ThaiHome Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 I certainly agree, the couple of guys I know that ride big bikes here, all had big bikes at home and have ridden them for many years. I sure would not start in Thailand, or any Third World/Developing country. TH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Munchmaster Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 To begin with an IDP must be accompanied by a valid license from your home country.... Not sure about that statement. Not correct from my experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiHome Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Don't usually like to use Wiki as reference, but I think this one is factual. An International Driving Permit ( IDP ) allows an individual to drive a private motor vehicle in another nation when accompanied by a valid license from their home country. The document is slightly larger than a standard passport and is essentially a multiple language translation of one's own existing driver's license, complete with photograph and vital statistics. It is not a license to operate a motor vehicle on its own. Seems to me that this may be one of the bigger Internet generated myths as well as a scams, that is, that you can buy a piece of paper that lets you legally drive in any country, regardless of your license status in your own country. In actuality, there is an international treaty in place (which by the way, Thailand, along with many other countries, has never ratified, but has agreed to abide by the terms) which spells out exactly how this is suppose to work and how each country is suppose to regulate the issuing of the permits. I drove a rental car in Malaysia for several months using only my US license. Even had a major single car accident in which the car was totaled (obstruction in the road, not my fault), and the insurance paid for everything and I was not cited by Police, they were happy with my English language license. TH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Munchmaster Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 I was in the UK earlier this year and rented a car (AVIS) with my UAE license. I offered them the choice of my UK or UAE licenses and they chose the UAE one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiHome Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Not meaning to sound rude or anything, but your point is? TH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Most correct. You must have your home country DL along with the IDL. The BiB have never asked for my home country DL. Today, I was stopped, along with many others for a check, and the BiB read "International DL", said thanks and I was on my way. No word about my home country DL. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Munchmaster Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Not meaning to sound rude or anything, but your point is? TH Since when did posts on Thai360 have to have a point? However if they do, then what was the point of "I drove a rental car in Malaysia for several months using only my US license, etc, etc,........" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Some countries accept the US DL...looks that Malaysia is such a country...LOS is not, for sure, legally anyways...of course, try to define "legal" in LOS, like $$$ and it is legal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiHome Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 This is all way off topic of course, but I disagree that Thailand requires an International Drivers Permit. I have also been stopped several times, even given a citation once for crossing solid yellow line, but nothing about the US driver license I showed them. As with many things here, it's up to the individual you are dealing with. In your case, you could have showed him your US license and not the fake IDP you have and he would probably have accepted that. The big issue is what your insurance policy requires in order to pay for an accident. If you think your better off with the fake IDP, then go for it. For rental cars, their policies only require an International one if your license is not in English. Here is what Budget says about license requirments: 6. DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENT In order to rent THAI RENT A CAR vehicle, a valid driver’s license from the customer’s country of residence is required and must be presented at time of rental. International renters must present a valid license from their country of residence, if the license is in a language rather than English, an International Driver’s permit is required in conjunction with the country of residence driver’s license Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiHome Posted September 25, 2009 Report Share Posted September 25, 2009 I guess the point was I had first hand experience with getting into an car accident in a foreign country and not having an IDP and there was no problem. TH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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