IDP Question

[Marc26]

Do you have to show your home driving liscense with your IDP if stopped by police?

I have a valid IDP but just renewed my BC Driver's License and they can't the old one

I do have the paper liscense, just not the picture liscense 

Thanks

[Thai_Law]

  On 11/20/2023 at 6:15 AM, Marc26 said:

Do you have to show your home driving liscense with your IDP if stopped by police?

I have a valid IDP but just renewed my BC Driver's License and they can't the old one

I do have the paper liscense, just not the picture liscense 

Thanks

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They will only care about your international license. However, in some places like Pattaya, there are reports from some people saying even their international permits were not accepted and they were forced to pay a fine. This may be because the officer was somehow under the impression it was not legit or it was expired. 

[Marc26]

  On 11/20/2023 at 7:47 AM, TLP said:

They will only care about your international license. However, in some places like Pattaya, there are reports from some people saying even their international permits were not accepted and they were forced to pay a fine. This may be because the officer was somehow under the impression it was not legit or it was expired. 

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Thanks

My experience has been as soon as I grab it then wave me through without even looking at it

Just thought I'd ask

I actually have my license with me

Just not the picture one

Which I am technically allowed to drive with it

But as you said, some police may not know 

[MPK]

What happens in a police control if you do have an international driving permit, but you keep this at your house/apartment and only have your actual non-Thai driving license as well as a photocopy of your international driving permit with you?

Edited November 20, 2023 by MPK

[Thai_Law]

  On 11/20/2023 at 2:24 PM, MPK said:

What happens in a police control if you do have an international driving permit, but you keep this at your house/apartment and only have your actual non-Thai driving license as well as a photocopy of your international driving permit with you?

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They will most likely give you a ticket. You may run across a nice officer who will let you produce the original one later. It's not like your passport. For the license you are obligated to show the original. Why don't you want to carry your IDP with you? Are you afraid to lose it? If you are a long time expat, just convert it to a Thai License and be done with it. If you lose it, then you can replace it easier than your IDP.

[Marc26]

  On 11/20/2023 at 2:24 PM, MPK said:

What happens in a police control if you do have an international driving permit, but you keep this at your house/apartment and only have your actual non-Thai driving license as well as a photocopy of your international driving permit with you?

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I'd assume it just like you don't have one

I carry a shoulder bag and put my IDP/phone/cash in that when riding

[oldschooler]

Recommend getting a Thai DL. So Easy. Cuts through all this. 

[Thai_Law]

  On 11/20/2023 at 9:56 PM, oldschooler said:

Recommend getting a Thai DL. So Easy. Cuts through all this. 

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Already recommended that mate.

[oldschooler]

  On 11/21/2023 at 1:41 AM, TLP said:

Already recommended that mate.

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Yes well it’s so obvious. Many expats here with families, houses, business but no TDL.

What's the matter with them ? Non Issue. 

[Pinetree]

  On 11/21/2023 at 12:57 PM, oldschooler said:

Yes well it’s so obvious. Many expats here with families, houses, business but no TDL.

What's the matter with them ? Non Issue. 

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Arrogance is at the center of it.  Far too many expats and tourists, especially tourists, think that following the law here is unnecessary for them.  Lack of licenses to ride or drive, lack of medical cover, overstay., not doing 90/TM30 day reports; its all part of the same arrogant belief that they are exempt from these things; until it all goes wrong and they then moan and groan about the Thai processes and requirements.  

[BlueSphinx]

When you have a valid english-language driver's license from your home-country (e.g. USA, UK, Canada, South-Africa, ...) it is an easy process to get hold of a Thai driver's permit.

However, if your home-country's driver's license does not feature english language, you would also need a valid International Drivers Permit, in order to apply for a Thai driver's permit.

Be aware, that you should check with the Thai insurer of your vehicle whether you are covered when driving with a non Thai driver's permit.  This because some Thai insurers only recognize the validity of your foreign or international driver's license during the first 3 months of your stay in Thailand (after which you are 'non-insured' in case of accident, even though you paid for the insurance). 

[Thai_Law]

  On 11/23/2023 at 5:30 AM, BlueSphinx said:

When you have a valid english-language driver's license from your home-country (e.g. USA, UK, Canada, South-Africa, ...) it is an easy process to get hold of a Thai driver's permit.

However, if your home-country's driver's license does not feature english language, you would also need a valid International Drivers Permit, in order to apply for a Thai driver's permit.

Be aware, that you should check with the Thai insurer of your vehicle whether you are covered when driving with a non Thai driver's permit.  This because some Thai insurers only recognize the validity of your foreign or international driver's license during the first 3 months of your stay in Thailand (after which you are 'non-insured' in case of accident, even though you paid for the insurance). 

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Agree

[cowslip]

Your IDP is only valid if your driving licence is valid. If your home licence is lost or expired than so is your IDP.

[AussieBob]

In most Provinces when you are pulled over the Police will ask for your Thai or home country licence. Most of them have no idea what an IDP is and they will not accept that as ID - usually. As a Tourist you should have one if you have a rental (for insurance) , but the Police will want to see your home country licence. If you are an Expat (long term Tourist), then get a Thai DL - it is easy - one for car and one for bike. 

[cowslip]

If you've been in Thailand fir more than 90 days continuously, you should have a Thai licence.

[Khunmark]

  On 2/16/2025 at 9:02 AM, cowslip said:

If you've been in Thailand fir more than 90 days continuously, you should have a Thai licence.

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Except if you have no need to drive. I live either walking or cycling distance from the things that I need on a regular basis. And the traffic where I reside is diabolical. So it makes little sense for me to get a Thai licence and a car.
 

On the odd occasion where we travel somewhere that requires a car we either catch a grab taxi or a song teaw. There have been rare occasions where we have been at an all day event and we hire the driver for the whole day which is a lot cheaper than most people would realise.

[cowslip]

  On 2/16/2025 at 9:24 AM, Khunmark said:

Except if you have no need to drive. I live either walking or cycling distance from the things that I need on a regular basis. And the traffic where I reside is diabolical. So it makes little sense for me to get a Thai licence and a car.
 

On the odd occasion where we travel somewhere that requires a car we either catch a grab taxi or a song teaw. There have been rare occasions where we have been at an all day event and we hire the driver for the whole day which is a lot cheaper than most people would realise.

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I couldn't live such a sedentary lifestyle. As I have covered hundreds of thousands of miles in Thailand (and Laso)  the option of not driving has never arisen.

[Khunmark]

  On 2/16/2025 at 9:59 AM, cowslip said:

I couldn't live such a sedentary lifestyle. As I have covered hundreds of thousands of miles in Thailand (and Laso)  the option of not driving has never arisen.

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I wouldn’t consider cycling sedentary. You should consider it some time instead of contributing to the traffic congestion and its attendant issues.

[cowslip]

  On 2/16/2025 at 10:14 AM, Khunmark said:

I wouldn’t consider cycling sedentary. You should consider it some time instead of contributing to the traffic congestion and its attendant issues.

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Ah - a sanctimonious cylist - you have gone off topic and now trying to justify what you said..

and cyclists are a huge cause of congestion as we have to slow down to your crawl before passing.

[cowslip]

I have covered thousands of nook and crannies in Thailand that no cyclist would ever do. You couldn't even do the detours I do or the off road places I've been - and congestion - well if you got more than a couple of kilometres from your home, maybe you'd be able to avoid your perceived congestion.

so rather than sedentary - lets say 

Homebody, Stay-at-home – Recluse – Hermit – Local – Nestler – ?

[Khunmark]

  On 2/16/2025 at 10:28 AM, cowslip said:

Ah - a sanctimonious cylist - you have gone off topic and now trying to justify what you said..

and cyclists are a huge cause of congestion as we have to slow down to your crawl before passing.

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Reverting to type  Cowslip. When it comes stupidity you are peerless.

[Khunmark]

  On 2/16/2025 at 10:31 AM, cowslip said:

I have covered thousands of nook and crannies in Thailand that no cyclist would ever do. You couldn't even do the detours I do or the off road places I've been - and congestion - well if you got more than a couple of kilometres from your home, maybe you'd be able to avoid your perceived congestion.

so rather than sedentary - lets say 

Homebody, Stay-at-home – Recluse – Hermit – Local – Nestler – ?

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Well at least this comment wasn’t  your usual cut and paste job. That’s all it has going for it. 

[Khunmark]

  On 2/16/2025 at 10:31 AM, cowslip said:

I have covered thousands of nook and crannies in Thailand that no cyclist would ever do

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And while we’re at it, your fat arse hasn’t left the couch in years.

[cowslip]

  On 2/16/2025 at 11:41 PM, Khunmark said:

Well at least this comment wasn’t  your usual cut and paste job. That’s all it has going for it. 

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"Cut and paste"? Please explain why that is an argument.  You are way off topic.

[cowslip]

  On 2/16/2025 at 11:47 PM, Khunmark said:

And while we’re at it, your fat arse hasn’t left the couch in years.

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Really? You are making baseless assumptions...by your own admission you never travel far from home, I covered thousands of km last year... some with a kayak and some with a bike .