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Home » Reader question » Reader question: Fine because I don't have an International Driving Permit
Dear readers,
Go to Thailand again soon. Always rent a moped. I've had a fine a few times because I don't have an international driver's license (but I do have a national one).
My question: if I have an international driver's license, can I still get a fine, because this is for a moped and not for a motorcycle (mopeds can drive 110 km in Thailand in contrast to the Netherlands and are therefore a kind of motorcycle). I don't have a motorcycle license.
Regards,
Do
You rent a "moped" in Thailand, you say, but they cannot be rented in Thailand, but you can rent a motorcycle.
Of course you will continue to get fines if you ride a motorcycle in Thailand, even if you have an international driving license for a moped in your home country. Just like in Thailand, you will also get that fine in your home country if you don't have the right driver's license and that's a good thing, with a motorcycle you participate in fast traffic, that's different than touring around with a moped.
Get your motorcycle license in your home country and you can tour around Thailand wonderfully and safely.
Nico B
This is just asking for the known way. If you do not have an international motorcycle license you will receive one fine. Moreover, you are not insured because you do not have a motorcycle license.
If you just go ANWB you get an international driving license for moped so you don't get a fine I always do
Dear Dion,
your information is totally wrong. You do indeed need a “motorcycle license”. It is possible that you do not get a fine and that is actually the least of the problems, you pay and you can continue, but I hope that without a real motorcycle license you will never be involved in an accident, even if you are completely innocent of this accident. You will soon know that a "moped driver's license" is not enough because then you are the job, even though the Thai, who drove you over, does not have a driver's license. Travel insurance usually does not cover accidents with the car or motorcycle. If you also do not have a real motorcycle license then you can shake it completely because the accident insurance will not reimburse you as you do not have a valid driver's license. A “moped: -50CC is not an engine +50CC and the speed that these things can reach has nothing to do with that, it is the cylinder capacity that is decisive.
If a policeman takes a good look at the category, you're just screwed
You said it yourself. If you do not have a motorcycle license, you are not allowed to ride a motorcycle. And a motorbike is a motorbike. The only question is whether the officer notices, but you have a bigger problem if you get into an accident. So don't.
In Thailand they don't know BROMMER. So as a tourist, if you stay in Thailand for less than 3 months, you must have an international driving license stating that you have a motorcycle driving license in the Netherlands. If you don't have that and you are stopped: process. If you don't have that and you have an accident, you are driving as uninsured. If you stay longer than 3 months, you need a Thai driver's license.
Well then you have a problem
Do not have a motorcycle license
Means driving around uninsured
And international driver's license is not
Valid
You are punishable and quite link
If you cause an accident!!
So cycling is safer and healthy
But you get so tired of it. And what does a fine more or less mean, 400 baht?
what a response. Do you really want to destroy someone by letting them drive in Thailand without a driver's license? What if he has an accident with serious consequences. (that's with driver's license already link)
Pompoeia”: it's not about the fine, it's about the question of guilt. If you kill someone without the right driver's license, as a foreigner? 10 years in prison is not unthinkable. And as a Westerner you don't survive that, usually.
I would first ask your insurance if you are insured for accidents if you do not have a motorcycle license. If not, it can just end up in a million or so (€) in self-pay consequences…..
Plus 10 years in prison.
Want to,
With you, the wish is the father of the thoughts.
A 'scooter' in Thailand is not a moped but a motorcycle.
An international driver's license is of no use to you because you don't have a motorcycle license at all.
So you simply drive there without a driver's license.
You have to know for yourself, but it can cause you a lot of problems.
If you cause an accident with injuries: imprisonment and high fines, not to mention the fact that you pay compensation for the victims, which you cannot claim anywhere.
I would take a tuk tuk in the future!
Paul
Hello Will,
Until 2 years ago, an International Driving License without A for a motorcycle was accepted in Pattaya for riding a motorbike. After that, however, not anymore and because I didn't want to run the risk of a fine of about 400 baht every time and collecting my driver's license again at the police station on the Beachroad, I also got my Thai driver's license with which I also The Netherlands is allowed to ride a motorcycle. Cost about 970 baht. See thaidriving.info for the theory exam.
Good luck6!
Gr. Bz
Dear Will,
A fine is the least of your worries, those mopeds you are referring to are not a kind of motorcycle but real motorcycles for which you must have a real motorcycle license, if you do not have this then you are not insured for your health insurance and / or travel insurance or for your liability insurance So you're being a little bit stupid.
Ruud
Dear Will,
Mopeds do not exist in Thailand. So you rent a motorcycle and you don't have a driver's license, so you can't drive it. Insurance can be difficult if you do and cause an accident.
So all those scooters that you rent for Bht 200.= are all motorcycles, for which you need a motorcycle driver's license.
Yes, there are no mopeds/scooters in Thailand. They are motorcycles because the engine capacity is more than 49,9 cc. That is why they can also go faster than 100 km per hour. It's not that difficult is it?
Even if the engine capacity would be less, it is still a motorcycle for Thai law. There is no other category in the legislation.
Right, that reminds me of when my love showed me her driver's licenses. One for the car and the other for the motorcycle. After taking a good look at this I asked her 'Apparently there is no different driver's license for low and high CC. Can you drive all motorcycles with this driving license? Also a Harley or BMW?'. 'Yes, that's right, but I'm really not going to ride a heavy motorcycle!' she answered me.
In short Wil, in Thailand you are not allowed behind the wheel of a motorbike without a motorcycle license. Hence the fine.
Now I only have a car driver's license myself, but even if I had one for the moped / scooter, you better not get on the motorcycle with it. Not even in Thailand, we think of a big motorcycle when we think of motorcycles, but a slim Yamaha or Honda with more than 50cc is also a motorcycle, even if we as Dutch people do not recognize it as such at a glance. So let yourself drive around with someone who does have a motorcycle license. I was sitting on the back of my love in Thailand, it was so easy.
Hi Wil, of course you can get a ticket if you drive a motorcycle in Thailand without a valid driver's license, you do write scooter, but it is a so-called motor scooter and you need a motorcycle license to drive it, and also a helmet .
You describe very punctually why there are so many dead and injured in Thailand among the motorcyclists, moreover, the driving skills leave much to be desired.
Yes you can. I have just returned from a long holiday and have had 5 fines with my international driver's license. The mopeds you rent there are seen as motorcycles unfortunately.
After 5 fines I thought it was enough and got my int. driver's license 'forged' by copying a logo with my pen.
It's not good, but it worked.
it works…until you have an accident
What a story, if something happens, accident, you have to show both driver's licenses. So original and international, so it doesn't work…. unless you don't get into an accident. If you want to gamble enter the lotto, more sensible.
Indeed, because that international driving license is nothing more than a translation document and if it is not in accordance with your national driving licence, you still have a problem - if the categories are not correct.
Terribly stupid, especially in Thailand. You're so stuck and that's really not a hotel
In fact, you already gave the answer yourself. Since you do not have the required motorcycle license, this section will not be stamped on the international driving license issued by the ANWB. So you can get a fine in Thailand. However, the vast majority of Thai agents do not know enough English and will therefore use the Int. Accept driver's license. If you are unexpectedly involved in a collision/accident, there are consequences. Damage to a counterparty will not be paid out or recovered from you due to the lack of a driving license by an insurance company and you will in principle also not be able to rely on your Dutch (travel) insurance for your own medical costs. So think twice before renting a 'scooter' in Thailand.
Hans van Mourik, says.
You can be fined for it, at least here in changmai.
Experienced last month.
My grandchildren were here, they do have an international driver's license, but it is registered on Moped, which is for a moped and no stamp on the A.
Arrested the 1st time, police did not see a stamp on the A.
Trying to convince with the note, he doesn't understand it, he then took a picture of the note on the international driver's license.
Because he wasn't sure, benefit of the doubt, so no ticket.
Arrested 2nd time, tried again, but this one was up to date, saw moped on the note, but no stamp on the A, then said that is up to 50cc, so fine, 400 th.bath, but was then allowed for 3 go through days.
Arrested 3rd time, show the ticket, since it was within 3 days, was allowed to continue.
No fine
Hans
I would say grrotvader read the comments and save your grandchildren from a lot of hassle. Use your brain.
As far as insurance is concerned, the Thai soup is eaten less hot than served here, my experience after an accident on a large round in the northwest of Thailand about 12 years ago. . Health insurance in NL did not make a fuss about the low costs in the hospital. The rented motorcycle was insured and I had to pay the deductible myself. There was no harm to others. Getting a Thai driver's license seems like a genius solution from Wil, especially if it can be done quickly.
Your Thai soup would have been a lot hotter if there had been any deaths or injuries.
I assume that if you cause a - fatal - accident without a valid driver's license, you could get a reservation for the Bangkok Hilton hotel.
That is probably no different in the Netherlands.
I'm afraid those who are now hotel in Bangkok Hilton will not respond here
You need a motorcycle license.
You definitely checked and if something happens then
The insurance does not pay anything
The fine isn't really my concern, of course, it's to Ned. standards low. Have already rented a scooter 10x on holiday, never had an accident. So that might be the problem if you get into an accident.
Fortunately, the Thai police do not know English well and only a fine is involved in a check. I already know where they are in CM, at the Nawarat bridge around 11.00/12.00 so I take the next bridge.
I don't really understand your question, but you only get an international driver's license (I think) if you have a driver's license for a car and a motorcycle.
In that case you can drive anything abroad, including Thailand, except a truck.
That's how I see it, but I'm not 100% sure!
100% sure wrong. You can get an international driving license from the ANWB, costs €17.95 members, non-members €1′- more. All categories from A to E are included. On presentation of your NL driver's license, they fill in the international driver's license for you and stamp your categories.
you can also get a driver's license for a moped. That's category A.
No Ruud, category A is reserved for motorcycles with a cc higher than 50. For the umpteenth time, mopeds do not exist in Thailand; all motorized 2-wheelers in Thailand have more than 50 cc capacity. Category AM is checked on my Dutch driving licence, which implies that I am entitled to ride mopeds up to and including 49,99 cc. Category AM does not yet appear on the Intern. Driver's license because international treaties must be amended for this. And Wil, you write that you have rented a motorbike in Thailand at least 10 times before without having been involved in an accident. Lucky for you but it is of course no guarantee for the future. If you have a Thai motorcycle license, an Int. Driving license is of course not required, but to be allowed to participate in the exam for a Thai driving license you must meet a number of conditions. But that's not what this is about now. In any case, you now know that you run a certain risk to rent a motorbike without a valid driver's license!
Hi Will,
And international driver's license certainly has an effect if you are stopped. It really works for us. But an agent tries………..
Think of helmet, papers from rental company, sticker on your moped, correct year .. etc etc.
Or indeed take the next bridge
We do too…….
Have fun in Thailand….
Visit Thaivisa.com today.
There is another story today, about a young Englishman who was killed on a light bike (what you call a moped) in Pai near Chiangmai.
Lower leg has been dropped off , and are now fundraising for him again .
And read through the many comments.
Jan Beute.
And does anyone know how long the driver's license is valid for? Then I don't need an international driver's license at all, right?
Is the expiration date on it?
International driving license is valid for 1 year.
Just walk into the ANWB. Bring a passport photo and driver's license.
Arranged in a per minutes.
Hello Will,
Valid for 2 years the first time and then renewed every 5 years.
Best regards. Bz
As a side note, you cannot get a Thai driver's license as a tourist. When applying, you must submit, among other things, either the yellow tabien job or a Certificate of Residence issued by Immigration.
I mean if I get a Thai driver's license
I don't know if this is a solution, my (Thai) wife's daughter is too young for a moped/motorbike, but through official bodies they have had the moped/motor adjusted so that it only goes 25 km/h so that she can still go to school (15 km) can go.
When I look at all the responses, not much of what is said or claimed is correct.
It's very simple a motorcycle is a motorcycle also in Thailand.
There are no comparable criteria for mopeds, but an international driver's license is a plus.
Don't forget the average police officer doesn't speak the English language so just bad luck or luck with arrests.
A tip just moped don't do strange revs and don't drive too fast.
You will see that it is not too bad with all those Indian stories of some people in this blog.
In my opinion, even if you drive with an international motorcycle license, you are never covered by your travel insurance or the like, but only by the insurance that you (hopefully) took out when renting the motorbike. I have also heard that those insurance policies are not expensive, partly because the maximum coverage is (too) low.
But yes, who is going to delve into all that: You are in a holiday mood, hand over a few hundred Baht and drive.
Very understandable, but if the Thai behave so irresponsibly, we collectively speak of it as a shame.
I've already explained it a few times: https://www.thailandblog.nl/vervoer-verkeer/scooter-huren-reisverzekering-verzekerd/
So I got it from a reliable source. 🙂
Thai motorcycle insurance only covers physical damage. Nothing else!
That's right, Frans, a travel insurance obviously does not pay out compensation to third parties, nor does it cover material damage to the vehicle you have rented. However, healthcare costs and possibly adapted transport home after an accident have been incurred. And then they will most likely check whether the driver had a valid driver's license and was not participating in traffic under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as far as demonstrable. Do not understand why you do have to show a valid driver's license when renting a car, but that you are not put in the way when renting a motorbike. Entire tribes are put on the wrong track as a result, with potentially extremely unpleasant consequences. Once saw 2 Russian girls swinging away on a rented 'scooter' in Pattaya. Make sure they had never ridden a motorcycle before. The landlord stood by and looked at it, totally irresponsible but that didn't seem to bother him.
As a Belgian with a driving license B obtained before 1988, you are automatically allowed to drive a motorcycle with unlimited power. Has the Dutch government forgotten to grant this regularization to their inhabitants?
Ask your politicians for an adjustment like the Belgians!
Perhaps we in the Netherlands think that driving a (heavy) motorcycle requires very different skills than cruising around in a four-wheeler.
Apparently people in Belgium also came to this insight 29 years ago.
In Belgium, a Thai driving license can also still be converted into a Belgian…
In response to Ronny Cha Am, nice piece of information. In the Netherlands we introduced the driving license exam in 1927. The southern neighbors, however, only in 1977!!! Until then, one could apply for a driver's license and receive all categories as a gift. Then they are doing a lot better in Thailand in 2017 than a few years ago in Belgium.
That of Belgium is also a thing of the past, I also still have a normal driving license CE and then you automatically received all classes under it, including a motorcycle, this has been done for many years, now you must have a motorcycle license to apply for an international stamped with motorcycle, my son had 4 fines last year with an international driver's license, but the motorcycle was not stamped. You used to have A and A1 for moped and motorcycle on an international driver's license.
For a long time, even the sailing license could be obtained without an exam obligation. Shouldn't it turn out that the Belgians are (were) much smarter and more skilled in driving ships and vehicles than our neighbors, that the knowledge was amply sufficient at the time. The Dutch probably did not have that knowledge and they had to follow additional training to approach the Belgian level. 🙂