorcycles – the rule that catches most visitors
Your driver's license covers exactly what your vehicle registration covers. If you only have a car driver's license, it does not entitle you to drive a scooter, not even a small one. Handing over the keys to a scooter rental company does not change this. To legally drive a motorcycle, you need an unrestricted motorcycle license, which must be included in your driver's license and transferred to your car license.
This is where most claims fail. Most travel insurers only pay out in the event of a scooter accident if you have a motorcycle license (usually with a corresponding driving permit), are wearing a helmet, and are sober. Genki is the exception: their insurance covers scooters up to 125cc even without a motorcycle license, as long as a helmet is worn. The British government also warns that many rental scooters in tourist areas are unregistered and that you should never leave your passport as collateral, as some rental companies retain it for potential damages.
Helmets are mandatory for drivers and passengers, and the fine increased to up to 2,000 baht in June 2025, doubling if neither of you is wearing a helmet.
What happens if you are stopped without one?
At checkpoints, officers demand a driver's license, driving permit, and passport, and check helmets. Anyone without a driver's license faces a fine of up to 1,000 baht, those without a helmet up to 2,000 baht per person (driver and passenger), and those without a seatbelt also up to 2,000 baht. The police have been consistently enforcing these stricter penalties since April 2026.
The fine is only a small part of the problem. If you drive without a valid license and cause an accident, your insurance company may refuse to cover the costs. Further information on traffic regulations and a complete list of fines can be found in the guide to driving in Thailand.
Stay longer and obtain a Thai driver's license
If you are living in Thailand on a non-immigrant visa (and not as a tourist), you must apply for a Thai driver's license. Landlords and insurance companies typically assume that a standard driver's license is no longer sufficient after approximately 90 days. You submit your application to the Department of Land Transport. You will need your passport and visa, a certificate of residence from the immigration office or your embassy, a recent medical certificate, and your national driver's license.
The first Thai driver's license is a two-year, temporary license. It costs 205 baht for a car and 105 baht for a motorcycle and is issued after a short theory test (50 questions, 90% passing grade) and a driving aptitude test. Upon expiry, it can be exchanged for a five-year license, which costs 505 baht for a car and 255 baht for a motorcycle.
Only after obtaining a five-year Thai driver's license can one obtain a Thai international driving permit at any DLT office for 505 baht. This permit is available in a one-year version (1949) or a three-year version (1968), and foreigners must apply in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about the international driving permit for Thailand.
Yes. Visitors need an international driving permit in addition to their national driver's license and passport to drive a car or motorcycle. An exception is a driver's license from another ASEAN country; this is valid on its own.
Not alone. You will need an International Driving Permit (1949 edition, available from AAA, approximately US$20) and your passport. To ride a scooter, you will also need a motorcycle endorsement for your US driver's license.
Yes, with an international driving permit issued in 1968, which the British government requires for Thailand. Obtain it before your departure from a PayPoint shop for £5.50, as it is not available outside the UK.
Both. Thailand ratified the 1949 Geneva Convention in 1962 and the 1968 Vienna Convention in 2020, therefore the permit issued by your country is the correct one.
Not as a visitor. Thai permits are only available to people who already hold a five-year Thai driver's license; they cost 505 baht and are available at an office of the Ministry of Land Transport.
In the US, yes, through AAA, with a digital photo, approximately five business days plus shipping. In the UK, no; the permit is sold in person at PayPoint stores. Avoid websites that offer instant online "international licenses," as these are not official congressional approvals.
Only if your vehicle registration allows it. The driver's license adopts the categories of your vehicle registration, so a car-only registration also grants you a car-only driving license, and driving a scooter with it is considered driving without a valid license.
For a visit, the duration of your trip falls within the validity period of the permit (one year for a permit issued in 1949). If you live in Thailand, you will need a Thai driver's license, and insurers and car rental companies typically assume a maximum stay of approximately 90 days.
Sources
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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
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