Driving Legally in Thailand (Driver’s Licenses)
Can a foreigner drive legally in Thailand? Does Thailand have a reciprocal driving license deal with any other countries? What about an American, UK or European driver’s license, will those be accepted in Thailand? Or do I need to get an international or Thai driver’s license to be covered on the road here?
To be covered in the case of an accident, you do need an international or Thai drivers license.
The maximum period that you can drive a car or bike legally on an international drivers license is 60 days on a Tourist Visa and 90 days on a Non-Immigrant O visa.
If you want to drive for longer than that, a Thai drivers licence is required. To obtain a Thai drivers license requires a formal in-person application, as well as hold and be admitted to Thailand on a non-immigrant visa status. This link to the the Department of Land Transportation website explains the procedure.
