International Driving Permit in Thailand: What the Sources Say
UK, US, Australian and Canadian government advice all say to carry a valid international driving permit, with your home licence. For a scooter the permit needs the motorcycle category. UK advice names the 1968 version. Thailand is a party to both the 1949 and the 1968 convention. A foreign licence on its own is not accepted.
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Carry a valid international driving permit and your home licence, because UK, US, Australian and Canadian government advice all name an IDP. For a scooter the permit must also carry the motorcycle category. The sections below give each government’s wording, how long a permit counts, and when to switch to a Thai licence.
Is an IDP valid in Thailand?
Official advice differs by passport, so find your row.
| Your licence | What the government says |
|---|---|
| UK | Carry both the 1968 version of the IDP and your UK licence while driving. An IDP cannot be bought outside the UK, so get one before you travel. |
| US | An international driving licence is accepted as long as it is valid, but a foreign licence is not accepted in Thailand. The permit is valid for 1 year. |
| Australia | A valid IDP and your Australian licence for the type of vehicle you are using. Australian digital licences may not be accepted. |
| Canada | Carry an IDP or a Thai licence. A motorcycle needs a Thai motorcycle licence or an IDP with a motorcycle endorsement. |
| ASEAN country | Drivers with licences issued by ASEAN member countries are eligible. |
Visitors with a valid IDP are listed as eligible foreign drivers. Visitors are required by law to hold an international driving licence, to be shown with the passport and national licence. An IDP must be used together with the licence of the home country.
If your country is not in the table, the same rule applies: an IDP issued under a convention Thailand has joined, plus your home licence.
How long does an IDP count?
A 1968-convention permit ends three years after issue, or when the home licence expires if that comes first, and the printed date can be earlier.
The permit also stops being valid in a state once its holder establishes normal residence there. No Thai government page read defines residence or sets a day limit for visitors, so treat a day count quoted by a shop or blog as unconfirmed. If you plan to stay for months, switch to a Thai licence.
Geneva or Vienna permit?
Thailand acceded to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic on 15 August 1962. It signed the 1968 Vienna Convention on 8 November 1968 and ratified it on 1 May 2020. Each convention has a contracting-party list on the Department of Land Transport English page.
UK advice names the 1968 version. A permit issued under an agreement Thailand has signed is accepted, and the Geneva and Vienna conventions are the examples given. The US and Australian pages do not name a version, so read the cover of the permit your issuing body gives you.
Does the permit cover a motorbike?
Riding without a valid Thai motorcycle licence or an IDP with a motorcycle endorsement is illegal. The 1968 permit lists motor cycles as category A, and a permit is recognised only for the categories it covers. Check that category A is stamped in yours before you reach the rental counter.
Australian advice says a valid motorcycle licence is needed to drive a motorbike, and that some rental companies will tell you otherwise. Thailand treats mopeds as motor cycles under its declaration to the 1968 Convention. A car-only permit does not cover a small scooter.
Driving without the correct licence can lead to arrest or jail. The Motor Vehicle Act gives up to 1 month in jail or a fine up to THB 1,000 for driving without a licence.
A valid motorbike licence in your country of residence and in the local country is among the conditions of one insurer’s cover. Before you hire, check the lease for limits on engine size and necessary licences. See motorbike rental in Chiang Mai.
Foreign licence, IDP or Thai licence
For a Thai licence, the regulation lets a foreigner include a driving licence of the same vehicle type issued by another government. If it has no English on it, certification from an embassy or consulate in Thai or English is needed.
A licence issued under an international agreement to which Thailand is a party is among the documents that bring an exemption from training and testing. The published list is undated, and a June 2025 draft would change the rules for foreign applicants, so ask at the Chiang Mai counter.
When to switch to a Thai licence
UK government advice says someone who lives in Thailand can apply for a Thai licence using a UK driving licence. A motorcycle applicant who wants to ride a motorcycle of thirty-five kilowatts or more needs extra training and a riding test.
For the private licence, the regulation excludes people permitted to enter for tourism, sport or transit, and foreign workers allowed temporary stay by Cabinet resolution. The full list of papers and fees is in the Chiang Mai driving licence guide.
Rules may change
A June 2025 draft Department announcement would revise the training and testing rules for foreign applicants. It is a draft and not confirmed in force.
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Photo credits
- Photos and clips uploaded to Google Maps (Chiang Mai Provincial Land Transport Office on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)) by Google Maps contributor.
Not confirmed: No Thai government page read sets a day limit for driving on a permit or defines when a stay counts as residence. If you are staying for months, apply for a Thai licence instead. Whether the Chiang Mai counter still accepts an IDP in a licence application is not confirmed; ask at the counter.
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Common questions
Which version of the IDP does UK advice name for Thailand?
UK government advice names the 1968 version, carried together with your UK driving licence.
Is Thailand a party to the Geneva and Vienna road traffic conventions?
Thailand acceded to the 1949 Geneva Convention on 15 August 1962 and ratified the 1968 Vienna Convention on 1 May 2020.
Can I use only my US licence?
An international driving licence is accepted as long as it is valid, but a foreign licence is not accepted in Thailand.
I hold an Australian licence. What do I need?
Australian advice says a valid IDP and your Australian licence for the type of vehicle you are using.
Can I buy an IDP after I arrive in Thailand?
UK government advice says an IDP cannot be bought outside the UK, so it should be obtained before travelling.
How long is an IDP valid?
A 1968-convention permit runs for three years after issue or until the home licence expires, whichever is earlier. It stops being valid in a state where its holder establishes normal residence. The permit is valid for 1 year.
Does my IDP cover a scooter?
A scooter needs an IDP with a motorcycle endorsement, and the 1968 permit lists motor cycles as category A.
Is a Geneva-convention permit accepted in Thailand?
A permit issued under an agreement Thailand has signed is accepted, with the Geneva and Vienna conventions as the examples given.
Do I need an IDP if I am only visiting?
Yes. Visitors are required by law to hold an international driving licence.
Can I use a UK licence to apply for a Thai licence?
UK government advice says someone who lives in Thailand can apply for a Thai driving licence using a UK driving licence.
Does travel insurance care about my licence?
World Nomads requires a valid motorbike licence in your country of residence and in the local country as a condition for cover.
What should I check in a rental agreement?
UK government advice says to check the lease for limits on engine size and necessary licences before hiring a vehicle.
Read next
General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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