Foreigners who reside in Thailand and want to drive a car or
motorcycle in Thailand should apply for a Thai driving license. The
Thai driving license is essential since the international driving
permit is not valid for driving in the country of residence. The
purpose of an international driving permit is to translate the
domestic driving license, certify the validity of the driving
license in the country of residence, indicate the categories of
motor vehicles that are covered by the driving license and improve
the road safety worldwide.
Though Thailand has not signed the Vienna Convention on Road
Traffic (1968), tourists are allowed to drive a car or motorcycle
with an international driving permit in Thailand. This is due to
the fact that Thailand is still a member state of the Geneva
Convention of Road Traffic (1949). However, the international
driving permit is not a substitute for a valid domestic driving
license and can only be used in a foreign country, other
