International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

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dotx
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Re: International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

Post by dotx »

Noz wrote:
dotx wrote: No. What I need is the international driving license for Thailand. I have a 5-year Thai license already.
Do you need one because you don't have a driving licence in your own country or wherever you're heading to?

I can only speak about the UK, but you can drive in the UK on a foreign licence for up to 1 year, which is the same expiry as an International Driving Permit, as issued in the UK anyroads.

Or are you heading somewhere that requires an IDP in addition to a Thai driving licence?
Yes, I'm heading to Europe and the country where I'll be living requires a license plus international to drive there. I already checked.
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Re: International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

Post by Noz »

From a very quick google the most recent info I could find was on the other forum that need not be named. IDPs obtained from Mochit and Chatuchak transport offices with different comments as to the documents required for one to be issued. In Pattaya people could apply at the local transport office but the paperwork was sent to Bangkok. If the office in Prachuap isn't interested, you could maybe call the Cha Am one.
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Re: International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

Post by Pleng »

Big Boy wrote:The above statement was not true when my son-in-law visited the UK. I checked it out at the time, and an International licence was definitely a requirement. Of course, that was 10 years ago, so things may have changed.
Was it a legal requirement, or was it a case of your insurance company requiring an international licence before allowing him as a named driver?
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Re: International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

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It was a requirement, but I like you was wondering about the insurance needs. When I insured him, they wanted to know about his International Driving Permit, and were adamant that cover could not be extended beyond 12 months.

I know a lot of Thais who are driving on International Driving Permits in the UK. Why do they bother if not required?
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Re: International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

Post by hhinner »

OP - Department of land transport how to apply for international driving permit.. Ignore the stuff about non-quota red book - that's for permanent residents.
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Re: International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

Post by Pleng »

Big Boy wrote:It was a requirement, but I like you was wondering about the insurance needs. When I insured him, they wanted to know about his International Driving Permit, and were adamant that cover could not be extended beyond 12 months.

I know a lot of Thais who are driving on International Driving Permits in the UK. Why do they bother if not required?
As to why do they bother, - like I said, pretty much all insurance companies I know would not accept the risk of anybody driving on a non uk/eu licence if they didn't have an international driving permit. This doesn't technically make it a legal requirement, though of course having insurance is a legal requirement.
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Re: International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

Post by pharvey »

Pleng wrote:
Big Boy wrote:It was a requirement, but I like you was wondering about the insurance needs. When I insured him, they wanted to know about his International Driving Permit, and were adamant that cover could not be extended beyond 12 months.

I know a lot of Thais who are driving on International Driving Permits in the UK. Why do they bother if not required?
As to why do they bother, - like I said, pretty much all insurance companies I know would not accept the risk of anybody driving on a non uk/eu licence if they didn't have an international driving permit. This doesn't technically make it a legal requirement, though of course having insurance is a legal requirement.
An International Driving Licence/Permit is nothing more than a translation of your national licence - not complicated . This point has been made quite a few times on threads by several members. Quite simply, firstly make sure that your national licence is acceptable in the country you wish to drive - if not, you are not going to legally drive, IDP or not.... "SIMPLES"

You will be required to show your national licence at any major hire car place or with the authorities if unfortunate enough to be stopped by them. In the UK at least, you can drive on a foreign driving licence for 12 months but it is strongly recommended to have an IDP.

{EDIT} Insurance-wise (who are thieving ***%$%$^), very difficult to insure a private car on a foreign licence - these days even as a "named driver".
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Re: International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

Post by Pleng »

pharvey wrote: {EDIT} Insurance-wise (who are thieving ***%$%$^), very difficult to insure a private car on a foreign licence - these days even as a "named driver".
The insurance company I worked for wouldn't generally allow named drivers who hold non-EU licenses to be named drivers, but would have no problem arranging a temporary covernote for said driver. I guess the reasoning is that if you have somebody coming over for holiday and you want them to help with the driving then that's ok, however they probably don't like to cover the risk of the vehicle being used for a 'practice vehicle' for prolonged periods of times until they that the UK test.
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Re: International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

Post by dozer »

I have rented in the UK, with AVIS and my wife, who has a Thai license gets registered as the second driver, with no problem whatsoever.
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Re: International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

Post by buksida »

Has anyone done this recently at a local (Prachuap province) transport dept office?
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International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

Post by hhinner »

You can find instructions at this dlt page. English is at the bottom. In the Thai section it says you can apply in Bangkok or any provincial office (that might just be the main office in the province). Call centre 1584 if in doubt.
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Re: International Driver's License - Where, how fast?

Post by buksida »

Yes, read the link and know I can call, just wondering if anyone had actually done it locally and what their experience was.
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Post by hhinner »

Sorry. Maybe you can be the first and let us know how it goes. :)
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Post by georgy »

If I remember I described it once on this forum.
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Post by georgy »

It can be done in Prachuap or Phetchaburi only.
You need 5years licence, proof of address, copies of passport and visa, a photo and approx 500Thb
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