International Driving Permit (IDP) in Thailand: What Is Legal in 2026
Planning to drive or ride a scooter in Phuket on your International Driving Permit? Here is what the permit covers, how long it is recognized, the motorcycle category rule many tourists miss, and when a Thai driving license becomes the safer choice.
The Short Answer
Yes, you can drive in Thailand with an International Driving Permit, as long as three things are true: the permit is valid, you carry it together with your original home country license and passport, and the permit covers the vehicle you are driving. Thailand is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, and an IDP is meant for temporary visitors, commonly treated as up to 90 days.
An IDP is a translation of your national license, not a license on its own. Police at Phuket checkpoints will ask for both documents. If you live in Thailand or stay for months at a time, the permit is no longer the right document and you should hold a Thai driving license.
1949 Geneva vs. 1968 Vienna Permits
Two international formats exist. Which one you receive depends on the country that issues it.
| Permit Type | Validity | Typical Issuers | In Thailand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 Geneva Convention | 1 year from issue | USA (AAA), Canada (CAA), UK (1949 format), Australia & NZ motoring clubs | Thailand is a party to this convention |
| 1968 Vienna Convention | Up to 3 years, or until your national license expires | Most EU countries incl. Germany & France, Scandinavia, Russia, UK (1968 format) | Widely presented in Phuket; confirm your format with us before you rely on it |
Scooters: Category A Must Be on Your Permit
Every rental scooter in Phuket, from a Honda Click 125 to a PCX 160, is legally a motorcycle. Your IDP only covers the categories stamped in it, and those mirror your home license:
- Category A stamped: you may ride a motorcycle or scooter.
- Only category B (car): you are riding unlicensed, even with a valid IDP in your pocket.
- Moped or 50cc entitlement at home: does not carry over, because Thai scooters are 110cc and above.
IDP or Thai Driving License?
| International Driving Permit | Thai Driving License | |
|---|---|---|
| Intended for | Short tourist visits | Long stays, residents and long-stay visas |
| Documents to carry | IDP + original home license + passport | Thai license card only |
| Insurance position | Often questioned after longer stays | Clear local license |
| Vehicle ownership | Not relevant for registration | Pairs with buying & registering a vehicle |
| Also works as | Nothing beyond driving | Official photo ID in Thailand, recognized across ASEAN |
Staying longer or holding a DTV, retirement, marriage, education or work visa? Our foreign license conversion guide explains how to get a Thai license via DLT Krabi, including the country-by-country requirements.
Rule Changes to Watch
In mid-2025 the Department of Land Transport put a draft regulation to public hearing that would stop accepting an International Driving Permit as supporting evidence when foreigners apply for a Thai license, and would make the written theory test mandatory for license conversions nationwide. Requirements can differ between DLT offices while rules change.
We check the current practice at DLT Krabi before every appointment, so you know exactly which documents and tests apply on the day you go.
International Driving Permit in Thailand: FAQ
Yes. Thailand is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, and visitors may drive with a valid IDP carried together with their original home license. The permit is meant for temporary visits, commonly treated as up to 90 days. Long-stay residents are expected to hold a Thai driving license.
No. An IDP is only issued by the country that issued your national license, for example AAA in the USA, the Post Office in the UK, or your local licensing authority in Germany. The Thai DLT only issues IDPs to holders of a Thai driving license.
No. Scooters are motorcycles under Thai law, so your IDP needs the motorcycle category (A). With a car-only permit you are riding unlicensed, and insurers can refuse to pay after an accident.
A 1949 Geneva permit is valid for one year. A 1968 Vienna permit is valid for up to three years or until your national license expires. Thailand is a party to the 1949 convention; if your country only issues the 1968 format, send us a photo and we confirm how it is treated in Phuket.
When you stay beyond a short holiday, hold a long-stay visa, want to buy and register a vehicle, or want insurance cover that is not disputed. A Thai license also works as official ID and is recognized across ASEAN.
Not Sure Your Permit Covers You?
Send a photo of your IDP and home license to our WhatsApp team. We tell you what it covers in Phuket and, if you are staying longer, how to get your Thai license.